EIFF to present ET with live orchestral score

Festival joins forces with RSNO for UK premiere.

by Amber Wilkinson

E.T. - The Extra Terrestial will be screened at EIFF 2016 with a live score.
E.T. - The Extra Terrestial will be screened at EIFF 2016 with a live score.
Edinburgh International Film Festival will join forces with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra to present the UK Premiere of Steven Spielberg’s legendary E.T. - The Extra Terrestrial, accompanied by John Williams’ iconic score performed live by the RSNO on Saturday, June 25, at the Edinburgh's Festival Theatre.

Steven Spielberg's tale of a boy who befriends a stranded alien had its UK premiere at the festival in 1982, where it was the opening night film.

EIFF artistic director Mark Adams said: “We are delighted to continue our relationship with the RSNO for this wonderful film and music event. The fact that E.T. and Steven Spielberg have such a strong link to EIFF makes this magnificent screening in our 70th edition all the more special. Certainly not an event to be missed.”

RSNO Chief Executive Krishna Thiagarajan added: “E.T. surely has an appeal which spans generations so this special screening with live orchestra promises to be a memorable event for the young as well as the more seasoned cinema attenders. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if there were a few tears on stage as well as in the stalls come the film’s final scenes.”

Tickets for the event will go on sale on Friday February 5, from 10am, and can be bought from Filmhouse Box Office, 0131 623 8030, or online at www.edfilmfest.org.uk.

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