Golfing film to open Edinburgh International Film Festival
A film about golfing legend Old Tom Morris is to open the 70th Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF).
A film about golfing legend Old Tom Morris is to open the 70th Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF).
Shot on location in Scotland, Tommy's Honour - directed by Sean Connery's son Jason - is based on the story of the pioneering golfer and his relationship with his son.
Stars including Peter Mullan, Jack Lowden and Sam Neill are expected to attend the screening on June 15. Director Connery said: I remember standing in the middle of a field in Fife during the shoot and saying to Peter and Jack, 'Tommy's Honour might get into the Edinburgh International Film Festival', not in our wildest dreams did we think it would be the opening gala opening. That's fantastic.''
The film is said to tell the story of Tom Morris's relationship with his son Tommy - also a champion golfer - off the course where they clashed over social class and the younger golfer's marriage.
Both Old and Young Tom Morris won the Open Championship four times in the early years of the tournament which started in 1860.
Producer Bob Last said: Our film is a multi-faceted story that resonates across universal themes including father-son relationships, class struggle, deep romantic love, family love and love of a game and a culture.
We are thrilled to be able to first showcase Tommy's Honour to a live audience at such a respected international gathering via our world premiere at EIFF.''
The world premiere of a remake of the 1949 comedy Whisky Galore! has already been announced as the closing film at the festival.
Gregor Fisher and Eddie Izzard star in the classic tale set in the Hebrides and based on the novel by Compton Mackenzie.
The story was inspired by the true story of the sinking of a cargo ship off the coast of Eriskay during the Second World War.
There were more than 50,000 tickets sold at the festival last year, a 9% rise on the previous year. Artistic director Mark Adams said: We are proud to be staging the world premiere of Tommy's Honour.It is a beautifully-made film packed with memorable moments and terrific performances, and reflects perfectly our intention to keep on bringing great Scottish projects to our audience.''