The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is hoping to add a touch more class to its annual festival in June by moving its red carpet galas to the Festival Theatre on Clerk Street. But first the EIFF, working with the Filmhouse, will be testing the waters by holding a free public screening of the film Mamma Mia on Thursday 15th January.
One of the long running complaints by both critics and film festival-goers is that the EIFF has lacked a good venue for gala screenings. Where in the past the now closed Odeon Cinema, just along the road from the Festival Theatre on Clerk Street, provided a large, central venue with capacity and requisite ambience for big premiere events, in the last six years the film festival has had to show gala films across multiple screens at the more drab Vue Cinema multiplex in Fountainbridge.
The option to use the Festival Theatre, owned by Edinburgh City Council, for EIFF Galas only became possible after the film festival moved its dates to June from August. In August, the Festival Theatre is a primary venue for the Edinburgh International Festival.
"Projection equipment, extra speakers and a
screen would need to be installed on a permanent basis, so before
committing to this we want to do a test screening with an audience," the festival said in a statement yesterday.
Screening and free ticket information
Mamma Mia stars Pierce Brosnan, Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, and Julie Walters.
Free tickets are available for collection in person from the Festival Theatre Box Office from now until the day of the screening, subject to availability.
Tickets are limited to four per person and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For further information, and to check availablity, call 0131 529 6000.