Away We Go to open EIFF

Sam Mendes film will headline 63rd Edinburgh International Film Festival.

by Jennie Kermode

What's your idea of the perfect home? Verona (Maya Rudolph) and Burt (John Krasinski) are expecting their first child, so they decide to take a road trip across the United States in search of the ideal place to settle down. Directed by American Beauty's Sam Mendes, Away We Go is a feelgood film with brains that should appeal to a diverse audience, and that's why it's been chosen to headline this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival.

"I'm incredibly proud to present this film to our audiences," said festival director Hannah McGill, describing it as "funny, positive and smart".

"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," said Sam Mendes. "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!"

The 63rd Edinburgh International Film Festival will run between the 18th and 29th of June. Tickets will go on sale on the 8th of May. Watch this space for further programme announcements.

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