Irish film Skintown to have world premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival

Skintown has been selected to receive its world premiere at the 79th Edinburgh International Film Festival on August 16.

Directed by Kieron J. Walsh from a script by Ciaran McMenamin, the film is set in the summer of 1994, when best friends Vinny and Jonty are desperate to escape their small-town life in conflict-torn Enniskillen (Skintown), Northern Ireland.

Just as a ceasefire is announced, giving hope of a brighter future, Vinny and Jonty successfully execute a dangerous plan destined to spring them from Skintown before fate intervenes.

The film is one of the titles competing for the festival's Sean Connery Prize; its cast includes Jack Rowan, Chris Walley, Jamie Lee O'Donnell and Hope Ikpoku Jnr.

This year, EIFF also launched its honorary Outstanding Contribution to Cinema Award, which will be handed to Belfast-born actor and director Kenneth Branagh. He will also be there to participate in a wide-ranging discussion on his career.

"Heading into the third edition of our revamped, reimagined and reinvigorated Edinburgh International Film Festival feels like hitting a stride we have been working towards since the start of 2024," said Paul Ridd, CEO and EIFF Director.

"With stellar competitions, fantastically varied and essential new films from Scotland, from the wider UK and from the rest of the world, and more world premieres than we have ever screened before, this year's line-up offers a panoramic vision of cinema at its most exciting, dynamic and full of potential. Edinburgh is quite simply the only place to be in August. Bring it on."

The 79th Edinburgh International Film Festival takes place August 13-19.