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God’s Own Country to open 2017 Edinburgh International Film Festival

The opening film of the 2017 Edinburgh International Film Festival has been announced. God’s Own Country will open the 71st edition of the Festival on 21 June, 2017. Captivating and broodingly beautiful, God’s Own Country is the award-winning debut feature from Yorkshire-born writer/director Francis Lee. Bracingly open hearted, this is a thrillingly romantic story set in the heart of rural Yorkshire. Both poignant and moving, this finely crafted British film features a host of standout performances, marking it out as an absolute must see…

Shot entirely on location in West Yorkshire, God’s Own Country is a contemporary tale of self-discovery and emotional-awakening set on the sheep farming hills of rural Northern England. Rising star Josh O’Connor (The Riot Club, The Durrells) takes on the central role of Johnny, a young man carrying the weight of his family’s sheep farm alone until the arrival of Romanian worker Gheorghe (Alec Secareanu). Supporting the central pair are acting stalwarts Ian Hart (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, The Last Kingdom) and Gemma Jones (Spooks, Bridget Jones’s Diary), who respectively play Jack’s stroke-afflicted father Martin and formidable grandmother Deidre.

Yorkshire-born director Francis Lee commented: “It’s a great privilege that God’s Own Country has been selected as the Opening Night film of the Edinburgh International Film Festival. After the incredible critical and audience responses to the film in both Sundance and Berlin earlier in the year, I’m thrilled to bringGod’s Own Country to the UK for the first time.”

Mark Adams, EIFF Artistic Director commented: “We are thrilled to be staging the UK premiere of Francis Lee’s accomplished debut, God’s Own Country.  This hotly-tipped feature debut is one to watch in this incredible year for independent film and perfectly reflects the Festival’s ongoing dedication to delivering audiences the most original and artistically accomplished work in international cinema.”

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