The European Premiere of the riotous social satire Boyz in the Wood will open the 73rd edition of Edinburgh International Film Festival on Wednesday June 19th at Festival Theatre.

Set deep in the Scottish Highlands, Boyz in the Wood is an anarchic cocktail of generational politics, hip-hop loving farmers, and hallucinogenic rabbit droppings. As four city boys try to escape a mysterious huntsman, played brilliantly by a menacing Eddie Izzard, the Highlands’ police force trails behind, failing spectacularly and hilariously to provide assistance. Rising stars Rian Gordon, Samuel Bottomley, Viraj Juneja and Lewis Gribben lead a star-studded cast including Scottish greats Kate Dickie, EIFF Honorary Patron James Cosmo and Kevin Guthrie.  

Boyz in the Wood is the debut feature of music video director Ninian Doff, a long-time friend and supporter of EIFF, who was one of the first graduates of film group SKAMM (Scottish Kids Are Making Movies), held at Edinburgh Filmhouse and run by Shiona Wood, to whom Doff dedicates the film to in the closing credits. 

Doff says: “It’s hard to put into words what a huge honor it is for me to have Boyz in the Wood open the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2019. It’s been an incredible journey for me and real tribute to the amazing start I got all those years ago at this very festival. I’m from Edinburgh and for my debut film I really wanted to make a film that captured a very particular Scottish joy, madness and humor; and that was also modern, political and forward looking. Everybody, both cast and crew, brought so much passion and energy to make this film and it’s going to be very special for it to have its European Premiere, not only in my hometown, but also at such an important festival.”

The 73rd edition of EIFF runs from June 19 to 30, 2019