Edinburgh Film Fest to close with Scott Graham’s drama “Iona”

PanARMENIAN.Net - Scott Graham’s drama “Iona”, which stars Ruth Negga from “Agents of SHIELD,” is set to close the Edinburgh Film Festival on June 28, Variety reports.

Shot completely on location in Scotland, the film follows Iona (Negga) as she returns to her hometown with her teenage son, Bull, to escape trouble in Glasgow. The pic also stars Douglas Henshall, Tom Brooke, Michelle Duncan, Ben Gallagher and Sorcha Groundsell.

Graham, known for his first feature, “Shell,” expressed his excitement to bring his film to Edinburgh, a city and fest to which he maintains a personal connection.

“I discovered many films and filmmakers at the Edinburgh International Film Festival,” Graham said in a statement. “Edinburgh was my home all through my 20s, and it was in venues like Filmhouse and the Cameo where I learned the value of the stories we tell and the emotions we share. I’m thrilled ‘Iona’ will have its premiere here and doubly thrilled it will close the festival. What an honor.”

“Iona” was co-financed by the BFI and Creative Scotland. Margaret Matheson and Gunter Hanfgarn produced the film with executive producers Christopher Collins, Lizzie Francke, Ian Davies and Rebecca Long. It will bow in U.K. theaters later in 2015.

“We are thrilled to be closing this year’s festival with Scott Graham’s lovely, moving and enthralling ‘Iona,'” Edinburgh artistic director Mark Adams said in a statement. “He is a striking cinematic talent, and the film will wrap this year’s festival in the perfect way.”