Moon directed by Duncan Jones scooped the Michael Powell Award for Best New British Feature Film, sponsored by the UK Film Council. 

This year’s Michael Powell Jury were director Joe Wright who presided over the five-strong Jury: film critic Claudia Puig; acclaimed actress Sacha Horler journalist and author Janet Street-Porter and Academy Award® Best Actor nominee Frank Langella of Frost/Nixon fame.

The Jury citation read: “We award Moon for its singular vision and remarkably assured direction as well as for the inspired manner in which it transcends genre. The central performance by Sam Rockwell embodies the film’s emotional complexity and compelling philosophical perspective.”

Katie Jarvis picked up the PPG Award for Best Performance in a British Feature Film for her extraordinary debut in Fish Tank. 

Katie Jarvis was delighted, both with the award and her experience at EIFF.

“This has been an amazing year for me in more ways than one. I was lucky enough to spend my 18th birthday in Edinburgh last week, where Fish Tank was shown, and this is such a great 18th present!

"It is a real honour to receive this award, both for myself and the film. I would like to thank Andrea for the opportunity and for believing in me.”

John Woodward, Chief Executive Officer of the UK Film Council, sponsor of the award, added:

“The UK Film Council’s support of the EIFF underlines our deep commitment to celebrating and nurturing film talent.

"Winning the Michael Powell Award confirms Duncan Jones as an emerging British director with a very bright future. And I’m delighted for Emma Sullivan, awarded the short film prize for After Tomorrow, and newcomer Katie Jarvis, winner of the best performance prize for Fish Tank, both of whose films were funded through the Film Council’s New Cinema Fund.”

The award for Best New International Feature went to director Kyle Patrick Alvarez for his film Easier With Practice. 

The Standard Life Audience Award as voted for by cinema-goers at EIFF went to animation The Secret Of Kells directed by Tomm Moore. 

Director Aliona Van Der Horst picked up the award for Best Documentary about Russian poet Boris Ryzhy.

The Skillset New Directors Award went to Cary Joji Fukunaga for his stunning directorial debut in Sin Nombre.

'Bromance' comedy Humpday directed by Lynn Shelton was awarded The Rotten Tomatoes Critical Consensus Award and director Emma Sullivan's After Tomorrow was awarded the UK Film Council Award for Best British Short Film.

The award for Best International Short Film went to Princess Margaret BLVD directed by Kazik Radwanksi, while The Scottish Short Documentary Award supported by Baillie Gifford was handed to director Johanna Wagner for 10 minute long film Peter In Radioland. Director Laurie Hill's Photograph Of Jesus scooped the McLaren Award for New British Animation in partnership with BBC Film Network.

EIFF Artistic Director, Hannah McGill said:

“I’m delighted by these results and I thank our juries for their hard work and their presence in Edinburgh, which helped to make this year’s Festival so exciting.

"It says a lot about EIFF and its mission as a discovery festival that Duncan Jones, Kyle Patrick Alvarez, Tomm Moore and Cary Joji Fukunaga are all first-time feature directors.

"We have had a fantastic year and I’m thrilled that all of our prizewinners have been part of it, as well as, of course, all the other filmmakers who’ve attended and given us the privilege of screening their work. I hope their success here helps them go forward in their careers, and I hope we’ll see them all back in Edinburgh in the future with further work.”

Artistic Director Hannah McGill gave her impressions of the Fest.

"EIFF '09 has been great. I've been looking out onto busy screenings that are either sold out or close to it and filmmakers really appreciate that."

While this year has seen the likes of Sam Mendes, Robin Wright Penn and Gael Garcia Bernal tread the red carpet, EIFF has once again supported up-and-coming filmmakers from across the globe.

"This is a discovery festival where filmmakers who are starting out can come and have a spectacular Premiere. There's a buzz about the place and it gets people talking about new talent."

And while the last few films have yet to be screened, Hannah is already looking to next year.

"With this year's ticket and presales exceeding last year, we're hoping to continue in 2010 with even more Premieres and more interview guests. 

I think it's important that younger filmmakers have the chance to rub shoulders with established names such as Roger Corman or Joe Dante and at EIFF that kind of thing happens."

It's also been handbags at dawn for fifth place with Vogue documentary The September Issue pushing French gangster flick Mesrine: Killer Instinct out of the top five. 

Meanwhile Moon has rocketed back up to second place leaving Crying With Laughter in fourth.

The standings are as follows:

1. The Secret Of Kells

2. Moon

3. The First day of the Rest of Your Life

4. Crying With Laughter

5. The September Issue.

Remember to cast your vote at all British Gala and Gala screenings. 

Critic and Editor of Rotten Tomatoes UK, Joe Utichi, touted Shane Meadows' faux-rockumentary Le Donk as the must-see film of the Fest.

"Le Donk is absolutely hilarious. I'm a Shane Meadows fan as it is but he's really managed to turn this film from nothing into one of the funniest films I've seen in years."

David Edwards from the Daily Mirror chose both Adventureland and Black Dynamite as his favourites.

"Black Dynamite was a hit with me, it's a very amusing and affectionate look at a Blaxploitation send up.

I also loved Adventureland which is from the director of Superbad. I think it'll be quite big as there's a buzz about it already."

'Bromance' comedy Humpday also proved a hit with Wendy Ide from The Times.

"I really liked Humpday, it's so irreverent and free-wheeling. It shows an evolution in the mumblecore movement of riffing conversations that don't really have anything to say but this film does and it's very satirical."

Meanwhile it was Fishtank, a grim yet at times darkly humorous look at life on an Essex estate, that struck a chord with Anna Smith from Elle Magazine.

"Fishtank is such an amazing piece of film. From the minute I started watching it I was hooked.

You also don't know where the film's going to go which is refreshing for someone like myself who watches and reviews films on a regular basis."

Keep an eye out to see which feature the Rotten Tomatoes jury voted their film of the Fest. 

Moon, Le Donk & Scor-Zay-Zee, Black Dynamite, Wasted, Fish Tank and Crying With Laughter are now sold out.

Although limited, tickets are still available for the Ewen Bremner's Wide Open Spaces, legendary director Dario Argento's Giallo and a grizzled yet stylish look at cannibalism in Van Diemen's Land. 

Writer and director of This Film Is Not Yet Rated (EIFF 2006), Kirby returns to this year’s Fest with Outrage; a searing expose into the anti-gay stance of closeted politicians in America.

While This Film Is Not Yet Rated questioned the politics engulfing the American film ratings board, Outrage see’s Kirby switch from Hollywood to Washington in search of the answers to more controversial questions.

Focusing on a number of American politicians Kirby suggests are 'closeted', the documentary examines how their voting tactics and stance against gay adoption and same sex marriage is used as a veil to hide their own sexuality.

Not so much an exercise in ‘outing’ but a refreshing discussion about gay rights, Kirby successfully serves up another biting documentary for those with a taste for current affairs with a controversial twist.

You can catch Outrage on 27 Jun, 18:00 Cineworld.

A star-studded ceremony will take place on Sunday at the Filmhouse with EIFF patron Sir Sean Connery among those presenting the accolades.

A limited number of tickets are still available for the event.

Twelve different awards are up for grabs with categories including Skillset New Director, UK Film Council Best British Short Film, PPG Award for Best Performance and the prestigious Michael Powell Award for Best New British Feature Film.

Other awards include the European Film Academy Short Film, The McLaren Award for New British Animation in Partnership with BBC Film Network, Scottish Short Documentary Award supported by Bailie Gifford and Best Documentary Feature Award. 

The Rotten Tomatoes Critical Consensus Award will also see some of the UK’s finest film critics award their pick of the Fest.

As always there’s the opportunity for you - the cinema-goer - to become a film critic courtesy of the Standard Life Audience Award.

At present, The Secret Of Kells is shaping up to be a likely winner with Crying With Laughter a close second.

Moon, The September Issue and The First Day of The Rest of Your Life also make up the top five in the current standings.

Remember to cast your vote at all British Gala and Gala screenings.

Moviemail is a specialist DVD supplier for classic, art house,foreign, silent and documentary firms, it is ‘the quality film shop’with a second to none reputation for love and knowledge of film.

Thousands of DVDs are released every month; we select the best and most worthwhile and let you know about them - on our website at www.moviemail-online.co.uk, in our monthly film catalogue, in email newsletters and in our podcast.

All Tomorrow's Parties is a DIY concert film set around the cult music festival All Tomorrow¹s Parties. Made from Super8, camcorder and mobile phone footage contributed by filmmakers, fans and musicians over the festival¹s recent history, it captures the uncompromising spirit of a parallel music universe. Featuring performances by Mogwai, Portishead, Nick Cave, Iggy and The Stooges, Animal Collective and many others.

Belle and Sebastian DJs and midnight bingo is also confirmed for the evening, with ATP and Warp Films prizes including the chance to appear as a zombie Warps next film shooting at the Big Chill.

Rock up for gig tickets from 21.30 (or thoughout the day at the Picturehouse box office). A limited amount of tickets for the film, presented by Future Cinema, are also available on door of the Picturehouse.

We have a pair of tickets to be won for the gig. Simply answer the following question:

Which Scottish band recorded the album 'Rock Action'?

Please email your answer to win@edfilmfest.org.uk by 17:00 today with the title 'ATP', and include a contact phone number.
 

Hello all you EIFF lovers.

We're back in London after an exhausting and inspiring few days at the Fest; saw some great stuff, ran our Short Sighted event to a packed house, partied with the Skillset Trailblazers (ouch), sad to come home early, really.

Do you know us? We are the world's biggest international filmmakers' networking community, with over 35,000 members in UK and US.

Our members build profiles for themselves and their work, cast and crew each other (over 300 films a week), download podcasts and resources, and upload their films, scripts and music.

If you're thinking about making an independent film, you should join us.

And since we're in such excedllent post-EIFF spirits, we'll let you try us for free for six weeks.

Click on this: www.shootingpeople.org/letmetry.

All the best and well done everyone at EIFF.

James and Helen at Shooting People

Responsible for reworking genre after genre and reshaping the movie industry we know today, Corman is a formidable figure with an incredible 50 years experience.

Corman is also responsible for forging the careers of many notable directors such as Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, Joe Dante and John Sayles.

Recognised for his Edgar Allen Poe adaptations, Corman also gained notoriety for his explorations into the counter-culture of the late 60s with films such as The Wild Angels and The Trip; the latter of which saw Corman experiment with LSD to better understand his characters’ experiences.

EIFF are proud to present a screening of The Trip as well as lively gangster classics The St, Valentine’s Day Massacre and Bloody Mama as part of the Retrospective; all of which encapsulate Corman’s flair for swift, low budget filmmaking with maximum impact.

The exclusive In Person event will also be an opportunity for those familiar and unfamiliar alike to gain a unique and personal insight into a truly monumental career.

Don't miss one-off screenings of Corman's work at the following times as well as his exclusive In Person event. 

The Trip: Thu 25 Jun, 13:00 Filmhouse 1

The St. Valentine's Day Massacre: Fri 26 Jun, 13:00 Filmhouse 1

Bloody Mama: Sat 27 Jun, 13:00 Filmhouse 1

Roger Corman: In Person: Wed  24 Jun, 18:00 Cineworld

Originally from Oxford, but residing in Denmark since 1983, Dod Mantle has consistently showed an impressive degree of originality and diversity in his work. He is one of few leading cinematographers to have concentrated mainly on digital formats, whether working with lo-fi video on Dogme films or with the stunning Red One and Phantom cameras on Lars Von Trier’s latest controversy, Antichrist.

I was fortunate enough to see a press screening of Antichrist at EIFF this week: while critics are polarised with regard to Von Trier’s motives and direction, there is unanimous praise for Dod Mantle’s astounding work on the film. His execution varies between dialogue scenes handled with intimate hand-held camerawork and naturalistic lighting, while other beautiful but deeply unsettling sequences use dreamy ultra-slow motion photography.

The EIFF calendar has Anthony Dod Mantle In Conversation with his highly regarded contemporary, Seamus McGarvey on Saturday 27 June. This event should reveal some fascinating insights into the minds and working methods of these two pioneering cinematographers.

Garry Torrance

It also has director profiles and full production company details, and a full listing of the EIFF shorts.

The catalogue costs only £5 and can be purchased from the Filmhouse foyer.

If you fancy snaring yourself one, simply email your name to win@edfilmfest.org.uk with 'Romeo & Juliet Vs the Living Dead' in the subject line. 

Posters will be available for collection from the Filmhouse. 

Starting from 10 in the morning, you can have a four movie marathon on Sunday 28 June for only £18.

Remember, many of these films will sell out FAST, so book now to avoid disappointment.

The Best of the Fest line-up is:

10:00 The Calling, Filmhouse
10:00 Boogie Woogie, Cameo
11:00 Follow the Master, Filmhouse
12:00 The First Day of the Rest of Your Life, Cameo
12:15 A Boy Called Dad, Filmhouse
12:35 Fish Tank, Filmhouse
14:10 Atletu, Filmhouse
14:30 Van Diemen’s Land, Cameo
14:55 The September Issue, Filmhouse
16:15 Jalainur, Filmhouse
16:45 Mary and Max, Cameo
17:00 Wasted, Filmhouse
17:15 Wide Open Spaces, Filmhouse
18:20 Black Dynamite, Filmhouse
19:10 Moon, Filmhouse
19:20 Le Donk & Scorz-ayz-ee, Filmhouse
20:15 Exam, Filmhouse
21:00 Crying with Laughter, Filmhouse
21:15 Giallo, Filmhouse

Tickets for all films screening as part of Best of the Fest are on sale now.

Tickets can be purchased online, in person at Filmhouse box office or by calling 0131 623 8030.

Director of films such as Gremlins, Twilight Zone and The Howling, nobody does high end, sci-fi horror better.

Dante's films are instantly recognisable for his signature dystopian haze lurking beneath the polished and superficial exterior of Hollywood, the suburbs and beyond.

His love affair with the big screen doesn't end there though as Dante proves himself as one of Hollywood's great all-rounders with credits as editor, producer, writer and actor, as well as director.

Now in a one-off event, Dante discusses the unique brand of comedy he's brought to the sci-fi horror genre as well as the making of many of his great movies.

Expect plenty of stories with famous names; Dante of course started his career alongside Roger Corman and has worked with the likes of Tom Hanks, Christopher Lee and John Goodman since.

The In Person event promises to be a hilarious and insightful whistlestop tour into a remarkable career with the man himself.

You can see Joe Dante: In Person on Thu 25 June, 18:00 Cineworld

With their mantra ‘whatever your budget, five days is optimum’, Meadows and Herbert unveil the secrets behind successful film-making when you're tight for time and strapped for cash.

With Brit-flicks This Is England and Dead Man’s Shoes (EIFF 2004) under their belts, faux-rockumentary Le Donk & Scor-Ayz-Ee is a refreshing return to the guerrilla for these two moviemaking heavyweights.

Featuring the sublime Paddy Considine as rock roadie Le Donk, the film follows his attempts to get Nottingham based MC Scor-Ayz-Ee into the charts.

Watch out for a cheeky appearance from the Arctic Monkeys, proving even some of the UK’s biggest music talent isn’t immune to the lure of low budget movies.

Check out the Five Day Features special event on Wed 24 June, 15:00 Cineworld

After its first screening, the Mesrine double-bill has had an immediate impact, and could be set to take pole position next time.

The standings are:

1. Moon
2. The Secret Of Kells
3. Mesrine : Killer Instinct
4. Mesrine : Public Enemy No. 1
5. A Boy Called Dad

Remember to cast your vote at all Gala and British Gala screenings.

Simply login, go to the film you've seen and leave your thoughts in the comments box. Maybe you think you've discovered the next Tarantino, or have witnessed the best performance of the year? Then let your fellow Web Members know, by putting your opinion online.

Please bear in mind that many of the filmmakers are at the Festival, so while we want you to be honest, please be reasonable and considerate in the comments that you make.

If you're not already a Web Member, joining is free, quick and easy. Simply register, log in and access the host of extra features; including forums, the My Movies film planner and exclusive ticket giveaways and competitions during the Festival.

Offering a mixture of television on the big screen and a panel discussion, the opening event on the Cinematic Television bill features the first five shows from In Treatment, an intense drama following psychiatric therapist Paul Weston.

Picking apart the twisted and darker side to the human psyche, In Treatment is a highly acclaimed piece of modern television making having already won a Golden Globe and featuring the excellent Gabriel Byrne in the lead role.

Free copies of the entire second week of In Treatment will be available on DVD to anyone who attends the screening. 

EIFF and HBO are also proud to present a screening of the first two episodes of True Blood; a sexed-up, violent concoction of humans, vampires and every other kind of creature from the dark side.

Based on the novel The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris, True Blood is smattered with appearances from the likes of Stellan Skarsgard as well as other familiar faces from HBO shows such as The Wire.

For those who want to add their voice to the debate on digitisation the Cinematic Television Panel Event is a must.

Exploring the Internet’s presence within the industry and its effects on those who work within it, this event will no doubt provide a snapshot into a fast paced and forever changing entertainment landscape.

You can catch the Cinematic Television events on the following dates and times:

Cinematic Television 1: In Treatment on Sunday 21 June 16:45 Filmhouse 1

Cinematic Television: Panel Event on Monday 22 June 19:30 Filmhouse 1

Cinematic Television 2: True Blood on Tuesday 23 June 20:45 Filmhouse 1