EIFF have announced that comedy legend Billy Crystal's Here Today will close the 74th edition of Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Crystal who directs for the first time in 20 years, produced, co-wrote and stars in the film alongside Tiffany Haddish.
With EIFF's move back to August, the traditional season of comedy in Edinburgh, the UK Premiere will take place at Filmhouse on Wednesday 25 August seeing the festival off with a smile.
Veteran comedy writer Charlie Burnz (Billy Crystal) forms an unlikely yet hilarious and touching friendship with New York singer Emma Payge (Tiffany Haddish) in the new comedy- drama Here Today.
Emma - the unlikely recipient of a prize to have lunch with the comedy legend, despite not knowing who he is – gets off to a rocky start with Charlie (think seafood allergy, a hospital visit, and an epi pen). Before long, each finds in the other a sort of soul mate, forging a deep bond that kicks the generation gap aside and redefines the meaning of friendship, love and trust.
Billy Crystal says: "I'm thrilled that Here Today has been selected to close the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2021. To have an audience sit inside a cinema together and share the experience of this film after these unusual times makes me very happy.”
Nick Varley, Lead Guest Programmer of Edinburgh International Film Festival added: “We are thrilled to be closing this year’s festival with Here Today. Billy Crystal has created a wonderfully charming and touching film about friendship and growing old. The onscreen chemistry between him and Tiffany Haddish is just a joy to watch. Bring your hankies and prepare to shed tears of laughter and sadness”
Still of Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish in Here Today.
Tickets for the Closing Gala will go on sale with the full programme launch on 28 July.
The 74th edition of EIFF runs from 18 – 25 August 2021. The full programme will be announced on 28 July 2021.
Find out more about the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/490646825569910
For further information contact The Corner Shop PR Scotland:
Susie Gray | [email protected] | 07834 073 795
Rob Deacon | [email protected] | 07930 334 126
Magda Paduch | [email protected] | 07583 164 070
Here Today
Here Today is co-produced by Astute Films, Crystal’s Face Productions and Big Head Productions.
- Starring Billy Crystal, Tiffany Haddish, Penn Badgley, Laura Benanti, Louisa Krause.
- Directed by Billy Crystal.
- Written by Billy Crystal & Alan Zweibel. Inspired by the Short Story “The Prize” by Alan Zweibel.
- Produced by Fred Bernstein, Billy Crystal, Dominique Telson, Alan Zweibel, and Tiffany Haddish.
- Executive Producers are Rick Jackson, Claudine Marrotte, and Samantha Sprecher.
- Director of Photography is Vanja Černjul, ASC.
- Production Designer is Andre Jackness.
- Edited by Ken Beyda.
- Costume Designer is Cynthia Flynt.
- Music by Charlie Rosen.
- Casting by Tara Rubin, CSA
Here Today will be released by Sony Pictures Releasing UK, and will be in cinemas nationwide on 3rd September 2021.
About Edinburgh International Film Festival:
Established in 1947, Edinburgh International Film Festival is renowned around the world for discovering and promoting the very best in international cinema - and for heralding and debating changes in global filmmaking. Intimate in its scale, ambitious in its scope, and fuelled by pure passion for cinema in all its manifestations, EIFF seeks to spotlight the most exciting and innovative new film talent, in a setting steeped in history. Notable films premiered in recent years have included: Bait, The Souvenir, Cold War, Calibre, God’s Own Country, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Amy, Inside Out, 45 Years, A Most Wanted Man, Cold in July, The Imposter, Brave, Tabu, The Hurt Locker, Moon, Fish Tank, Let the Right One In, Man on Wire, Control, Knocked Up, Ratatouille, Little Miss Sunshine and Billy Elliot.
EIFF is supported by Screen Scotland, the PLACE Programme (a partnership between the Scottish Government, City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Festivals), the Scottish Government through the Festivals Expo Fund, the City of Edinburgh Council, EventScotland and the British Film Institute.
The Edinburgh International Film Festival Limited is a company registered in Scotland No: SC132453. It is a subsidiary of the Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) which is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status with Scottish Charity No. SC006793. The Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) was established in 2010 with a mission to be at the forefront of the development of a vibrant and successful film and moving image industry and culture across Scotland and beyond. The CMI currently comprises EIFF, Filmhouse in Edinburgh and the Belmont Filmhouse in Aberdeen.