Edinburgh International Film Festival Awards 2013

Edinburgh International Film Festival discovers and promotes the very best in international cinema.

The winners of this year’s prestigious Edinburgh International Film Festival awards were announced at the Festival’s awards ceremony, held at Filmhouse today and hosted by Grant Lauchlan, producer and presenter of stv’s Moviejuice.  The ceremony took place ahead of Sunday’s Closing Night Gala, NOT ANOTHER HAPPY ENDING, which will conclude the 12-day Festival.

Jamie Blackley won The Performance Award shared with his co star Toby Regbo for their performances as the dysfunctional schoolboys in uwantme2killhim? The performance awards were voted for by the Michael Powell Award Competition Jury.

Jamie Blackley said: “I felt lucky enough to hear that two films I was in had been selected for the EIFF, so to then win this award is a wonderful shock that I wasn’t expecting and I am proud to share it with Toby. I’d like to thank Andrew Douglas and the cast and crew for making the experience so special for me and to EIFF for making me feel so welcome.”

Co-star Toby Regbo added: “I’m absolutely over the moon. Making this film was so positive: a really interesting story, a great director and a superb actor to work opposite, what more could you want really? I’d like to say thank you to the EIFF for supporting British independent film and young actors.”

SVENGALI was nominated for the Michael Powell award starring the wonderful Jonny Owen. SVENGALI follows Idealistic Dixie (Jonny Owen) and his girlfriend Shell as they leave their small Welsh hometown for London, where Dixie intends to let nothing stand between him and his dream of being the manager of a big-time rock band. The realities of the music business — and of London rents — would daunt many a lesser man, but not Dixie. Expanded from a YouTube cult series, this is a smart and winning comedy.