Editor

The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) announced today that BAFTA and Oscar® nominated cinematographer, Seamus McGarvey, joins Sean Connery, Tilda Swinton and Robert Carlyle as a Festival Patron.

McGarvey’s hugely varied career to date includes working with directors such as Oliver Stone, Stephen Daldry and Stephen Frears as well as lensing critically acclaimed films (ATONEMENT, THE HOURS) and box office hits (CHARLOTTE’S WEB). Most recently he has wrapped THE SOLOIST with Robert Downey Jnr and Jamie Foxx, and is currently shooting Sam Taylor-Wood’s second feature, NOWHERE BOY.

McGarvey will also be welcoming onstage at the EIFF 2009’s Oscar® winner, cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle (SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE). Returning to Scotland in the year of Homecoming, Anthony will be interviewed in front of a public audience at a Festival In-Person event, discussing his body of work including the LAST KING OF SCOTLAND and 2006’s EIFF Michael Powell winner, BROTHERS OF THE HEAD, to his most recent project with Lars Von Trier.

Seamus McGarvey commented: "I am absolutely delighted to become a Patron of the EIFF, it is a film festival particularly close to my heart and it has played a significant part in my professional life as well. I am really looking forward to continuing my conversations with cinematographers especially as this year I will be talking to Anthony Dod Mantle, one of the most inventive filmmakers in the world."

EIFF Chair Iain Smith said: “We are delighted that Seamus has agreed to join our distinguished group of EIFF patrons. Not only has he has been a longstanding and keen supporter of the Festival, he represents a vital connection with the industry, at a time when the Festival is uniquely refocusing on young talent, new media and technology. His patronage signifies the Festival's intention to engender contact and discussion between talent, content and technology; between culture and commerce, innovation and industry.”

As part of the ongoing commitment to expand their industry initiatives, the EIFF will be hosting a series of presentations, debates, screenings and masterclasses that look at cinematography and 3D stereo production, led by professionals working at the cutting edge of motion picture technology, with the aim of assisting filmmakers with the vast range of film and digital choices that are available.