‘Outcast’, written and directed by Colm McCarthy (Single Handed), receives its UK premiere in the Night Moves strand of the festival.  The horror feature is a UK/Ireland co-production is set on an  Edinburgh council estate, with scenes filmed on location in Galway, Ireland, during April 2009. The film stars Ian Whyte, Niall Bruton, Hanna Stanbridge, Kate Dickie and James Nesbitt.

Also receiving its UK premiere is Fastnet Films’ ‘Nothing Personal’, which stars Irish actor Stephen Rea alongside Dutch actress Lotte Verbeek. The film, from writer/director Urszula Antoniak, has successfully screened at festivals across the globe picking up awards in LA, Seville and Holland. ‘Nothing Personal’ will screen in the Rosebud strand - reserved for first and second time directors - alongside another Irish co-production, ‘Foxes’.  Mia Fornay’s feature is an Irish / Slovak / Czech co-production tells the story of a Slovakian au pair who comes to live in Dublin on the insistence of her sister, who has married an Irishman. The two sisters carry a dark secret from their home country, which manifests itself in the form of a strange new friend in Dublin.  The film was produced by Samson Films’ David Collins and was released in Ireland earlier this year.

Short films also in the lineup include the IFTA nominated animation ‘The Polish Language’, from Alice Lyons and Orla McHardy;  the documentary short ‘Alibi’, from Darren Bolger & Caroline Campbell and the Irish/US co-production ‘Chasing Waves’, from Paul O’Donoghue.

The 64th Edinburgh International Film Festival, running from 16 – 27 June, will screen 163 features from 34 countries, representing 63 UK premieres. The festival opens with Sylvain Chomet’s animated feature ‘The Illusionist’ with patrons Sean Connery, Tilda Swinton and Irish cinematographer/Edinburgh resident Seamus McGarvey leading proceedings.  The closing night gala will be Hattie Dalton’s ‘Third Star’.

For more visit www.edfilmfest.org.uk