St Andrew Square to host Film Festival outdoor screenings

OUTDOOR screenings of classic movies will take place in St Andrew Square next month as Film Fest in the City returns for its fifth year.

Stormtroopers gear up for Film Fest in the City. Picture: @ccbigcam/Twitter

The hugely popular open-air event runs from Friday, June 10 to Sunday, June 12 with 15 “must-see” films on the schedule. Launched in 2011, the screenings were created to bring film lovers into the city centre, to celebrate the Capital’s rich culture and generate excitement during the run-up to the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF).

Mark Adams, EIFF artistic director said: “We are thrilled that the wonderfully entertaining and fun-packed Film Fest in the City is again acting as the perfect preamble to this year’s festival. These outdoor screenings are real cinematic occasions and the films this year packed with laughs, action and drama.”

Hosted by EdinEvents, in partnership with EIFF, the free outdoor attraction will showcase a mix of movies, from cult classics such as The Breakfast Club, 10 Things I Hate About You and One Million Years B.C., to family favourites which include Minions, Finding Nemo and The Muppets. The packed programme will also feature superhero blockbusters Ant-Man and Big Hero 6 and a host of other hits, such as Jurassic Park, Mad Max: Fury Road and Pitch Perfect.

Other programme highlights include a special “dance along” screening of Grease on Saturday, June 11 in association with Dance Base. The sci-fi sequel, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, will bring the event to a dramatic close on the Sunday night.

Once again the St Andrew Square screenings will partner with Graham’s the Family Dairy who will serve a new cinema-themed ice-cream flavour during the weekend, whilst an on-site bar hosted by Pickering’s Gin will be selling a selection of movie-themed cocktails.

Roddy Smith, chief executive of Essential Edinburgh, the company behind EdinEvents said: “Edinburgh city centre provides the perfect backdrop for a weekend of exciting outdoor film screenings and we are delighted to be working closely with EIFF once again to bring such a popular event to both residents and locals.”