Edinburgh City Region Showcased at 70th EIFF

The Festival opened with the world premiere of Tommy’s Honour which filmed in East Lothian and Peebles and set up production HQ in Edinburgh.

The film is a captivating period drama about a strained relationship between father and son, set against the backdrop of the early days of professional golf and features Scottish acting legend Peter Mullan, rising stars Jack Lowden and Ophelia Lovibond. Director, Jason Connery made great use of several locations across East Lothian including Musselburgh Old Course, Winterfield Golf Club and Gosford House, showcasing East Lothian as a film friendly location and popular visitor destination.

Tommy’s Honour Producer, Bob Last, commented: "It was a pleasure to shoot so extensively in East Lothian. Film Edinburgh, the local authorities and the people of East Lothian all made the production welcome. I thought I knew East Lothian well but discovered it possesses an even wider range of locations than I had previously realised."

Giuseppe Tornatore, director of the Oscar winning Cinema Paradiso, puts Edinburgh centre stage in his new film, The Correspondence. The film focuses on the love affair between a tutor and his student played by Jeremy Irons and Olga Kurylenko respectively.

With production of the sequel now firmly under way, this year’s EIFF featured a special screening of Danny Boyle’s international hit, Trainspotting, to celebrate 20 years since it’s release. Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle, and Kelly Macdonald starred in the adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s novel of the same name back in 1996.

EIFF closed with another film shot within the Edinburgh city region – a remake of the classic Ealing Comedy, Whisky Galore! When cargo ship, the SS Cabinet Minister runs aground, the locals conspire to plunder the precious whiskey carried onboard.

Eddie Izzard, who plays English Home Guard commander Captain Waggett, is supported by a great Scottish cast including Gregor Fisher, James Cosmo and Sunshine on Leith’s, Kevin Guthrie. The picturesque Scottish Borders locations of St Abbs and Cove Harbour make an appearance. Both screenings sold out quickly so this is sure to be an audience favorite.

Locations on the screen come from what's really out there, and most of the locations featured in the films above are locations that are registered with Film Edinburgh. If you are interested in the possibility of having filming at your property, do have a look at how to register with us free of charge, and get in touch.