EIFF announce Karen Gillan as Youth Strand patron

The star of Guardians of the Galaxy and Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle has been named as patron of the Edinburgh International Film Festival’s youth strand “The Young and the Wild”

Article by Jamie Dunn | 18 Jan 2018

Karen Gillan's star is in the ascendancy. The Inverness-born actor first came to wide acclaim on British television in Doctor Who before going on to have roles in Hollywood blockbusters like Guardians of the Galaxy and Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle. Her star is set to rise even further in May, as the 30-year-old is due to appear in Avengers: Infinity War, sure to be one of the biggest films of the year. As well as acting, Gillan also works behind the camera: her first feature as writer-director, The Party’s Just Beginning, is currently in post-production.

All this makes Gillan an ideal choice as a patron of Edinburgh International Film Festival’s new youth strand. Dubbed 'The Young and the Wild', the programme coincides with Scotland’s The Year of Young People, a year-long programme of events and activities that will give young people in Scotland the opportunity to show the world what they are made of. Greatly expanded from previous editions, this new strand will see a significant increase in EIFF screenings and events for younger audiences interested in filmmaking and the moving image industries.

“This builds on the great work EIFF has been doing for the past four years in developing and inspiring young people who have a passion for cinema,” said Gillan. “Through this programme young people will be able to access great international cinema, but more importantly learn from filmmakers from around the world who will visit EIFF in June.”

Gillan has been a regular presence at EIFF over the years. In 2013 her Glasgow-set romantic comedy Not Another Happy Ending brought that year’s festival to a close, while her debut short film Coward received its world premiere at EIFF in 2015. “To have support from Karen Gillan, one of Scotland’s most treasured and successful actor/writer/directors, is a huge honour for us,” said EIFF’s deputy artistic director, Diane Henderson. “Karen is already one of our esteemed Honorary Patrons and to have this additional support from her means a great deal to all of us here at EIFF.”


The 72nd edition of EIFF runs from 20 Jun-1 Jul. For more information, head to www.edfilmfest.org.uk

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