Information from the EIFF brochure - download HERE

ALONE IN FOUR WALLS (ALLEIN IN VIER WÄNDEN), documentary, Alexandra Westmeier | Germany | 2007 | 85 min
Sun 22 June 15:00 Cineworld
Tue 24 June 17:45 Cineworld
Price: £8.00 (£6.40 concs)
A beautifully shot and utterly compelling look at life in a Russian reform school.
Some of the inmates we meet are serving time for theft, some for murder - but filmmaker Alexandra Westmeier lets us spend enough time with them to see beyond their ‘hard man’ exteriors to the scared boys within. She also provides glimpses of their home lives, and we begin to realise that, for these children, prison is often an easier place to be. JL

BIGGA THAN BEN: A RUSSIANS’ GUIDE TO RIPPING OFF LONDON, S A Halewood | UK | 2007 | 85 min
Cast: Ben Barnes, Andrei Chadov, Ovidiu Matesan, Andrew Byron, Jeff Mirza, Vyelle Croom, Hero Fiennes Tiffin
Fri 27 June 21.30 Filmhouse 1
Price: £8.00 (£6.40 Concs)
A hilarious, subversive new comedy for a mongrel nation.
Dodging the military draft, two freewheeling Russians decide to take their chances in London. Shoplifting, bank fraud and smoking crack are all among the specialist subjects, as this priceless barbed satire delivers a comprehensive guide to screwing the system. However, as their rollercoaster ride through the highs of the low life slows down, things start to fall apart… Watch out for rising star Ben Barnes, soon to be seen playing the title role in Prince Caspian. NGF

GLOSS: THE DIRECTOR’S CUT, Andrei Konchalovsky | Russian Federation, France, Belgium | 2007 | 118 min
Cast: Yuliya Vysotskaya, Ilya Isaev, Irina Rozanova, Olga Arntgolz
Mon 23 June 20:30 Cineworld
Thu 26 June 22:00 Cineworld
Price: £8.00 (£6.40 concs)
A sparkling, ballsy fashion satire – think Ugly Betty with a dose of new Russian capitalism…
With dreams of becoming a supermodel, feisty seamstress Galya leaves her small hometown and travels to Moscow, where she attempts to negotiate her way into the fashion industry. In this precarious new world of shallow celebrities, hardened criminals and dissolute politicians, will she ever appear on the cover of Beauty magazine? Veteran director Andrey Konchalovsky’s skilfully-crafted and energetic film is a colourful satire that goes further than The Devil Wears Prada ever dared… NGF

INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION 1& 2
International Animation 1 (72 min)
Mon 23 June 14:00 Filmhouse 3
Tue 24 June 21:15 Filmhouse 3
Price: £6.50 (£5.20 concs)
International Animation 2 (72 min)
Fri 27 June 13:30 Filmhouse 3
Sat 28 June 21:00 Filmhouse 3
Price: £6
Two programmes from the cutting edge of cinematic innovation.
This year sees Russian work continuing to confound the fashion for 3D modelling with more beautiful painterly films; and France showing its support for short animation with many serious topics delivered with characteristic chic. SW

MERMAID, Anna Melikian | Russian Federation | 2007 | 115 min
Cast: Mariya Shalayeva, Yevgeniy Tsyganov, Maria Sokova,Nastya Dontsova, Irina Skrinichenko, Veronica Skugina
Fri 27 June 20:15 Cameo 1
Sat 28 June 15:45 Cameo 1
Price: £8.00 (£6.40 concs)
A blissful, full-colour fantasy with a pitch-dark twist.
Having grown up believing that she has the power to make wishes come true, our heroine embarks on adult life in the big city. There, she eventually finds true love – by joining a troubled young man in an unsuccessful suicide attempt… With Mariya Shalayeva shining in the pivotal lead role, director Anna Melikyan (Mars, EIFF 2002) invests this captivating excursion with the beguiling magic and beauty of a darker Amélie, creating a memorable cinematic world of rare character. NGF

MARIINSKY OPERA AND ORCHESTRA, CONDUCTOR VALERY GERGIEV
Sun 24 August, 8pm, Usher Hall :: ALEKO by Sergei Rachmaninov; SEMYON KOTKO by Sergei Prokofiev. Concert performances sung in Russian
Tues 26 August, 7.15pm, Festival Theatre :: THE ENCHANTED WANDERER by Rodion Shchedrin. Concert performance sung in Russian
Monday 25, Wed 27 August, 7.15pm, Festival Theatre :: KROL ROGER by by Karol Szymanowski. Staged performance sung in Polish with English supertitles

STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA , ARTISTIC DIRECTOR NINA ANANIASHVILI
Sat 9, Sun 10 August, 7.15pm, Playhouse :: Giselle
Tues 12, Wed 13 August, 7.30pm, Playhouse :: Mixed Bill – Sagalobeli, Duo Concertant, Bizet Variations (Pas de Six), Chaconne

DMITRI HVOROSTOVSKY
Sat 9 August, 8pm, Usher Hall :: recital of romantic songs by Tchaikovsky, Medtner and Rachmaninov

ESTONIAN PHILHARMONIC CHAMBER CHOIR
Mon 11 August, 8pm, Usher Hall :: works by Arvo Pärt and Veljo Tormis, as well as Sibelius, Tulev and Bergman.

LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, CONDUCTORY VALERY GERGIEV: PROKOFIEV The 7 Symphonies
Friday 15 August, 8pm, Usher Hall :: Leonidas Kavakos Violin. Symphony No 1 ‘Classical’, Symphony No 2, Violin Concerto No 1, Symphony No 3
Saturday 16 August, 8pm, Usher Hall :: Tatjana Vassillieva Cello. Symphony No 4 (original version), Sinfonia Concertante for Cello and Orchestra, Symphony No 5
Sunday 17 August, 8pm, Usher Hall :: Leonidas Kavakos Violin. Symphony No 6, Violin Concerto No 2, Symphony No 7

A CHILD OF OUR TIME, ORATORIO BY SIR MICHAEL TIPPETT
Saturday 30 August, 8pm, Usher Hall :: Edinburgh Festival Chorus with BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Gennadi Rozhdestvensky

MISCHA AND LILY MAISKY
Thursday 21 August, 11am, Queen’s Hall :: cello and piano. Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Rubinstein, Rimsky-Korsakov, Cui, Glazunov, Rachmaninov

PSALMS AND CANTICLES FROM THE EASTERN CHURCHES
Tuesday 12 August, 5.45pm, Greyfriars Kirk

SECULAR AND SPIRITUAL MUSIC FROM GEORGIA , ANCHISKHATI CHOIR
Friday 15 August, 5.45pm, Greyfriars Kirk

BORDERLINES
Wed 20 August, 5pm, Hub :: Neal Ascherson – “Europe – not an heir but a pregnant widow”. Talk on concepts of European political identity in the light of the recent expansion of the European Union, including former Soviet block countries.

MUSIC: Beating of the Russian Heart; Italian Nightingale; Romances and Arias from Opera and Operetta; Russian Evening; Valery Ponomarev Quintet
DANCE: Gospel of Anton
THEATRE: Hutsul's Year; InvAsian Festival: The Self-Murder; Uncle Vanya; Wheels of Life
EXHIBITIONS: Old Russian Icons; Treasures of Deserted Villages
CHILDREN’S SHOWS: Russian Play

DETAILS (in alphabetical order)
Beating of the Russian Heart (Music)
Unfurl the magic of Russia. Songs to melt you to tears. Songs to catch your soul. Songs to make you stamp your feet with joy! Sung in thrilling traditional harmonies by a stunning all-female cast. 'Delightful' (EdinburghGuide.com). www.folk-show.ru
venue: C soco urban garden; group: Koleso
13-25 Aug

Gospel of Anton (Dance) Return of the award-winning Russian physical theatre company. Sex, religion, politics and violence are things that Derevo's work has always avoided. These taboos are now abolished! Don't look around ... look into the recesses of your heart ...
venue: Pleasance Courtyard; group: DEREVO Theatre
1-25 Aug (excl 12, 19 Aug)

Hutsul's Year (Theatre)
Cinderella-esque fable from Ukrainian ethnic mountain community about a widower, his daughter, her fiance and the shrewish stepmother poisoning their lives. An allegory on the futility of wickedness performed with charming realism reflecting expressive and ritualistic Hutsul customs.
venue: Universal Arts Theatre; group: Kolomiya Theatre
1-12, 14-25 Aug

InvAsian Festival: The Self-Murder (Theatre)
Russia is the world's leader in suicides among young people. This outstanding piece tackles the subject head-on. The shocking, controversial truth, as developed and portrayed in English by a brilliant young Russian company, is compelling.
venue: clubWEST @ Quincentenary Hall, The Royal College of Surgeons; group: SSSR Production
3-25 Aug

Italian Nightingale (Music)
Opera singers from St Petersburg and Milan. Romances, arias from opera and operetta with music by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Donizetti, Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Bach, Schubert, Gounod, Kalman and Lehar, with Italian and Russian folksongs. Tenor, bass, soprano; piano accompaniment.
venue: Acoustic Music Centre @ St Bride's; group: Italian Nightingale
14, 15, 17-23 Aug

Old Russian Icons (Exhibition)
This selling exhibition of religious paintings from Russia explores their meaning, their symbolism and history. Come and see an early art form which has enduring qualities and enjoy a quiet contemplative visit.
venue: The Nomads Tent;group: Nomads Tent
6-30 Aug

Romances and Arias from Opera and Operetta (Music)
A powerful group of Russian opera singers perform music by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Donizetti, Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Bach, Schubert, Gounod, Kalman and Leghar. Ekatherina Maruk (soprano), Ekaterina Alabina (mezzo-soprano), Sergey Roskov (tenor) and Yury Goncharov (piano).
venue: St Mark's artSpace; group: Italian Nightingale Concert Group
18-22 Aug

Russian Evening (Music)
Stravinsky - 'The Firebird Suite'. Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No 4 in G (soloist Alasdair Beatson). Shostakovitch - Symphony No 12: 'The Year 1917'.
venue: Greyfriars Kirk; group: Scottish Sinfonia - Conductor Neil Mantle
24 Aug

Russian Play (Children’s Show)
Children, bring your parents to an absolutely delightful session of Russian fun. Wonderful Russian traditional music from St Petersburg group Koleso combined with wild Russian games, dressing up and sheer jollity that'll have you smiling for days! www.folk-show.ru
venue: C; group: Koleso
13-25 Aug

Treasures of Deserted Villages (Exhibition)
In the era of virtual worlds, we forget about the real one. Discover it, taste it - the treasures of deserted villages, sounds of nature. Be a creator of your own world - craft shows, masterclasses, soft acoustic music.
venue: Laughing Horse @ The Counting House; group: Ukrainian Art Galleries
11-21 Aug

Uncle Vanya (Theatre)
The acclaimed Russian master's tragicomedy revisited here by a fresh young American company. Vanya is obsessed with his wasted life. Sweeping romance, drunken buffoonery and impossible loves are all played out through unforgettable characters.
venue: C cubed; group: This Bridge Theatre
2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 Aug

Valery Ponomarev Quintet (Music)
The dynamite New York-based trumpet star escaped from Cold War Russia and toured the world for four years with Art Blakey! His hard-hitting five-piece includes wonderful New York sax player Tim Armacost and Munich bassist Martin Zenker. www.thejazzbar.co.uk
venue: The Jazz Bar; group: Jazz Bar
11-17 Aug

Wheels of Life (Theatre)
Wooden marionettes and scrap metal dance to music and light. Early and new works by one of the great underground artists of communist Russia. 'Very gripping theatre' (Times). 'International genius' (Telegraph). 'Icon painter for our times' (Scotsman).
venue: Theatre Workshop; group: SHARMANKA Kinetic Theatre
1-21 Aug

(Listed in chronological order)

Eugenijus Alisanka, Gintaras Grajauskas & Sigitas Parulskis
Tue 12/08/2008, 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Lithuanian poetry has changed since independence in 1991; the new generation is more concerned with aesthetics than political themes. Come and hear some of the brightest poetic talents: Eugenijus Ališanka is a director of an international poetry festival, Gintaras Grajauskas is a jazz musician and Sigitas Parulskis is an award-winning novelist.In association with Literature Across Frontiers.

Simon Sebag Montefiore
Wed 13/08/2008, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
The multi award-winning historian and television presenter here presents his vast knowledge of Russia in the form of a novel. His work on Stalin is revered for its groundbreaking scholarship; he now goes for a rich narrative sweep in Sashenka, illuminating the rise and terrible price of communism through one woman's dramatic story.Supported by the Hawthornden Literary Retreat

Helen Rappaport & Anthony Read
Wed 13/08/2008, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Our second Russian event of the day, focusing on the tumultuous events of the Bolshevik Revolution. Helen Rappaport's Ekaterinburg: The Last Days of the Romanovs brings a dramatic new perspective to the massacre of the Tsar's family; while Anthony Read's The World On Fire looks at the battle against Bolshevism in 1919, ideology attacking the West.

James Meek
Wed 13/08/2008, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
The People's Act of Love, set in Siberia during the Russian Revolution, was one of 2005's most important and highly acclaimed novels. For the background of his brilliant new novel, We Are Now Beginning Our Descent, award-winning Scottish writer James Meek draws on his own experience as a Guardian war correspondent in Afghanistan.

Jonathan Dimbleby
Wed 13/08/2008, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
In our third major Russian event of the day, one of Britain's most outstanding journalists and presenters gives a unique insight into the fascinating complexities of a vast land in transition. Jonathan Dimbleby travelled thousands of miles to get to the heart of modern Russia, to find out how it is shaped by its turbulent past and what it means to its people today. Chaired by Sheena MacDonald.This event will have a British Sign Language interpreter.
SOLD OUT

Alan Sillitoe
Wed 20/08/2008, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
We are delighted to welcome one of the great names of writing the year of his 80th birthday. His groundbreaking fiction, such as Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, chronicled the disillusionment of post-war Britain, and his latest book Gadfly in Russia is a compelling account of the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Misha Glenny
Fri 22/08/2008, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Organised crime has grown so fast that it accounts for a fifth of the world's Gross Domestic Product. For three years the distinguished journalist Misha Glenny has tracked gun runners in Ukraine, money launderers in Dubai, and cyber criminals in Brazil. In McMafia he reveals how globalisation has empowered criminals on a terrifying scale. Chaired by Allan Little.
SOLD OUT

Arkady Babchenko & Asne Seierstad
Sun 24/08/2008, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
The Anna Politkovskaya Memorial Event
Anna Politkovskaya, leading Russian journalist and outspoken critic of the Chechen conflict, was assassinated in 2006, shortly after her extraordinary and resonant Book festival appearance. She is remembered today as we hear inside accounts of the Chechen tragedy. Arkady Babchenko gives a riveting account of life as a young soldier at the front line. Acclaimed foreign correspondent Åsne Seierstad returned to Chechyna to find a society brutalised by war in The Angel of Grozny.

Andrey Kurkov
Sun 24/08/2008, 6:45 PM - 7:45 PM
Andrey Kurkov is one of the most joyous and warmly welcomed visitors to our festivals. Ukraine's best-known contemporary writer, his blackly comic novels, with their jaundiced views of Ukrainian reality and post-Soviet life, have been widely translated. In The Good Angel of Death the chance discovery of a book leads a nightwatchman on a bizarre journey to Kazakhstan. Come and be completely beguiled.