Comic plays a menacing hunter in Boyz In The Wood

Eddie Izzard’s latest film is to open this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Boyz In The Wood is described as a ‘riotous social satire’ about hip-hop loving farmers in the Scottish Highlands.

It revolves around four four city boys – played by relative newcomers Rian Gordon, Samuel Bottomley, Viraj Juneja and Lewis Gribben  – trying to escape a mysterious, menacing huntsman played by Izzard.

The film – the debut feature of music video director Ninian Doff, who also wrote the script –  will have its European premiere when it opens the 73^rd Edinburgh film festival on June. 19.

Doff said: ‘It’s hard to put into words what a huge honour 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. 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 humour; 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."

Mark Adams, the artistic director of Edinburgh International Film Festival added: ‘We are thrilled to be opening this year’s festival with this vibrant, energetic and wonderfully raucous new film that showcases a wide range of Scottish talent, from rising stars to established performers. Boyz in the Wood is a blast from start to finish and will start EIFF perfectly.’

Ninian Doff and the cast are expected to attend the red carpet at the festival.

Here’s a clip:

Published: 1 May 2019