Saoirse Ronan starred at the opening of the Edinburgh International Film Festival

The Outrun will open the 77th Edinburgh International Film Festival.

This will be the premiere of Nora Fingscheidt’s Orkney-set drama, in which Saoirse Ronan (Ladybird, Brooklyn) will play a young woman who washes ashore back home on the Scottish islands of Orkney and tries to rebuild her life after a decade addiction.

Ronan is also co-producing the film and will join Fingscheidt (System Crusher) at this year’s EIFF, along with screenwriter Amy Liptrot and the film’s producers Sarah Brocklehurst and Dominic Norris. The world premiere took place at the Sundance Film Festival.

The relaunched EIFF also announced the name of its short film competition – The Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Excellence in Short Filmmaking. Thelma Schoonmaker is known for her editorial work covering iconic moments in film history and for her legendary collaborations with Martin Scorsese, including Raging Bull, Goodfellas, The Wolf of Wall Street and Killers of the Flower Moon.

Schoonmaker will take part in the festival this year.

The Outrun is truly a special film. “This lyrical, momentous cinema brimming with real rigor and intelligence, anchored by Saoirse Ronan’s energetic and fearless lead performance, is exactly the kind of brave work we want to champion with our revived festival,” explained EIFF Director Paul Ridd.

“I’ve been a fan of Nora Fingscheidt’s uncompromising and emotional filmmaking since her debut in System Crash, and I can’t think of a more fitting combination of announcements than this wonderful film as our opening with confirmation of the legendary Thelma Schoonmaker’s gracious support of our short films. Prize. “We are honored to work with such phenomenal women of cinema.”

The festival will take place from August 15 to 21 and will take place in venues such as the Summer Hall and the historic Cameo Cinema. It is led by Festival Director Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa.

“It’s great to see Paul set out his ambitions for relaunching the EIFF with such a significant name for Scotland. Orkney’s pristine beauty and unique natural landscape underpin everything, not just as a setting, but as a source of redemption, courage and healing,” added Isabel Davies, chief executive of Screen Scotland.

“Nora’s exceptional talent combines with Amy Liptrot’s vibrant, imaginative writing and Saoirse Ronan’s breathtaking performance to create a compelling and emotional journey. And it seems fitting that this hugely successful creative collaboration should take center stage for the festival, which is committed to working with its creative partners across the Fringe, Book, TV and International festivals.”

In addition, 10 world premiere feature films will compete for the Sean Connery Award for Excellence in Feature Film.