The relaunched Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), Black Bear and award-winning film exhibition company We Are Parable have announced a special partnership screening for the European premiere of Greg Kwedar’s unforgettable prison drama Sing Sing.
In Sing Sing, a small group of incarcerated people inside the infamous maximum security correctional facility find purpose by acting together in a theatre group. When a wary outsider joins the group, the men decide to stage their first original comedy entitled ‘Breakin’ The Mummy’s Code’ from inception to opening night.
Sing Sing stars Academy Award nominee Colman Domingo (Rustin, Euphoria), newcomer Clarence Maclin, Academy Award nominee Paul Raci, and an unforgettable ensemble cast of formerly incarcerated actors in a stirring true story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art.
We Are Parable will present screenings of the film at EIFF with extended intros, talent Q&As and audience outreach. The European premiere of Sing Sing will screen at EIFF on 16 August at the Cameo cinema and will be released by Black Bear, who also produced the film, in the UK and Ireland on 30 August. The film will be released by A24 in the US on 12 July. The full EIFF programme will launch on Wednesday 10 July at 5pm, with tickets going on sale on Thursday 11 July at 12 noon.
EIFF has recently announced that its early-evening Opening Night film will be Nora Fingscheidt's (System Crasher) adaptation of Amy Liptrot’s best-selling memoir, The Outrun, starring Saoirse Ronan (Ladybird, Brooklyn). Alongside this, EIFF has announced the name of its short film competition as The Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Short Filmmaking Excellence. Thelma Schoonmaker, who will be in attendance at the Festival, is celebrated for her iconic work as an editor on landmark moments in cinema history, collaborating on such films as Killers of the Flower Moon and Goodfellas.
This year’s 77th edition of the Festival honours the film festival’s history, showcasing the very best talent in filmmaking in a format rooted in a local Scottish context whilst embracing the international diversity of creative expression. EIFF encourages general audiences, film fans and industry professionals to make the trip this summer to Edinburgh.
EIFF Director, Paul Ridd has said: "I am fortunate enough to have seen firsthand the incredible work Anthony and Teanne have been doing with We Are Parable these past years across audience engagement and distribution in the UK. Their tireless work and profound passion for cinema and growing audiences for it is a source of immense inspiration and I am just totally delighted we get to work with them and Black Bear on the European premiere of the extraordinarily moving film Sing Sing from filmmaker Greg Kwedar in August.”
We Are Parable Co-Founders, Anthony Andrews & Teanne Andrews have said: “We’re honoured to present the European premiere of Sing Sing at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. This new partnership with the festival and Black Bear reflects our dedication to transformative stories that resonate with audiences around the UK.”
UK Managing Director Black Bear, Llewellyn Radley has said: “Sing Sing tells a powerful, emotional story in a wholly original way, with wonderful performances from a cast that includes many formerly incarcerated actors, alongside professionals, Colman Domingo and Paul Raci. We’re thrilled to partner with the Edinburgh International Film Festival and We Are Parable to share this special film with UK audiences.”
From August 15 to August 21 2024, the 77th edition of EIFF will take place at unique venues in Edinburgh, including Summerhall and the historic Cameo cinema, allowing audiences to seamlessly experience the best of the Fringe along with the world-class programme of cinema at EIFF. Submissions to EIFF have now closed with more information available on the Edinburgh Film Festival website.
Helmed by Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, the team aims to create a world-class showcase for independent film and filmmaking talent. Former Acquisitions Executive Ridd is supported by an expanding Board, including Chair Andrew Macdonald of DNA Films, producer of the iconic Edinburgh-based film Trainspotting; Peter Rice, former Chairman of General Entertainment at Disney and President of 21st Century Fox; and Amy Jackson, producer of last year’s BAFTA award-winning indie, Aftersun. EIFF 2024 is supported by Screen Scotland.
The EIFF programme launches on Wednesday 10 July at 5pm, with tickets on sale at 12 noon on Thursday 11 July.
Image credits
Stills from Sing Sing featuring Colman Domingo, courtesy of Black Bear