FESTIVAL
Directed by Annie Griffin
Certificate 15

THE Edinburgh Festival has long deserved a comedy of its own. Finally, with the release of Festival, it has one.
This knowing comedy catches the very essence of Britain’s biggest arts gathering, warts, egos, broken hearts and all.
No festival character is missing. From the naïve, engrossed, emotional performer (Lyndsey Marshall) whose portrayal of Dorothy Wordsworth doesn’t exactly pack in the audience to the self-absorbed TV comic genius (Stephen Mangan) who hates everyone unless they have breasts, all types are deftly illustrated without a wasted shot or word.
Those familiar with the festival itself will be wondering which character is based on which real life star. But Festival is more than just an expert’s laughfest, although it will be funnier if you’ve actually attended the festival at least once.
The overview of egos on the rampage, lazy and idiotic awards committees and how voting really gets done will have most viewers laughing out loud.
The addition of a pretentious Canadian drama group who grow their own grass vies with the sad and booze-sodden tale of Irish comic Tommy O’Dwyer (Chris O’Dowd, pictured) who may or may not believe in his own talent.
All of Edinburgh is here for the taking. In fact, Festival is so successful in its attempt to entertain, explore and exploit that you may not need to attend the real festival at all.
A wonderful bit of real life comedic filmmaking from writer and director Annie Griffin.