10 THINGS TO SEE AT EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

It's been a pretty intense year working in festivals and events. We started talking about what the 2021 Edinburgh International Film Festival might look like way back in Autumn 2020, when we were just about to go into another lockdown, no one was vaccinated, and the idea of organising anything where people gathered (!) indoors (!) just felt pretty impossible.

But, bit by bit, we started to plan and think about what the Film Festival could look like if we brought it back to basics (one indoor venue, one outdoor venue, a whole lot of great films), focusing on a simple model which celebrated the return of cinema, and kept things as safe as possible.

And we did it! The 74th Edinburgh International Film Festival launched its programme last week and (yes, I am totally biased), it is great! This year's Festival runs 18-25 August, and is a hybrid event of in-person and digital screenings, with 31 premiere feature films and 73 shorts, and 50% of the new films are directed or co-directed by women! We've even managed to sneak in a couple of very fancy galas at Festival Theatre too!

It's also going to be my last Film Festival, as I'm off somewhere new in September (but we'll chat about that later).

So, here's my top 10 picks! Tickets are moving pretty quickly with a few things already sold out, so if anything catches your eye, I'd recommend booking as soon as you can.

1. Pig This year EIFF's opening with the new Nicolas Cage film, where he stars as a reclusive truffle hunter whose beloved truffle-finding pig goes missing. Nicolas Cage is meant to be incredible in this, as he goes on a journey to track down the pignappers. It'll be screening in the very fancy Festival Theatre!

2. Everybody's Talking About Jamie A special preview of the movie based on the West End musical, based on the documentary following the real life story of Jamie - a teenager who overcomes prejudices to fulfil his ambition to become a fierce and fearless drag queen. Such a feel-good film, great songs, and actual real-life Jamie will be there, so I think it's going to be a really special event.

3. Film Fest in the City EIFF's outdoor screenings are back, and this time they are running for seven days from 19-25 August in St Andrew Square. A few films are sold out already, but there's loads on including the original Star Wars trilogy, Clueless, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and the Rocky Horror Picture Show! Plus it's all free!

4. Prince of Muck A beautiful documentary about the Laird of the Isle of Muck - Scotland's smallest inhabited island! The location is incredible, and it's just such a moving reflection on heritage, tradition, family, and getting older. The director will be in town for an in-person Q&A too! 

5. EIFF Youth I'm a big fan of our EIFF Youth programme, which is all about inspiring and helping young people get into film and the film industry! This year the programme is a mix of screenings, watch-parties and online events, helping you get into film and tv, film journalism, and much more! (plus, as it's online, it's open to anyone - whether you're officially a youth or not!). The schedule can be seen here and online events will be on EIFF's Youtube channel.

6. Annette Straight out of opening Cannes, who doesn't want to watch Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard in a sexy, edgy rock opera? 

7. Mad God During the planning process for EIFF, I felt very smug that I was filmy enough to recognise the name of director Phil Tippett, until I realised I recognised him from the Jurassic Park meme. He's a ground-breaking Oscar and Emmy-winning visual effects director and supervisor who has worked on incredible things - Jurassic Park! Star Wars! Indiana Jones! Robocop! - and he's worked on this film for 30 years. 

8. The Night House I love a creepy psychological thriller, and this looks great. Rebecca Hall stars as Beth, a woman living alone in an idyllic and isolated lakeside house, reeling from the unexpected death of her husband. Things get spooky, she starts looking into his past, it turns out things are not how they seemed to be! 

9. Fathom Another beautiful documentary, this time about the study of humpback whales: their song, their culture and how they communicate (did you know that the systems that process emotions are more complex in whale brains, than in humans? That they are one of the oldest cultures in the world? That they carry songs around the world? Ahhh, I love it!). This screening will be accompanied by a discussion with Dr Ellen Garland from the film.

10. EIFF Fan Club Finally, we've got one last surprise in store! The programme will be announced just before EIFF starts on 18 August, but the EIFF Fan Club will be pairing some very cool Scottish cultural folk with some of their favourite film stars. A new Fan Club event will be available every day of the festival on Youtube. 

In-person events? Who would have thought it! See you there!

10 THINGS TO SEE AT EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Exciting times! The 73rd Edinburgh International Film Festival programme has just launched and it is packed full of amazing movies, special events, super cool guests, and fun things for film fans (full disclosure: I am totally biased, I work there, but it is great!). It's somehow my fourth (!) Film Festival, and I still kind of feel like I'm making it up as I go along, but I'm very proud of what we've got planned this year.

This year's Festival runs 19th - 30th June (with some special events and previews running 14th - 16th June too!). This year we've got 121 film premieres, including 18 World Premieres, 12 International Premieres, 8 European Premieres, and 72 UK Premieres from 42 countries, not to mention a packed retrospective programme, and a whole heap of special events.

Obviously it's all great, but if you're not quite sure where to start, I've picked out 10 things to see in the Festival programme. Enjoy!

1. Film Fest in the City with Edinburgh Live
EIFF kickstarts the Festival with Film Fest in the City - a free weekend of films in St Andrew Square Garden from Friday 14th - Sunday 16th June. This year we've got films including Mamma Mia 2 and Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse (some of my favourite films from 2018!), Black Panther, The Greatest Showman, Bohemian Rhapsody and more! Start praying for sunshine now...

2. Boyz in the Wood The Festival opens with the European Premiere of Boyz in the Wood, a Scottish comedy-horror set in the Highlands. Four teenagers are let loose in the countryside, only to get into all sorts of mishap as they lose their map, discover hallucinogens, and get hunted by Eddie Izzard (playing a very posh farmer).

3. The Dead Don't Die Fresh out of opening Cannes, this is a zombie-comedy with a killer cast. Three police offers (Bill Murray, Adam Driver and Chloe Sevigny) and a samurai-sword-wielding mortician (Tilda Swinton) have to battle a zombie horde when the dead start to rise from their graves.

4. CineCuisine Food and film go hand in hand, and this year EIFF is presenting its first strand of culinary cinema. There's documentaries exploring whisky, olive oil, and Scotland's ace produce, and special events including Food for Thought - a night of Scottish tales and tastings (and spoiler - this event is a steal at £5!).

5. EIFF Youth Man, I wish they had stuff like this when I was a teenager! EIFF Youth is our ace programme of events, workshops and screenings for 15-25 year olds, for people who are interested in finding out more about the film industry, or are just cine-curious! There's acting and audition workshops, a talk with Game of Thrones and Outlander's costume designer, and workshops on screen combat, screenwriting, SFX make up, sound effects and more! Plus, it only costs £5 for a EIFF Youth pass which gets you entry to all events for free!

6. Bludgeon You can always count on EIFF for a great documentary! I am excited for Bludgeon, a film following a group of medieval re-enactment enthusiasts from small-town New Zealand, who are trying to make it to an international competition in Europe.

7. In Person: Jack Lowden Scottish actor Jack Lowden is a bit of an EIFF favourite, and this year he's here to chat about his career - from starting out in Scottish Youth Theatre, then getting roles in War & Peace, Dunkirk, EIFF award-winner Calibre, and Mary Queen of Scots.

8. The Littlest Big Farm This just looks so DELIGHTFUL! This documentary follows a Los Angeles couple who give up city life, buy a farm, and follow their dream of growing every ingredient they might want to cook with.

9. The Wind I've said before, but I'm a sucker for a creepy sci-fi tale. This feminist western follows Lizzy, a tough, resourceful frontierswoman in the remote American frontier. Isolated from civilisation in a wilderness where the wind never stops howling, she begins to sense a sinister presence that seems to belong to the land itself... (aaaah!).

10. Cage-a-rama Scotland's first Nicolas Cage film festival, Cage-a-rama takes over EIFF for a special Nicholas Cage 3D extravaganza! What more could you possibly want on a Saturday night?!

Tickets for Edinburgh International Film Festival are on sale now, and you can view the whole programme here.

10 THINGS TO SEE AT GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL

It might still only be January, but Scotland's year of festivals is well underway. Next to roll round is the super fun and friendly Glasgow Film Festival, who announced their 2019 programme last week.

Glasgow Film Fest pride themselves on being the perfect movie mix, meaning they've got something for everyone - from indie arthouse features to classic Hollywood films, rare cult gems and nostalgic retro parties. This year they're boasting over 300 screenings, talks and events, with 7 world premieres, 102 UK premieres and 49 Scottish premieres, all packed into 12 days at the end of February.

There's loads to choose from, but to give you a helping hand, I've picked out ten events that caught my eye!

1. The Hole in the Ground I already find sinkholes pretty scary, so I am intrigued by this supernatural thriller. There's a deep dark wood, a creepy child, and a giant sinkhole? Count me in.

2. Maiden 30 years ago, an all-female crew undertook an incredible around-the-world voyage that challenged every prejudice of the sailing established. This documentary looks so interesting, as the crew look back on their nine-month battle against the elements and sexist men.

3. Benjamin Fancy going to a film festival to watch a film about watching a film at another film festival? Sounds pretty meta, but Simon Amstell is a bit of a genius, and directs this fresh and endearing romantic comedy about a filmmaker struggling with self-doubt and self-sabotage when he meets someone new.

4. Aquarela Sometimes you just need to sit back and take in the world, and this sounds just the ticket. Travelling from the frozen waters of Russia's Lake Baikal to the mighty Angel Falls in Venezuela, this immersive documentary promotions a mind-blowing fusion of sound and vision in an epic film which captures the raw, glorious power of water and its impact on the planet.

5. The Vanishing Scotland makes some pretty great thrillers, so I'm looking forward to this lighthouse mystery, starring Peter Mullan and Gerard Butler. Based on the true story of the Flannan Isle mystery, this follows three lighthouse keepers who arrive on an uninhabited Scottish island.

6. The Blair Witch Project GFF have a great rep for their special events and this year is packed with them! Top of the list is the genuinely-terrifying sounding Blair Witch screening in a secret-location, which is flagged not for the faint-hearted! Luckily there's two versions if you fancy it, but are a bit of a wimp - an afternoon event for scaredy cats who fancy a thrill, and an evening event for the hardcore horror fans!

7. Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure If there's no way you are going to an immersive horror party, but still want an event cinema experience, try this! Dress up as your favourite historical figure, and get ready for some inter-century partying, dude.

8. Character Makeup with Danny Marie Elias One of my favourite things about film festivals is the fascinating look you get behind the scenes when you listen to a filmmaker talk about their work. Making movies is just so cool! This event is free (!), and promises an interesting chat and live prosthetics demo with one of the UK's leading makeup and prosthetics artists.

9. Freaks If you haven't guessed, I have a tendency to gravitate towards creepy sci-fi thrillers, so I'm pretty pleased GFF have loads on other! Freaks stars the very handsome Emile Hirsch, who plays a paranoid father, in a film that is packed with sci-fi action and dystopian chills.

10. The Empire Podcast with Michael Palin Join the award-winning Empire podcast and their very, very, very special guest Michael Palin (!!) for a chat about film, movie reviews and GFF. What a great way to finish off your festival experience!

Glasgow Film Festival runs 20th February - 3rd March and you can browse their whole programme here.

SPACE NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

I am a massive space geek. I wanted to be an astronaut when I was younger - I used to dream of going to space camp, I had a telescope and would stay up late to look at stars, and I was over the moon when my family went to Johnson Space Centre and I got to look at ACTUAL moon rock and speak to ACTUAL astronauts (so cool).

Now I'm 29 years old, and I still want to be an astronaut. Over the years it's slowly dawned on me that it probably won't happen - I am rubbish at maths and physics, and I'm unlikely to pass a fit for orbit test any time soon, but the joy of working at the Science Festival means that occasionally I get to take part in spacey things in a professional capacity. That's basically the same thing, right?!

As you may or may not know, this month is a pretty big deal for the UK and European Space Agencies. Tim Peake, a British Astronaut, is off to the International Space Station as part of the Principia mission on December 15th, where he'll be in space for over six months, doing cool experiments and other very exciting (and presumably, insanely dangerous) stuff.

To celebrate the mission launch, the UK Space Agency are throwing a bunch of space celebrations across the country, and we're throwing the one in Edinburgh!

In partnership with the UK Space Agency and the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the Edinburgh International Science Festival is hosting a Big Screen Space Night in the Grand Gallery of the National Museum of Scotland on Tuesday December 15th.

The night starts at 6.30pm with a live link up to the Space Station, as the hatch opens and Tim starts his six month tour. Then Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti (aka the super-cool astronaut who dressed up in a Star Trek uniform on the actual Space Station) will take part in an audience Q&A, and THEN there's a special screening of The Martian which is this year's best space movie (featuring a very charming, bit sweary Matt Damon, and Troye from Community being the cutest astrophysics student there is). AND there's a space bar, and the Grand Gallery of the Museum is possibly the fanciest place you could ever watch a movie.

Tickets are only £5, and can be purchased via the Filmhouse website or from the Filmhouse box office (on Lothian Road). So exciting!

WIN BECKSONDERGAARD CAPES FOR YOU & YOUR BESTIE!

To celebrate the release of Miss You Already, a brand new film about besties opening on Friday 25th September, I've got another competition for you! Danish designer Becksondergaard have adapted their signature cape, a lovely swooshy blankety number, hand-printed with a print that was created exclusively for the film.

I absolutely love capes, they are so perfect and cosy for wearing on their own in Autumn and layering up in Winter, so I was delighted to be sent one to try out, and get another two capes (worth £99 each!) to give away.

Cape* - Becksondergaard
Dress - H&M
Shoes - Ebay
Sunglasses - Forever 21

The timing of this competition feels very appropriate, as I've just spent the best weekend in London hanging out with my best pal, who I definitely do not get to see as much as I'd like! We met when we were teenagers and have grown up together (with adventures, arguments and everything in between!), and now, even though we're at opposite ends of a country, she's still one of my very favourite people.

Miss You Already stars BFFs Drew Barrymore and Toni Collette who have also been friends forever. It's a film about what happens when life goes wrong, and how friends get you through it. That might sound totally sappy, but I love film and tv that celebrates strong friendships (like Lesley and Anne in Parks & Recreation!), and Miss You Already is getting pretty brilliant reviews already.

So, for your chance to win two capes (one for you and one for your best pal), all you have to do is follow the instructions below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Miss You Already opens on Friday 25th (tomorrow!) and you can watch the trailer here.

WATCH & WOLF

 I'm a big fan of gastronomy superheroes, Jelly & Gin, who have a seriously good track record of taking audiences on amazing artistic food adventures. They've just announced their latest project, Watch & Wolf, and it looks like so much fun!

Watch & Wolf is cinema like you've never tasted before, as Jelly & Gin take over the National Gallery of Scotland (you know, the beautiful massive one on Princes St) for a series of multi-sensory film experiences. And because it's Christmas, they've picked festive classics (Elf - CHRISTMAS! Gremlins - Christmas! The Wizard of Oz - er not that festive, but still amazing!) that you watch, while eating and drinking along with the characters.

On arrival, you'll receive a box which holds numbered packages of bite-sized food and cocktails. The event host, Mr Wolf, will signal at specific moments in the film for you to eat and drink your treats - it sounds seriously tasty, and if anyone's going to excel at tiny movie treats, it's Jelly & Gin!

Watch & Wolf takes place at 7.30pm on the following dates in the National Gallery of Scotland (which is in Edinburgh, if you haven't guessed!).

Thursday 4 December: Elf
Thursday 11 December: Gremlins
Thursday 18 December: The Wizard of Oz
 
Tickets cost £28 and are available at www.jellyandgin.eventbrite.co.uk.

What to see at the Edinburgh International Film Festival

Next week the Edinburgh International Film Festival rolls into town for their 68th year (bloody hell), showing 122 new features from 47 countries, and 34 features over their retrospective and country focus strands. They've got 10 premieres each day, awards, fancy parties, hero hangouts, outdoor screenings, workshops AND special events, so there's quite a fair bit to pack into your day.

To make it easier for you, I've picked out some films that have caught my eye. I don't think you can beat the opportunity to watch a film with the cast and crew, and support independent filmmakers, so if you're anywhere near Edinburgh, get out there and visit the Film Fest!

Animation

Koo! Kin-dza-dza: Superb traditional animation merges The Wizard of Oz with Terry Gilliam's Brazil. Two unlikely bedfellows, a classical cellist and an aspiring DJ, find themselves transported from Moscow to the alien world of Pluke, where they navigate a dystopian alien culture in a quest to return home.

McLaren Award for Best British Animation: 2014 not only marks the centenary of legendary UK born animator Norman McLaren, but the year in which the Edinburgh International Film Festival recognises the 25^th recipient of the McLaren Award for Best British Animation; the oldest established award of its kind. 11 short films compete in this screening.

Wolfy, the Incredible Secret (Loulou, l'incroyable secret): Young wolf Loulou and his rabbit best friend Tom set off on an adventure to find out what happened to Loulou’s mother. But in Wolfenberg, the old wolf prince is hosting the Carnivore Games and doesn't want a kind-hearted young wolf or (heaven forbid) a rabbit upsetting proceedings. Can Loulou find his mother, remain true to his friend and work out the big secret about his identity?


Documentaries

A Dangerous Game: This follow-up to the award-winning You've Been Trumped takes up where the previous film left off with the saga of American billionaire property developer Donald Trump's incursion into Scotland. Filmmaker Anthony Baxter journeys to Croatia and the United States to probe the disastrous environmental effects of the development of luxury golf courses. Then he returns to Scotland to confront Trump (oooh).

#ChicagoGirl – The Social Network Takes On a Dictator: The story of a 19-year-old student who leads the marches in Syria from her bedroom, #chicagoGirl documents a new kind of revolution not just taking place in the streets. Through testimonial footage and homemade YouTube videos, we learn what it's really like for rebels on the ground and the people trying to help them. A raw and often inspiring look at how the Facebook generation is making a political impact on a global scale.

Doc of the Dead:  A sprightly zombie walk through the world of the undead. Alexandre O Philippe, director of The People vs. George Lucas and The Life and Times of Paul the Psychic Octopus, explores the history of the zombie in popular culture with clips galore and an impressive line-up of interviewees (including Simon Pegg, Bruce Campbell and, of course, George A Romero), and asks for tips from the experts on how to survive a zombie outbreak.


Sci-fi & thriller

Coherence: A dinner party is disrupted by a power failure. Initially attributing it to unusual occurrences caused by a comet passing close to Earth, the guests eventually realise that something is terribly wrong. As the real problem becomes apparent, the psychological horror of their situation reaches terrifying heights.

The Anomaly: A traumatised ex-soldier wakes up in the back of a moving van with a young boy held captive beside him. So begins a stylish game of cat-and-mouse played out against a futuristic backdrop where mind control is employed alongside cutting edge bio-technology in the fight between good and evil.

Snowpiercer: In the near future, attempts to find a technological fix for global warming have backfired disastrously. Life is extinct, except for the people and the ecosystem aboard a train that endlessly circles the ice-shrouded globe. Onboard, the lower class are relegated to the crowded back cars whilst the ruling class enjoy lives of luxury in the front - until two brave workers lead a revolution and discover the terrible secrets of Snowpiercer...


Something Indie

Achtung! Maybe! Neu! Reekie! is a fusion of spoken word, music, animation and film that has taken Scotland by storm. Curators Michael Pedersen and Kevin Williamson present a special German-themed Neu! Reekie! of Weimar Republic animation and movies, accompanied by live music (expect Krautrock inspired anthems and swirling synths), plus live performance.

I Believe in Unicorns: Davina is an imaginative teenage girl who escapes from the realities of caring for her disabled mother into a fairy-tale-inspired fantasy life. She looks for another kind of escape in a new relationship with the charming denizen of a grungy rock-club underworld. Aware he has a volatile side from which even unicorns may fail to save her, Davina still chooses to take off with him on a journey of no certain destination.

Life After Beth: Broken-hearted after the death of his girlfriend Beth, Zach is initially delighted to be given another chance when she returns from the dead. However, as we all know, relationships with zombies are never straightforward, and very soon Zach and the rest of the townsfolk are fighting for their lives.


Aaron Paul

And er, I'm sorry to be one of those people, but I just finished Breaking Bad (yes, yes, I know I am pretty late to the party), and I'm a bit obsessed with Aaron Paul. So let's just gaze upon his lovely face, and hope he makes an appearance at Hellion's international premiere.

Hellion: A family is brought to the brink of separation when single father Hollis loses control of his increasingly delinquent son Jacob. Struggling to cope with the untimely loss of his wife and unwilling to face the fact that his family could fall apart forever, Hollis is forced to face reality when Jacob's unruly behaviour attracts the attention of social services. 


EIFF runs from 18th - 29th June, and you can book tickets at www.edfilmfest.org.uk or at the Filmhouse, Cineworld, or Festival Theatre. Enjoy!

Picks of the Edinburgh International Film Festival

I absolutely love the Edinburgh International Film Festival and am so excited that there's only two weeks until it starts! This year (the 67th year no less!) they are showing 146 films - brilliant to have so much choice, but it can be difficult to pick what to go to!

Here's what I've got my eye on this year. It's quite an eclectic bunch of films, but that's surely one of the best parts of having a huge film festival in town - try something you've never heard of, go out of your comfort zone & have fun!

1. The Bling Ring

Showing 22nd June, 8.30pm & 23rd June, 6.40pm

Sofia Coppola’s latest is based on an incredible true story. A group of L.A. high school friends track the activities of celebrities online so that they can rob their homes. Motivated less by greed than by a fascination with status brands and famous people, the gang target Paris Hilton, Orlando Bloom, Rachel Bilson, Lindsay Lohan and others, bragging of their intimacy with their victims. A biting, stylish take on celebrity culture. 

Hermione ain't a school girl any more. Emma Watson joy aside (I love her), this looks ace! It's based on a true story (from this Vanity Fair article) and it looks pretty awesome.


2. Lilou's Adventure (Lilou no bouken)

Showing 23rd June, 2.50pm & 25th June, 6.10pm

In Okinawa, Lilou, a 10-year-old half- Japanese, half-Guinean girl, becomes friends with a Japanese girl, Kokoro. When Kokoro disappears, Lilou sets off on a journey to find her, using clues from a video game. This playful, imaginative and unpredictable film is a great children’s tale for adults.

An adventure story! Using video game clues! That looks super cute! I am sold.


3. The Great Hip Hop Hoax 

Showing June 26th, 8.40pm, June 27th, 8.50pm & June 28th, 8pm

Californian rap duo Silibil ‘n’ Brains are poised to take the music world by storm. They’re talking the talk... walking the walk... and they’ve just pocketed a hefty advance from a major music label. Surely nothing could go wrong? Truth is definitely stranger than fiction in this astonishing, funny and moving documentary that touches on issues of Scottish national identity whilst showing the unbelievable lengths to which people will go to achieve fame.

It's a documentary about two Scottish guys who managed to get a hip hop career by pretending to be from L.A. Sounds mental, hopefully will be good!


4. Shooting Bigfoot

Showing June 21st, 10.45pm

An intrepid young filmmaker travels from Britain deep into the American heartland to probe the mysteries of Bigfoot and Bigfoot mania. He forms uneasy alliances with several Bigfoot trackers, including a man who believes he is part sheep, a known hoaxer, and an entrepreneur with a short fuse. Things get hairy as the filmmaker realises that his companions may not be the harmless eccentrics they seem.

I love the monster movies that crop up at EIFF each year, and this looks like it could be suitably creepy (and sort of hilarious).


5. Not Another Happy Ending 

Showing June 30th, 8.45pm

Karen Gillan stars as Jane, a young Glasgow writer whose first novel is a success, thanks in part to the editing of her sympathetic but businessminded publisher, Tom (Stanley Weber). Reconciled with her estranged father (Gary Lewis) and embarked on a new relationship with a handsome and self-absorbed writer (Henry Ian Cusick), Jane comes down with a severe case of writer’s block while struggling with her second novel. Tom believes that this is because she is too happy, so he resorts to drastic measures to get her unblocked.

This is the Closing Night Gala of the Film Festival, and it's lovely that they've picked a film set in Scotland to finish on. I reckon Karen Gillan is the perfect person to star in an indie rom com, and this looks just lovely.


There is absolutely LOADS on, and I'd definitely recommend going if you are in town! The festival is on from June 19th - 30th & tickets can be bought from www.edfilmfest.org.uk or from the Filmhouse, Festival Theatre or Cineworld.

Happy thoughts

Aw, it has been TOO long since I last did a happy thoughts post, so I thought I'd bring them back. Here's three things that have made my life that wee bit happier recently.

1. It's my birthday week!

Last year's birthday face - I got a Sheriff badge! 

I'm one of those people who, given the excuse, will make a celebration last as long as possible. It's my birthday on SATURDAY (hiya!) so this week is officially my birthday week & I will make sure everyone knows it! I'm not sure exactly what my birthday plans are, but as long as I see my pals & family I'm a happy girl.

I quite often get comments along the lines of "oh, it must be weird having your birthday so close to Christmas..." but I actually really, really love it! My family have always made a big deal of keeping my birthday & Christmas totally separate and it's such a FUN time of year - everyone is in a good mood. Including me. Hooray!

2. The Hobbit

INCREDIBLE Hobbit Hill cake by Katrina Kippen

We went to see The Hobbit last week and I really loved it! I'm a huge fan of Lord of the Rings, and was a little apprehensive about it (would it have the same magic? how on earth could they stretch it out to three films? what is HFR? etc) but it really was everything I wanted in a Hobbit film & I'd highly recommend it!

We watched the high frame rate version (which means you see 48 frames per second, rather than the usual 24) and it was really strange at first! I kept thinking it was like watching a TV show, which was really bizarre (although my helpful friend Murray pointed out that this is because TV films at a higher frame rate - I wasn't just going mental). It takes a while to get used to, but all of the fantastical & 3D scenes look BEAUTIFUL. Go and get lost in Middle Earth for a couple of hours, you won't regret it!

3. NASA

I love NASA so much. I have said it before & I will say it again, but I wish I was an astronaut! Or had a mind that was a little more science/maths friendly, so I could work with them!

The students at NASA's Johnson Space Centre have made a Gangnam-style (I know, I know) parody video.... but it's actually really good! Love you, NASA.

24 Hours in Bed with Harry Potter

Photo from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Exciting stuff! This weekend (as part of the EIFF Atmosphere programme), New Media Scotland are holding a HARRY POTTER MARATHON. And it's free!

Starting at midnight on Saturday 30th June, they are showing all eight Harry Potter films, followed by a game of Quidditch on the Meadows the following lunchtime. You're encouraged to wear pyjamas in house colours and to have the most fun ever.

You can join the waiting list on the Potterthon website if you are interested. Go because I can't, and I'm sad about it!

Picks of the Edinburgh Int Film Festival

The film festival launches today (which means summer festival season has officially started, hooray hooray!). There's quite a few things that I want to see this year, but I thought it would be fun to make a list of the films that I will DEFINITELY be buying a ticket for.

1. GRABBERS

Showing 22nd June, 10:45pm & 25th June, 9pm

When a trawler is attacked, and the shore is found littered with dead marine life, something is clearly wrong on Erin Island. There must be a reasonable explanation... or could it be an invasion of bloodsucking aliens from outer space? Featuring an endearing lead performance from Richard Coyle, (also to be seen in Pusher), Grabbers is an exciting, light-hearted “monster movie” that affectionately tips its hat to everything that ever fell from the sky, or crawled from the sea onto a cinema screen.

It's a monster movie! I love monster movies! The EIFF have quite a good history of showing monster movies in recent years (Monsters in 2010 & Troll Hunter in 2011), so I've got pretty high hopes for this one.


2. GUINEA PIGS

Showing 23rd June, 11.25pm & 24th June, 5.20pm

At a remote medical compound, a group of strangers begin clinical trials of an experimental drug called Pro-9. As the drug's sinister, unexpected side-effects begin to take hold, the terrified volunteers find themselves trapped, isolated, and in mortal danger. This atmospheric, claustrophobic horror-thriller is the debut feature from EIFF 2008 Trailblazer Ian Clark. Strong performances and a fast-paced edit add to the menacing tone, and an intelligent script lifts proceedings to spine-chilling proportions.

Even though I'm the world's biggest wimp, I am a bit addicted to watching scary films (and then doing Craig's head in by being utterly freaked out for the rest of the night). Anyway, this looks fun! It's a classic oooh-look-they're-all-stuck-in-a-small-place horror.


3. RENT-A-CAT (RENTANEKO)

This engaging comedy probes the loneliness beneath the decorous surface of contemporary Japan. Every day Sayoko pushes a cart along a river, renting out cats to lonely people in order to fill the empty spaces in their hearts. Somehow Sayoko herself, though she has no trouble attracting felines, has a hard time finding human love. “A film made for cat lovers that will no doubt win over the hearts of anyone who's ever felt a yearning for unconditional companionship” (Patrick Gamble, Cine-Vue).

This is a bit of a no-brainer, it looks lovely. It's a film about cats!


4. V/H/S

Showing 28th June, 11.20pm & 30th June, 10pm

A gang is hired to break into a desolate house and steal a rare VHS cassette. Inside they encounter a problem when they discover a corpse in front of a television, surrounded by... hundreds of videotapes. As they start to search through the recordings, some truly disturbing stories begin to unfold... Providing the indelible last word in “found footage” horror, this cleverly devised anthology, written and directed by a selection of new and rising genre talent, is contemporary cinema at its most frightening.

 AHH. This looks a bit terrifying. I think I will love/hate it.


5. BRAVE

Showing 30th June, 8.15pm

A grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and signature Pixar humour, Brave uncovers a new tale in the mysterious Highlands of Scotland. Headstrong Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson), defies an age-old custom and inadvertently unleashes chaos, forcing her to discover the meaning of true bravery before it's too late.

 Well obviously I am looking forward to Brave... I did specially themed nail art and everything!

Tickets can be bought at www.edfilmfest.org.uk or from one of their box offices in the Filmhouse, Cameo, Cineworld or Festival Theatre.

Films under the stars

Hi people of Edinburgh! If you've not noticed already, there's a massive screen now set up in St Andews Square gardens. It's all part of Under the Stars, a series of special free screenings that are showing in the run up to the Edinburgh International Film Festival (which starts on Wednesday - I am excited!).

From Under the Stars facebook

They've been running since Thursday (and have sadly had quite a lot of bad weather for it, but fingers crossed the sun comes out!). Here's what is on this weekend:

Saturday, 16 June

11:00 - 12:38: Matilda

13:00 - 14:55: Breakfast at Tiffany's

15:15 - 16:46: The Ladykillers

17:05 - 18:23: Monterey Pop

18:45 - 20:37: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

21:00 - 22:40: Dirty Dancing

Sunday, 17 June

12:00 - 13:43: Toy Story 3

14:10 - 16:05: Breakfast at Tiffany's

16:30 - 18:26: Back to the Future

18:50 - 20:45: The Pink Panther

21:10 - 23:00: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

I'm lucky enough to be going to the EIFF opening film and party on Wednesday, so have had quite a lot of fun picking what to wear (it's black tie!). I'm hoping they have photo booths at the party again.. it's become a bit of a tradition to get daft photos taken (you can see last year's photos here). It's exciting... I love films!

Disney Pixar's Brave nail art

I'm really excited about this! Brave is the brand new Disney Pixar film that is coming out this summer. It's set in the Highlands of Scotland about a feisty ginger princess who defies her parents, gets mixed up with curses & gets in all sort of bother. There's no doubt a positive, life-affirming message alongside lovely music and visuals. Lovely stuff. 

The European premiere is also the Closing Night Gala of the Edinburgh Film Festival which is also good because I love the EIFF! They always kick off festival summer season perfectly for me, and I love that every year I see films that I wouldn't take a chance on the rest of the year round (they might not always be my cup of tea, but that's all part of the experience).

Anyway. That all in mind, I was keen to give Brave-inspired nail art a go! I really enjoyed doing  Avengers nails earlier in the year, and thought this would hopefully be a little easier as I was essentially "just" recreating a cartoon. Ha.

Horse, Bow & Arrow, Merida, Tartan, a Castle 

I'm not going to lie. It took a while.

Swirl, Tartan, Merida's hair, Queen Elinor, Stone Circle 

But I'm pretty pleased with it! 

Close up on character faces: Horse, Merida, Queen Elinor 

I just used my phone to take screenshots of the trailer and then tried to pick out a few easy images that fit the theme and would fit on my nails! This definitely isn't an everyday manicure, but it was worth it even just to see how much steadier I am painting with my left hand than when I first started this blog!

(I am SUCH a child, I know. Don't judge me!).