Sam Mendes' roadtripping, parenthood comedy Away We Go will open the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) on 17th June 2009, it was announced today. The EIFF, which moved from August to June last year for the first time in its history, runs until 28th June.
Away We Go has thematic echoes of pregnancy comedy Juno, a surprise hit, with its life-affirming storyline about an unprepared couple coming to terms with the responsibilities of a new child. A major difference is that the expectant protagonists in Away We Go (John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph) are geeky thirtysomethings who travel by trains, planes and automobiles around the U.S. to discover "home" on their own terms rather than geeky teens searching up different avenues for parents for the new arrival.
EIFF artistic director, Hannah McGill, said: "We're absolutely delighted to open the Festival with a wonderful film that marks a distinct change of pace for one of Britain's most celebrated contemporary directors, Sam Mendes. Away We Go is the perfect Opening Night for Edinburgh: funny, positive and smart, and a film I'm incredibly proud to present to our audiences."
Sam Mendes, who made American Beauty, Road to Perdition and Revolutionary Road, is expected to attend the
International Premiere at Cineworld Edinburgh with members of the cast. He said he was "absolutely thrilled" that the comedy will have its
international debut at the Edinburgh Film Festival Opening Night.
"I was last in Edinburgh in 1987 at the
Fringe, and most nights the cast outnumbered the audience. So I'm
really looking forward to returning - hopefully to a full house!" said Mendes.
Released in the UK by E1 Entertainment, Away We Go is the first original screenplay by Dave Eggers (A Heartbreaking Work
of Staggering Genius) and Vendela Vida (And Now You Can Go). John
Krasinski (The Office - US series) and Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live) also star in the film, and the supporting cast includes Jeff Daniels,
Maggie Gyllenhaal and Allison Janney (who was also in Juno as Juno's mum). The film's music is by Scottish
composer Alexi Murdoch.
Away We Go is eligible for the Standard Life Audience Award which is chosen by audience votes from the Gala and British Gala Section of the EIFF. It will go on UK nationwide release from 18 September 2009.