EiffThe 67th Edinburgh International Film Festival kicks off this evening with the European premiere of Breathe In, Drake Doremus’ dark family drama starring Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce, and then continues for a further eleven days until it draws to a close with the world premiere of John McKay’s romantic comedy Not Another Happy Ending.

The programme, which has been lovingly put together by Artistic Director Chris Fujiwara and his trusted team, contains all the necessary ingredients to appease both die-hard cinema fans and those simply looking to catch the next big thing a few weeks before anyone else. To find the films worth seeing though is a tricky task – something that this article could help with.

I’ve scoured the jam-packed programme and come up with ten films (included below with brief descriptions and screening details) that should not be missed:

Monsters-University-Banner

Monsters University

The long awaited prequel to Disney/Pixar’s eighth most successful film of all time occupies this year’s Family Gala slot. And, with a plot that promises to take the audience back to a time when Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sully (John Goodman) weren’t best of friends, this is one animated college caper that cannot be missed.

Monsters University screens on June 23. Tickets can be booked here. 

The-Deep-Poster

The Deep

After taking a stab at the Hollywood thriller genre with Contraband, a remake of his own film Reykavik-Rotterdam, Icelandic director Baltasar Kormakur returns to familiar home territory for The Deep, a tale of survival against the odds that made a big impression on audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The Deep screens on June 20 and 21. Tickets can be booked here. 

Stories We Tell

Stories We Tell

Acclaimed director Sarah Polley transitions into documentary filmmaking with this passion project investigating her family’s mysterious past. Supported by talking head interviews with real life family members and archive footage, this is one documentary that’s sure to pull at the heartstrings.

Stories We Tell screens on June 21 and 22. Tickets can be booked here.

For Those In Peril

For Those In Peril 

Paul Wright’s feature debut premiered to a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival where it was hailed as “a striking new film from a valuable new talent”. The film itself concerns the collective grief that haunts Aaron (George Mckay), the sole survivor of a divesting fishing trip and looks set to take Edinburgh by storm.

For Those In Peril screens on June 28 and 29. Tickets can be booked here.

Oh Boy

Oh Boy

German director Jan Ole Gerster takes a step back in time with the black-and-white tragicomedy. Set on the streets of Berlin, Gerster’s screenplay offers up a lively portrait of a university drop-out whose whole world changes in the space of 24 hours.

Oh Boy screens on June 23 and 29. Tickets can be booked here. 

The Bling Ring

The Bling Ring

Sofia Coppola’s follow-up to Somewhere has split audiences right down the middle. Yet, with a strong, against type performance from Harry Potter alumni Emma Watson and a neon-tinted take on the true story of celebrity-obsessed teen burglars, this is still worth a gander.

The Bling Ring screens on June 22 and 23. Tickets can be booked here.

Frances Ha

Frances Ha 

Noah Baumbach’s low-budget black-and-white showcase for Greta Gerwig’s sensational talents lands upon UK shores. As a showcase for Greta Gerwig’s sensational talents and a welcomed return to comfortable terrain for Baumbach, this is one uninhibited comedy that’s guaranteed to make you smile.

Frances Ha screens on June 21 and 22. Tickets can be booked here. 

wikileaks

We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks

Academy Award winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney shines light onto the WikiLeaks phenomenon with what promises to be a fascinating,  illuminating and altogether frightening expose. If it’s anything like similar themed documentary The Imposter, we’re in for a treat.

We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks screens on June 25 and 26. Tickets can be booked here. 

Leviathan

Leviathan

In line for the prestigious Michael Powell Award, Leviathan is a new documentary from Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Verena Paravel that, according to Edinburgh International Film Festival website, “immerses the audience in the sights and sounds of a voyage of a battered old Atlantic Ocean fishing trawler”.

Leviathan screens on June 27 and 29. Tickets can be booked here. 

Emily Browning in Magic Magic

Magic Magic 

Rising star Juno Temple takes centre stage in this psychological thriller from Sebastian Silva. While vacationing on a remote island, a young woman begins to mentally unravel at the cost of her own sanity. Michael Cera and Emily Browning complete the cast list.

Magic Magic screens on June 23 and 24. Tickets can be booked here. 

The 67th Edinburgh International Film Festival runs from June 19 – 30. To keep up with all of our coverage, click here.