Stray Light
The common complaint about Star Wars Episode 7: The Phantom Menace is that it lacks the human element — too many digital creations, space ships, alien creatures, etc. The US cut of Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut uses the same technology to obscure Tom Crurse and Nicole Kidman’s private parts in the infamous orgy scene. More posmvely the Edinburgh International Film Festival’s two-day digital focus, Stray Light and Future Film Making, aims to show what the newest technological advances mean for film production, music promos, animation, graphic deSign and computer games With a series of screenings, events and discu55ions. The future is now. lNlllGS Fielder) Stray Light, Fi/mhouse 7 81 2, 24 Aug, 70.30am—m/dnight, [76. Future Film Making, Fi/mhouse 7, 25 Aug, 70am, £7 (£4.50).
Crusaid, The Food Chain and Stonewall Benefit
Another opportunity to wring a bit of posmve good out of Festival hedonism comes in the form of a big-name Edinburgh Playhouse benefit for AIDS/HIV charities. The illustrious likes of Julian Clary (pictured), Lee Evans, Phil Kay, Phill lupitus, Rich Hall, KeVin Day, Vic Henley, Terry Alderton and Boothby Graffoe Will be shaking their funny stuff in support of Crusaid, the Scottish fundraiser for the fight against AIDS and HIV; The Food Chain, which cooks and delivers meals to people with AIDS and HIV in London; and Stonewall, the national gay rights lobbying organisation founded by Sir Ian lvcheIlen. Benefit for Crusaid, The Food Chain and Stonewall, Edinburgh Playhouse, 0870 6063424 and 226 5 738, 27 Aug, 8pm, £75.50 (£74.50).
Cuba
There was once, it is rumoured, a CIA plot to assassinate Fidel Castro with an exploding cigar. Not the comedy Tom & Jerry brand, you understand, but something that would have done a lot more than singe the Communist leader’s beard. Expect nothing so sinister at the Book Festival’s Cuban Cigar Night when Carlos Pena y Sus Muchachos cuts through the smoke, poetry and politics with some sweat- inducing salsa. The Buena Vista Social Club atmosphere continues later in the week at the Film Festival, when Wim Wenders’s documentary of the same name follows Ry Cooder to Havana, where he meets the legendary Ibrahim Ferrer (pictured).
Cuban Cigar Night (Book Festival) Spiege/tent, 27—22 Aug, 9.30pm, £7 (£5). Buena Vista Social Club (Film Festival) ABC 7, 23 Aug, 8.30pm; GET 7, 25 Aug, 8.75pm, £7 (£4.50).
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