Babak Jalali’s Fremont To Close Edinburgh Film Festival

It’s great to talk about Edinburgh Film Festival in future . This year’s festival will close with Babak Jalali’s Fremont which will be the film’s UK Premiere.

As I said great to be once again talk about the international film festival be it shorter. Returning for a 6 day festival which will play part of the city’s International Festival (The Fringe). Kicking off on the 18th August ending with Fremont on 23rd August.

The film centres on troubled 20-something Donya, played in a breakout debut performance by former TV journalist Anaita Wali Zada, who, like her character in the film, was forced to flee Afghanistan. Donya is an Afghan translator whose work for the U.S. Government has led to her becoming lost and adrift in the titular Californian town.

Donya takes a new job writing the fortunes at a fortune cookie factory and as her messages begin to be read by those throughout the city, her growing sense of longing drives her to send a more profound statement out to the world.

Fremont’s dry sense of humour coupled with its stark, black and white cinematography has invited comparisons with the work of Jim Jarmusch and is a deft portrait of a young woman struggling to come to with the ghosts of her past, whilst simultaneously yearning for human connection and companionship.

The cast also includes Boots Riley and Bettina Devin. The film is the fourth feature from BAFTA-nominated British Iranian filmmaker Jalali, whose previous films include Frontier Blues and Radio Dreams. Jalali commented on the news… “I’m so honoured that Fremont will have its UK premiere as the Closing Night film at EIFF! Growing up in the UK, it was easy to understand the huge cultural impact EIFF has had not just on these shores but also internationally. And the importance of making sure it continues to be here and to thrive. I’m thrilled to be returning to Edinburgh once again to show a film to an audience that I’ve very fond memories of, and in such a prestigious slot in the programme.”

EIFF Programme Director Kate Taylor has said: “Our programming team was totally captivated by Fremont’s mood, style and subtlety, and adored both the character of Donya and the tender care shown by director Babak Jalali towards his layered protagonist. It’s an honour to close this year’s festival with a film that considers the complex dynamics of diaspora experience in such a nuanced way, whilst frequently delighting with its wry wit and off-beat humour. We can’t wait for Edinburgh audiences to fall under its spell.”

This news comes after last week’s announcement that Johnny Barrington‘s Silent Roar is a teenage tale of surfing, sex and hellfire set in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides will opening the festival.

All tickets for Edinburgh International Film Festival go on sale at midday on 7th July via eif.co.uk/edfilmfest, the day after the full programme will be announced. Fremont is set for an UK Autumn cinema release from Modern Films.