EIFF to start with Puzzle

Kelly Macdonald drama to open 72nd edition

by Amber Wilkinson

Kelly Macdonald as Agnes and Irrfan Khan as Robert in Puzzle, which will open EIFF
Kelly Macdonald as Agnes and Irrfan Khan as Robert in Puzzle, which will open EIFF Photo: Courtesy of EIFF

Marc Turtletaub’s Puzzle has been announced as the opening gala of this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival on June 20. The drama stars Scots actress Kelly Macdonald as under-appreciated housewife and mum Agnes whose newly discovered talent for completing jigsaw puzzles begins to quietly change other aspects of her life.

Kelly Macdonald is expected to attend the gala
Kelly Macdonald is expected to attend the gala Photo: Courtesy of EIFF

Irrfan Khan stars alongside Macdonald as a charismatic fellow puzzle solver who also holds out a possibility of a different tack, if she wants it. Macdonald puts in a tour de force performance in the central role, exploring the ways that Agnes is even an enigma to herself.

Macdonald and Turtletaub are both expected to attend the festival.

Artistic director of EIFF Mark Adams said: “We are thrilled to be able to celebrate the undeniable talent of Kelly Macdonald in this wonderfully enjoyable and uplifting film. It is a subtle and impressive new film that succeeds on all levels.”

Turtletaub added: "It's a great honour to be invited to have Puzzle open Edinburgh International Film Festival 2018. This world class festival has been a personal favourite for a long time - and being able to showcase Kelly’s performance here makes it even more rewarding.”

The full programme of the EIFF – which runs from June 20 to July 1 - will be announced on May 23. Tickets for Puzzle are on sale now from the EIFF website. Puzzle will be released across the UK by Sony Pictures this summer.

  • Read our interview with composer Dustin O’Halloran about scoring the Puzzle
  • Share this with others on...
    News

    Inviting curiosity Ildikó Enyedi on the value of science, perception, discovery and Silent Friend

    Streaming Spotlight: the rites of Spring We shine our Beltane spotlight on films in which the old ways linger

    Fighting fit for a debut feature Valéry Carnoy talks toxic masculinity, memory, confidence and Belgian 'soft-power'

    Collective power We look ahead at the programme of this year's Folk Film Gathering

    Writing hidden messages Arnaud Desplechin on guilt, melodrama, feeling haunted, and Two Pianos

    Clever crafting with Idiots Chris Barfoot on his six-camera set up and three-day shoot of his debut feature

    More news and features

    We're bringing you news and reviews from the San Francisco Independent Film Festival and Queer East.



    We're looking forward to Cannes.



    We've recently brought you coverage of Visions du Réel, Fantaspoa, Overlook, BFI Flare and SXSW, the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, the NY Rendezvous with French Cinema, the Glasgow Film Festival, the Berlinale, Sundance and Palm Springs.



    Read our full for more.


    Visit our festivals section.

    Interact

    Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.


    It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest from the spring events:


    Cannes 16 titles added to line-up


    Cannes Carla Simón heads short film jury


    Cannes Directors' Fortnight selection


    Cannes Payal Kapadia heads Critics' Week jury