Festival to screen films in locations which inspired them

A double bill of Trainspotting and its sequel T2 Trainspotting will open a festival celebrating Scottish films in the locations that inspired them.

The films, both partly shot in the Leith area of Edinburgh, will be shown on a giant LED screen outside a brewery taproom there as part of the Cinescapes Festival.

The festival will run from July to October, with the finale a showing of Sylvain Chomet’s animated film The Illusionist at the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, on October 16.

“Trainspotting was a phenomenon that put Scottish film on the international map and 25 years after its release it stands the test of time.”
Amanda Rogers, founder of Cinescapes

There will also be a showing of Under The Skin in Glasgow on July 31, Nae Pasaran in East Kilbride on August 21 and Aquarela in Oban in September.

People in the local area will be able to watch the films for free in socially-distanced ticketed outdoor screenings, with an option to give a donation, and they will also be shared online with people around the world with viewers paying according to a sliding scale.

Amanda Rogers, founder of Cinescapes, said: “It has been a long time in the planning and we are really thrilled we are going to get this off the ground.

“Trainspotting was a phenomenon that put Scottish film on the international map and 25 years after its release it stands the test of time.

“T2 Trainspotting was a very worthy sequel and it was partly filmed in Leith – which fits our ambition of showing films in the locations which inspired them.”

The open-air Trainspotting double bill will take place on a giant LED screen outside the Campervan tap room in Leith on July 4.