Artistic Director Hannah McGill was delighted to confirm that Maybury's eagerly anticipated film based on poet Dylan Thomas' love life will be the Opening Night Gala on Wednesday 18 June.

"I couldn’t be happier to be opening this most auspicious Festival with this utterly seductive and fascinating film, which stars some of the most charismatic young performers in the business, and affirms John Maybury as one of our most important directors."

The Edge of Love centres around two feisty, free-spirited women connected by the brilliant, charismatic poet Dylan Thomas (Matthew Rhys), who loves them both.

Vera Phillips (Keira Knightley) and Dylan were childhood sweethearts, who reignite their romance in wartime London, where she is working as a singer and he is churning out government propaganda scripts in aid of the war effort.

Thomas is married, however, to the adventurous Caitlin (Sienna Miller). The two women form a surprising friendship.

Cillian Murphy completes the starry line-up as Vera's devoted admirer and would-be husband.

Maybury is a Festival favourite, the director having picked up the Michael Powell Award in 1998 for his Francis Bacon biopic, Love is the Devil.

"I am thrilled and delighted to have the film at the Edinburgh International Film Festival," the director commented.

"I have a deep affection for the Festival since they were good enough to award Love is the Devil the Michael Powell Award, and Daniel Craig and Derek Jacobi joint Best Actor award ten years ago."

For her part, McGill couldn't be happier to welcome the film, its director and stars to the Festival.

"It's a film that I personally adore, and opening with it is the perfect expression of our commitment to intelligent, impassioned, exciting new filmmaking."

Tickets for the Opening Night Gala screening of The Edge of Love will go on sale on Friday 9 May at midday. The full programme launch is on Wednesday 7 May.

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