Pig to open EIFF

Nic Cage stars in truffle hunter drama

by Amber Wilkinson

Nic Cage in Pig. Director Michael Sarnoski says Cage 'got the vibe we were going for which is kind of like a poem but a lot of people did not get that'
Nic Cage in Pig. Director Michael Sarnoski says Cage 'got the vibe we were going for which is kind of like a poem but a lot of people did not get that' Photo: Courtesy of EIFF
This year's Edinburgh International Film Festival will open with the European premiere of Pig starring Nicolas Cage, on Wednesday August 18, at Festival Theatre.

Cage stars as a truffle hunter who lives alone in the Oregonian wilderness and who must return to his past in Portland in search of his beloved foraging pig after she is kidnapped. This film marks the directorial debut of Michael Sarnoski, who had edited and produced The Testimony, which was shortlisted for the 2016 Academy Awards in the best documentary short category. The film will have its UK release on August 20.

Sarnoski said: "We're so thrilled to be sharing Pig at Edinburgh International Film Festival. It was a labour of love for all involved, and we hope it gives the audience a moment of reflection and togetherness after such a hard year."

Nick Varley, the festival's lead guest programmer added: "From the moment the programming team viewed Pig we knew it was the film to open the 74th edition of the festival. Sincere thanks to Will Clarke and the team at Altitude for making the film available to us.”

The festival, which will be a hybrid edition, will run from August 18 to 25.

Share this with others on...
News

Learning to let go Gloria Mercer and Bethany Brown on filming sex, drugs and A Safe Distance

Framing a feature Michele Fiascaris on expanding his short Rain Catcher into a rain-slicked noir thriller

A heroine of the people Avid Liongoren on the Filipino animation industry and Zsazsa Zaturnnah

The girl who didn't want to be happy Julien Birban Levy on the spirit of Seoul and getting inside the head of Niko

Spirit of the art Takeru Shinozuka and Yoshihide Moriyama on animation and Foxing: Kitsuné-Tsuki

Colouring outside the lines Harrison Atkins on guerilla filmmaking, expanding options in cinema, and Sour Minnows

More news and features

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:


San Sebastian Leigh, Naishtat and Larraín among those joining line-up


Fantasia Nighborn is Cheval Noir Best Film; full list of award winners announced


Frightfest Full line-up announced


Sarajevo Festival to honour Asghar Farhadi and present tribute programme


Locarno Juries announced