Grant gets Edinburgh Film Festival underway

The Edinburgh Film Festival has opened with Wah-Wah, the directorial debut of Richard E Grant.

The film boasts a strong cast including Gabriel Byrne, Emily Watson, Miranda Richardson and Julie Walters.

The film tells the story of a family in Swaziland as British rule comes to a close, a far cry from films Grant starred in such as Withnail And I, Jack And Sarah and Spice World.

Some 50 films will enjoy their first screening at the festival, including another British offering, Asylum, which features Sir Ian McKellen, Natasha Richardson and Hugh Bonneville.

Other highlights of the festival will be the screening of Green Street, a film about football hooliganism starring Lord Of The Rings actor Elijah Wood.

There will also be the world premiere of Serenity, directed by Joss Whedon, the man behind Buffy The Vampire Slayer and director of forthcoming Wonder Woman.

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