Edinburgh Film Festival 2012 programme launched

Chris Fujiwara reveals extensive world cinema programme for EIFF 2012

30 May 2012

This year the Edinburgh International Film Festival 's new director, Chris Fujiwara, has devised a brave and eclectic programme in an attempt to return the festival to its former glory. With a similar format to previous years - with several strands…

Gustavo Dudamel and The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela to play at The Big Concert

30 May 2012

There’s a reason it’s called The Big Concert. On 21 June, this midsummer night promises to be a musical spectacular when the incredible Gustavo Dudamel will take to the stage against the dramatic backdrop of Stirling Castle, joined by The Simón…

Exciting June activities as part of the Year of Creative Scotland

Including goNORTH, the Spring Fling and festivals in Leith and East Neuk

30 May 2012

In the run-up to one of the most action-packed summers in the UK, June welcomes a fantastic fusion of sport and culture in the Year of Creative Scotland. This month will bring together some of the most exciting new initiatives in 2012 with Scotland’s…

Top 5 presidents on film

In honour of Bill Murray's FDR in Hyde Park on Hudson, we look at the finest screen presidents

30 May 2012

After his near miss at a Best Actor Oscar for 2003's Lost in Translation (seized by Sean Penn in Mystic River), Bill Murray appears to be taking another swipe at the wee gold fella with this portrayal of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Given America's love…

Olympic Torch Relay - Scottish route and dates

Information on Scottish leg of the Olympic Torch's journey around the UK

28 May 2012

Having toured through various towns and cities in England and Wales, the Olympic Torch relay is set to head to Scotland, starting in Glasgow on Fri 8 Jun. The city will celebrate the torch’s arrival with a multi-arts programme at Kelvingrove Art…

Win tickets to see your bands from the stage at RockNess 2012

28 May 2012

This year's RockNess Festival is offering one lucky person and a friend the chance to watch their favourite act from the side of the stage. The competition is open to anyone who has already purchased full weekend tickets, or day ticket holders who want…

Interview: Friendly Fires plan to get the crowds dancing at RockNess 2012

Ed Macfarlane on festivals, pop music and dancing ‘like an idiot’

28 May 2012

Friendly Fires blur the lines between indie and dance music, so their brand of punk funk should fit in perfectly at RockNess. Hailing from St Albans in Hertfordshire they were nominated for the Mercury Music prize for their debut eponymous album, which…

Cannes 2012: Amour

Deeply sad and affecting film from Michael Haneke, and winner of the 2012 Palme D’Or

28 May 2012

Unlike The White Ribbon (Michael Haneke’s Palme D’Or winning film from 2009), which stands out for its thematic and narrative complexities, Amour sees the Austrian director take a far simpler approach to filmmaking, with an intimate story of an elderly…

Cannes 2012: Holy Motors

Hugely satisfying and inventive celebration of cinema from Leos Carax

28 May 2012

Monsieur Oscar (Denis Lavant) is picked up by his driver Celine (Edith Scob) for a day’s work - 9 appointments that will take him across Paris and into the paths of an array of characters. If that sounds vague, it’s deliberate - to say anymore would…

Emeli Sande, Eliza Doolittle and General Fiasco to celebrate the Olympic Torch's passage through Scotland

28 May 2012

Scotland will burst into song as the Olympic Flame weaves its way across Scotland from 8–14 June, before reappearing on 21 June. Your community will be alive with the sound of song as a fusion of local favourites, new commissions, anthems, pop songs…

Summer Festivals 2012: Music

T in the Park, Wickerman and Belladrum among the music fests pleasing your ears this summer

25 May 2012

T in the Park Basics: Balado by Kinross, Fri 6–Sun 8 Jul, tinthepark.com Price: Weekend: £179 (campsite tickets available separately). Day: £70–£77.50. Line-up: The Stone Roses, Snow Patrol, Kasabian, New Order, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds…

Interview: Alan Cumming on staging a one-man Macbeth

Aberfeldy’s most famous son on the toil and trouble of Shakespeare

25 May 2012

How much doom and gloom can one man take? For most actors, it would be enough of a mental burden to take on the role of Macbeth, the warrior king whose ambition leads to self-destruction. But for Alan Cumming, that’s only the start of it. In a new…

Interview: Emile Hirsch on Killer Joe

William Friedkin’s violent thriller set to open 2012 Edinburgh International Film Festival

25 May 2012

‘Oh man, the human punching bag is here!’ laughs Emile Hirsch, as he walks into the room. Don’t worry, though the 27-year-old star of Speed Racer and Into The Wild is not covered in bruises (unless you count a bruised ego). He’s recounting his time on…

Summer Festivals 2012: Biffy Clyro - interview

The band's James Johnston discusses their headline slot at RockNess

25 May 2012

Despite the unusual time signatures, the uncompromising riffs, the bizarro lyrics and the beards, somehow Biffy Clyro have become one of the biggest rock bands in the UK. Even their hits – ‘That Golden Rule’, ‘Mountains’ and ‘Many of Horror…

Summer Festivals 2012: Death in Vegas - interview

A chat with Richard Fearless ahead of his RockNess performance

25 May 2012

As British music finally dragged itself out of a post-Britpop hangover around the turn of the century, Death in Vegas were among the most quintessential of festival bands. 1999’s The Contino Sessions and 2002’s Scorpio Rising were staples of any…

Summer Festivals 2012: Here We Go Magic - interview

The band's Luke Temple gets ready for their slot at T in the Park

25 May 2012

‘I’m kind of a late bloomer, really,’ testifies Luke Temple, singer and songwriter in chief with Brooklynite indie-pop contenders Here We Go Magic. ‘I didn’t start writing songs until 2000, until I was about 25, and up ‘til then I’d only listened to…

Shinji Somai retrospective at Edinburgh International Film Festival 2012

Introduction to one of Japan’s most popular and respected filmmakers

25 May 2012

It often seems like there’s an infinite wellspring of Japanese filmmakers revered in their home country yet barely heard of overseas, with every year bringing yet another retrospective of some unheralded cinematic maestro. It’s all enough to leave those…

Summer Festivals 2012: Nile Rodgers - interview

The disco legend talks to us ahead of his set at RockNess with Chic

25 May 2012

Disco and pop icon Nile Rodgers is recalling the first time his band Chic played Atlantic Records their biggest hit. ‘We emptied the boardroom,’ he says of multi-million selling 70s wig-out, ‘Le Freak’. ‘We started it – “One, two, awwww Freak Out!” And…

Summer Festivals 2012: Community

Solas, Leith and West End Fests among the best community-focused fests around Scotland this summer

25 May 2012

West End Festival Where: Various venues, West End of Glasgow, 1–24 Jun, westendfestival.co.uk Price: Free–£20 for bigger gigs Line-up: James Yorkston, Howard Marks, Suzanne Vega, Michael Marra, We Were Promised Jetpacks You want to learn Gaelic in…

Summer Festivals 2012: Best dance music live shows

Which of this year's superstar DJs have visuals to match their beats?

25 May 2012

Picture the scene. Dusk has fallen on the festival site. Tens of thousands of inebriated and euphoric festivalgoers have assembled at the main stage. They’re waiting for the headliner, whooping and hollering in anticipation. Then it happens: a guy…

Summer Festivals 2012: Ones to watch

A selection of industry experts and List writers choose their musical highlights for this summer

25 May 2012

Lanterns on the Lake Chosen by Jonny Ensall, Editor, The List What does that name bring to mind? Boats on the water? A night to remember? An ethereal choir of knitting together a sense of the magical past and the optimistic future? You’re spot on with…

Summer Festivals 2012: Books

Essential info on Bloody Scotland and the Wigtown and Borders book fests

25 May 2012

Borders Book Festival Where: Harmony Garden, Melrose, 14–17 June, bordersbookfestival.org Price: £9–£13 per event. Line-up: Sir David Frost, Hilary Mantel, William Boyd, Alistair Darling, John Sessions There have been a few eyebrows raised by this…

Summer Festivals 2012: The weird and wonderful

Some of the more eccentric festivals you can take part in this summer

25 May 2012

Ballater Victoria Week Where: Various venues across Ballater, Aberdeenshire, Sat 4–Sun 12 Aug, victoriaweek.org Price: Free–£10. Line-up: Aboyne Hip Hop Juniors, Guarana Drummers, An Evening of Clairvoyance with Maureen Smith This annual…

Our top three Charlize Theron roles

The former model is much more than just a pretty face

25 May 2012

Discovered during the midst of an argument with a bank employee in California, South African born former model Charlize Theron is a critically acclaimed actress, yet due to the conventional roles Hollywood churns out for beautiful women (see the Milla…

Men in Black 3

Silly, lightweight, completely unnecessary but surprisingly fun

25 May 2012

In these times of austerity Hollywood seems scared of originals ideas. Studios demand ‘brand recognition’ before they’ll stump up the multi-million dollar budgets blockbusters require. And they seem willing to latch onto almost any brand, from comics to…