Edinburgh International Festival has seen it all: seven decades of seismic political shifts, hard won social change, and cultural and sexual revolutions. It is now the main character in a new documentary The World in One City, directed by Anne Milne and produced by Noé Mendelle. The film features rare archive footage and interviews conducted by Sir Jonathan Mills with a variety of International Festival directors, artists and audience members.
In telling the story of the Edinburgh International Festival, The World in One City looks at the people who have contributed to its success, from Festival Directors, to patrons, to long time audience members, to the artists themselves. Contributors like impresario Richard Demarco help to tell the incredible story of the festival, that has featured countless legendary performances, including Marlene Dietrich in the early years. Rare footage of Marlene accompanies a humorous anecdote from contributor Patricia, Countess of Harewood, who describes Marlene as “monstrous and rude, terrifying stage staff…. but still marvelous.”
“I loved Edinburgh. I want to say this again and again and again and again, I loved Edinburgh.” Marlene Dietrich.
The film follows the development of Edinburgh International Festival throughout the decades and tells the story of the tension between liberal, visionary festival organisers and censorious presbyterian ministers and opponents. In the 23rd year a young Sir Ian McKellen played the title roles in Edward II and Richard II by Marlowe. Robert Rattray of New York’s Metropolitan Opera, describes visiting in 1969 and seeing the productions. Edward II, then largely unknown because of the homosexuality of the English king, launched McKellen’s career but sparked huge protests in Edinburgh, where unlike in England, homosexuality was still illegal. Also in the 60s and 70s, in the height of the Cold War, Russian and other Eastern European artists were invited for the first time with the Bolshoi and Kirov Opera’s performing in the same programme.
The film continues through the decades, transporting us through Edinburgh’s incredible history, to the present day, telling the surprising story of the Edinburgh International Festival and every facet of its personality; from the unique, to the innovative, to the truly Utopian.
Director Anne Milne’s previous films include Maria’s Way which has won a number of prestigious awards and played at festivals worldwide. She has been associated with SDI since 2009, and has produced a number of Bridging The Gap films, the most recent of which is BAFTA-nominated and Grierson shortlisted Swan. She is a co-founder of Edinburgh’s DocKlub.
Noé Mendelle has worked in film & TV for over thirty years as a director and a producer. She set up Scottish Documentary Institute in 2003 and since then has devised several award-winning talent initiatives.
The World in One City will premiere at Edinburgh International Festival 2017 and screens on the 10th and 19th August. Get your ticket HERE!
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