Iona to close Edinburgh Film Festival 2015

Shell director Scott Graham returns to festival.

by Amber Wilkinson

A woman returns to the island that is her namesake with her teenage son in Iona - which will close EIFF 2015
A woman returns to the island that is her namesake with her teenage son in Iona - which will close EIFF 2015 Photo: Courtesy of EIFF
Scott Graham’s Iona has been announced as the closing film of the 69th edition of Edinburgh Film Festival on Sunday June 28 at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh, where it will receive its world premiere.

Shell director Graham's second feature is described as "part coming-of-age story and part returning-home drama", that tells the story of Iona - returning to the Island where she was born (and after which she was named) with her teenage son Bull to seek refuge from a violent crime in Glasgow. Iona's return exposes Bull to a way of life she rejected when she left the island as a teenager and sends a shockwave through her family.

Shot entirely on location in Scotland, the film stars Ruth Negga (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D), Douglas Henshall (Shetland), Tom Brooke (The Boat That Rocked) and Michelle Duncan (Atonement), with debuts by two young Scottish actors, Ben Gallagher and Sorcha Groundsell.

Director Scott Graham said: 'I discovered many films and filmmakers at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Edinburgh was my home all through my twenties and it was in venues like Filmhouse and the Cameo where I learned the value of the stories we tell and the emotions we share. I'm thrilled Iona will have its premiere here and doubly thrilled it will close the Festival. What an honour.'

EIFF artistic director Mark Adams added: “We are thrilled to be closing this year’s Festival with Scott Graham’s lovely, moving and enthralling Iona. He is a striking cinematic talent and the film will wrap this year’s festival in the perfect way.”

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