The stars of Disney-Pixar’s BRAVE were piped onto the red carpet today at the Festival Theatre as they celebrated the first showing of the new film BRAVE in the UK. Inspired by the rich heritage, myths and legends of Scottish history, the filmmakers say they are delighted to premiere the film at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. The Sun newspaper had run a competition for Merida look alikes. This was the winner with the real Merida:-
We took the opportunity to get some photographs of all the stars and to speak again with Chris Fujiwara who is EIFF Artistic Director for the first time this year as to how he thinks the 66th Festival has gone.
We also chatted with Scottish actor Kelly MacDonald who plays the main character Merida, and who is a big star in the US in the series Boardwalk Empire, about her inspiration for her feisty red-headed female lead and then caught up with Kevin McKidd who has been busy the last few months recording a CD of Scottish tunes called The Speyside Sessions for Save the Children as well as his many US commitments in Los Angeles. He plays Lord MacGuffin in Brave.
Here is our series of short interviews with all of those we managed to catch on the red carpet but our full suite of photographs below shows that there were many others attending that we simply did not get the chance to talk to, including Tallia Storm who just had the absolutely best hat we have ever seen!
Robbie Coltrane OBE plays Lord Dingwall in the film which he said is quite a unique role for him. He has only seen the film once and that he was looking forward to seeing it in front of a crowd.
Director Mark Andrews spent his honeymoon in Scotland in 1992, and it was his and his wife’s passion for the country which is largely responsible for the film being made. Chairman of VisitScotland Mike Cantlay told us that the film Brave is a wonderful tool for Scotland’s tourism industry to use for marketing purposes.
First Minister Alex Salmond has been talking about the film for ages but was happy to give us his views on his right hand man Kevin Pringle’s nuptials taking place today.
Earlier today Director Penny Woolcock was awarded The Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film for her film ONE MILE AWAY which also received its World Premiere at the Festival. One of the most prestigious film awards in the UK, The Michael Powell Award was bestowed by a Jury headed by actor Jim Broadbent, who was joined by Japanese actress and producer Kiki Sugino and the founder and director of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Tiina Lokk.
The Jury citation read: “ONE MILE AWAY by Penny Woolcock is a brave and honest film tackling a huge problem with sensitivity and skill, not only charting the efforts to reconcile a community but also showing the great wealth of creativity that is part of that struggle. We are delighted to be able to recognise such a singular achievement”
Penny Woolcock said: “ONE MILE AWAY is about transforming and saving lives. Winning the Michael Powell award is a tremendous boost for us to help get the film and its message out to where it needs to be in our inner cities.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
Mark Andrews responsible for Brave?
Please get your facts straight.
Brenda Chapman is the one you must credit for this wonderful Pixar film
getting off the ground.
It is HER story and she spent 7 years DIRECTING the production!
Mr Andrews was pushed onto the project at the 11th hour.
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