EIFF Closing Gala Impressions

The Closing Gala for the 86th Edinburgh International Film Festival took place yesterday and was a full success. A beautiful venue in the Edinburgh College of Art with various rooms with beautiful decor and all a little French themed, hand in hand with the closing film, We'll Never Have Paris. (Go watch it if you have the chance!)
I absolutely loved the film, it is hilarious and well written by Simon Helberg himself (or probably better known as Howard Wolowitz). He and his wife attended the party as well and he even joined the jazz band in an impromptu session on the piano. I have the most respect for this guy, let me tell ya.

So here just a few pictures of the evening.

(see me in the coral dress?)

Thinking about Texas and all.

Right now, everywhere I go is Texas. Or Austin.
Either in the location of the films I watched (Something, Anything or We gotta get out of this place), when talking about SXSW with Film Festival delegates, or in the TV show that was recommended to me (Friday Night Lights) or when Elijah Wood mentioned that he recently bought a house in Austin because he loves that city so much.
It makes my heart feel heavy and tight.

I love Austin. I love Texas.

Before going there, I was not really sure what to expect of Texas. Yes I know all the stereotypes, good and bad. Yes I was worried about crazy gun people, rednecks and those right wing conservatives I definitely cannot empathize with. And on top of that I am at a catholic school, where I am anything but religious.

But all of this does not matter.

It doesn't change the fact that the people there are by far the nicest I have EVER met. This so called Southern Hospitality is something I really really miss.

Let aside the politics and all that stuff, Texas is really such a fun place. It has crazy weather where you experience all 4 season within one day, but at its best, it has the bluest skies and warmest days that will just warm your heart and make you so so happy. I have no clue how I survived the long Scottish winter, with no sun for such a long time.

Austin is an amazing city, so healthy and so fit, trying to be environmentally friendly, so beautiful, loads of things to do in warm weather, great bars, restaurants, FOOD TRUCKS, a huge student city... it feels exciting and new to walk these streets but also like home.

Oh Scotland, I forgot how much I love you.

To be honest, ever since I got of the plane here in Edinburgh I have been a bit taken aback at first. I had Scotland put down as this place with very nice and helpful people. When I got here, I was reminded what it actually is. The people here are polite. But real friendliness, in my opinion, is something very different. Something that I experienced in Texas to an extent that blew my mind. So coming back here was different than I expected, but after over a week I have fallen back in love with Scotland.

Ceilidh.

It's traditional Scottish dancing to the best folk music, at best played live obviously.

I will definitely have one at my wedding, no matter what.

Like last year, the Edinburgh film festival put one on and it was a blast. Such a good crowd, you literally felt it in the air how much fun everyone was having.

(btw the right video actually shows me dancing, haha. pink dress and ponytail.)

Note to myself: post more.

random photo booth picture

So the Edinburgh Film Festival 2014 is in full swing which means my days consist of commuting between the train station, the airport, our registration desk and cinemas. I am volunteering in the same position as last year, so I greet people at the airport/station or just register them/ give them their festival passes. It's good fun, especially because a few of my friends from last year came back again. And I just love this festival.

So far it's been really good being back in Edinburgh. I love the streets at night, being able to walk almost anywhere or just hop on a bus. Having my own kitchen, making my own food (all of this was not happening in Texas) and just being more independent again.
Not just independent, but actually having a room to myself again. It's weird, to be honest.

But that's another story, another post.
I WILL POST MORE, I promise.

I'll be alright.

an updates version of all the states I visited in the US

I really really don't know why I find it so hard at the moment to keep this blog going. I have sooo many pictures to show, so much to tell you. It's just all in my head and doesn't want to get on to this blog for some reason. 

I am back home now, in Germany. My summer plans are similar (if not almost the same) to last summer: Move back to Edinburgh, volunteer at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, then work again at my Fringe job. I am so so so ÜBER excited for the festivals, especially for the film one. The program is out now (click here) and there are great films coming to the festival as well as great people. Elijah Wood, for once- and then Simon Helberg, who plays Howard in the Big Bang Theory. How cool is that?

Other than that, I feel like getting rid of all my stuff. I had so much trouble coming back from the States- excess luggage wherever I went, seriously nice airport staff that didn't charge me for it, but also me leaving SO much stuff in hotel rooms because it just wouldn't fit. Denise called me a hoarder, but I just really don't like wasting stuff. Ugh.

So in a way I am looking forward to Edinburgh and re-moving back in to my room, but this time without unnecessary clutter and all of that. We will see how that goes.

 Okay summer 2014- here is to warm nights, beers in pubs, picnics in parks, making new friends, seeing old ones again, cooking in my own kitchen, gettin rid of stuff, not wearing socks, taking more pictures, watching more movies, discovering more of Edinburgh, mentally preparing for the last year in Scotland, planning da future.

EIFF Closing Party

So the Film Festival is officially over (except for our staff party tonight) and I wish it could go on just a biiiit longer. It's been so great to meet all these fun people and know that we have this one thing in common: a love for film.

Before the party we were invited to watch "Not Another Happy Ending" in the fancy Festival Theatre (see picture) and walked the red carpet in a very unspectacular way. The film was a really beautiful film set in Scotland, however the story was a bit predictable. 
After that we celebrated one more time with filmmaker guests and everyone else who was invited. There were free drinks, free food and dancing in underground caves. It was totally crammed until the end but after midnight we finally had space to dance until the very last song.

I had a great time and will definately miss these kinds of parties.

People I met/saw so far {EIFF 2013}

We took this picture on the night on the Ceilidh and it was actually very awkward and embarrasing, so I would rather talk about the other time we met him! He came to our reception desk the on Monday, accompanied by another jury member (that's why he is at the Film Festival) and some other staff. They were showing him around and strangely went over to our desk, asked that we would be introduced (by names!)- And then the photographer of the Film Festival says she wants us to be in a picture with him. Hahahah OKAY!
So I am indeed in another picture with him. I really hope that woman uploads it soon or we have to personally stalk her and her camera. That was such a weird thing and usually really doesn't happen. I mean, we are just registration. SO yeah, that was that.



Now about all the other people. There have been quite a few people around, from EastEnders, Hollyoaks, Skins and all these other British shows I don't really watch.
But it's always fun to look them up on google and stalk them a little bit! I had to go to the train station quite a lot to pick up those people, stand there with a sign and bring them to their cars. My favorite was Andrew Douglas (picture click here), who directed 'Amytyville Horrow' and also 'uwantme2killhim', which is premiering at the Festival. He came with his beautiful wife (who starred in Scrubs and Princess Diaries!) and their beautiful little son. They were super nice and I am really excited to go and see his film. I wish I could have seen his Q&A, but that was at the same time as the Robbie concert. Oh well, you can't have it all.

Here we go, some more visuals of who I met/saw.



This is Jamie Blackley, who was in Misfits, Snow White and the Huntsman and is starring in two films premiering at the Festival: 'uwantme2killhim' and 'We are the freaks'.


Oh yes, Natalie Dormer. From Game of Thrones or the Tudors. She was at the Opening Gala and is just sooo beautiful!



Felicity Jones and the director of 'Breathe In'. Saw them both at the Opening Night as well.



Oh yeees, Robert Carlyle! He was in so many films I haven't seen yet, but right now he plays Rumpelstilkin in 'Once Upon a Time'. We went to a kind of personal event with him, where people could ask him questions after a really cool interview with a journalist. We also waited outside for him (haha we creepers) and got a picture with him as well as an autograph. He was super nice!




Now this I thought was really cool- 'Battle of the Sexes' is a documentary about Billy Jean King and these so called tennis matches in 1973. We picked her up from the airport, so that was really cool! I also picked up the director of the film, who was really sweet. I really need to go and see this film now!


Alright, I think this is it so far! The Festival ends on Sunday with a Closing Party, so hopefully that's gonna be fun as well! I really loved seeing all these people, especially picking them up and talking to them.

Films I watched so far {EIFF 2013}

I feel like my days consist of working and sleeping and nothing else. Which is not true, but I definately don't spend that much time in front of my laptop anymore.

I feel that so much has happened during these last couple days that I cannot fit it into one post.

So to start with, here are the films I watched.

I went to the first public screening of The East and it was followed by a Q&A with the 

director, so that was preeetty cool. I loved the film, it was intense and thrilling and makes 

you hate the world a little bit. The cast was brilliant and the director explained how he 

and Brit Marling lived in this sort of community (thats portrayed in the film) for a whole

summer!

Magic Magic- I watched it last night because I like Michael Cera- this is so different
than what he has done before. It is set in Chile and very very beautiful, but such a
strange film! 

Frances Ha- We watched this as part of our staff training (how cool is that?) and I liked
it- it's in black and white and about a girl who is kina stuck between being young and
careless and growing up.



You and Me Forever- Now this is a Danish film and belongs to the strand of "Not
Another Teen Movie"- It's about two best friends and what happens to their friendship
when another girl moves into town and gets in between the two. Quite nice, although for
once I just felt that I am so happy not to be 16 anymore. 

Mister John-
I haven't heard amazing reviews from the others about this film,
but I wanted to see it anyway because I quite liked the story: It's about a guy
who goes to Asia where his brother lived and suddenly died. He kinda "slips"
into his brother's old life. It's a really slow film, only little dialogue. I imagined it
way more thrilling and full of action but I still liked it.

Shooting Bigfoot

Omg, this film was hilarious! It was the premiere and the director was sitting in as well. It's such an interesting documentary, mostly because of the characters in it. I loved every bit of it and would love to see it again - definately my favorite so far!

Ceilidh at EIFF {and famous people!}

 
 Now as it should, there was a ceilidh event happening couple days ago. Filmmakers, Industry people etc were invited to a night full of ceilidh dancing, whisky and haggis. Staff were allowed to attend as well so of course we went (I just love the free drinks). It was so so so much fun, my arms still hurt from the dancing. I really enjoy dancing ceilidh, especially when it involves a bigger group and the "choreography" is good. We even had one dance where the guys were swinging the girl in to the air (strange picture, but click here to see how)!
And to top it off, Kevin McKidd (Dr. Owen Hunt from Grey's Anatomy!!!) was there and in a veeery awkward situation, we asked him for a picture.
 
And to make it even better- today he came to our reception and the official photographer actually took a picture of us with him. It was a magical day, let me tell ya.

So yeah, that night was preeeetty cool. Now all I wanna do when I grow up is to be invited to those parties. That would be a fun life.


and of course I am gonna share the pictures with the world, I just need to get a hold of them :D

The EIFF Opening Gala

via x

Ughh I am sitting here, trying to find words for the past two days (say what?). In a way, it feels like forever already. It's so strange how you meet all these new people and after such a short amount of time you already skipped the weird awkward introductionary (is that a word?) talks and just... I don't know, start being something else than people who just met. I remember it being the same with camp last year, it's just so different than when you meet in real life and it amazes me every time.
So anyway, last night was the official opening gala. They showed 'Breathe In' and then super fancy people only (and us) were invited to the gala in the National Museum. It is such a stunning location for a party!
And yes, we did see Felicity Jones and also Natalie Dormer (from Game of Thrones which I am not watching but I totally recognized her anyway haha) I am sure there were so many other celebs but man it's hard to spot famous people when you have to walk super slow in super painful (but pretty) heels. So we switched to flats after a while and danced the night away (always wanted to write that!)
And the best part was probably the photo booth (oh and the free drinks! and free food!)

So maybe I will manage to sort out the pictures from my phone and show you pictures of my co workers taking pictures with famous people while I am in the bathroom (fail).

Oh and this little video from the opening night:

Hashtag excitement!

 

Oh it's all so exciting!
Tomorrow I am going to start working at the Film Festival, which is officially starting on Wednesday. And Wednesday is also the day of the opening gala, to which we are invited.
And the dress code is black tie. Ooooh jeeez, hopefully all is going well and I will not trip with my precious heels (they are being widened in the freezer at the moment. umm yes)-

 So for the next two weeks it's all gonna be about films and famous people here.

Oh and of course interrupted by some (or loads of) Robbie Williams fangirling ❤

3 Film Festival treats! {EIFF special}

The Film Festival posters are all over town and the programm is out for a week now- I am so so so excited!
My personal highlight would definately be Emma Watson actually attenting the festival.
O.M.G. I am probably going to faint if I should see her up close (from far away I was already dazzled), nevertheless I am soo so excited for the premiere of The Bling Ring!


Shooting Bigfoot- I am just fascinated by things like this- Nessie, Bigfoot, ...whatever it is!


Struck by Lightning- What can I say, I am a sucker for teenie films. And I love Rebel Wilson.

Breathe In {film: coming soon}

via x

'Breathe in' is the film that's gonna open the Edinburgh Film Festival and I am SO excited!

3 things why I am already in love with it:

• Felicity Jones (watch 'Like Crazy')
• it's about an exchange student
• the story takes place in upstate New York, close to where I lived ♥