Tony Benn film named audience favourite

Documentary featuring Labour statesman wins award at EIFF.

by Amber Wilkinson

Tony Benn: Will And Testament
Tony Benn: Will And Testament
Tony Benn: Will and Testament was announced as the winner of the Audience Award at the 68th edition of Edinburgh International Film Festival tonight.

Directed by Skip Kite, the film is made up of interviews with the long-time Labour MP taken shortly before his death in March 2014. The EIFF Audience Award is voted for by cinema-goers attending public screenings. Fifteen films were eligible from across the festival.

Director and Producer Skip Kite said: "Praslin Pictures, and everyone involved in the making of the film, are truly honoured that Will & Testament has been so wonderfully received by the Edinburgh International Film Festival audience. We are very proud to have launched the film here and our heartfelt thanks goes to all the Festival staff and everyone involved with the World Premiere. We know that Tony would have been absolutely delighted and humbled, and we are too."

EIFF Artistic Director Chris Fujiwara said: “Our audience’s decision reflects both the enduring significance of Tony Benn himself and the force and conviction with which the film pays tribute to him. The film is a rousing argument for compassionate politics, and this award shows how well that argument communicated to our audience.”

The rest of the festival winners were announced on Friday, you can read about them here.

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