Away We Go to Open Edinburgh Film Fest

It was announced today that Sam Mendes' new film for Focus Features, Away We Go, will have it's international premiere as the Opening Night movie of the Edinburgh International Film Festival. The movie will play on June 17 at the world's longest continually running film festival, which recently moved to June from its traditional August slot.

The EIFF's director, Hannah McGill, said "We're absolutely delighted to open the Festival with a wonderful film that marks a distinct change of pace for one of Britain's most celebrated contemporary directors, Sam Mendes. Away We Go is the perfect Opening Night for Edinburgh: funny, positive and smart, and a film I'm incredibly proud to present to our audiences."

For Brit director Mendes, the screening will be something of an artistic homecoming, as he explains: “I'm absolutely thrilled that Away We Go will have its international debut at the Edinburgh Film Festival, and especially pleased to be the Opening Night. I was last in Edinburgh in 1987 at the Fringe, and most nights the cast outnumbered the audience. So I’m really looking forward to returning – hopefully to a full house!”

For more info on the Edinburgh International Film Festival, visit the event's official website.