The Edinburgh Reporter August 2022

8 NEWS
Film fest in the City
Blockbusters to be shown on a big screen in St Andrew Square
By PHYLLIS STEPHEN
THE EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM
FESTIVAL (EIFF) is back to its original timing
from 12 to 20 August, rubbing shoulders with all
the other creative programmes on the Fringe
and at the International Festival.
There is a full programme of 87 new
features, 12 short film programmes and two
retrospectives at EIFF, bookended by the
Opening Gala Aftersun and the Closing
Gala After Yang.
The new Creative Director Kristy Matheson
is at the helm ensuring that more
than half of the international feature
films have female directors or
co-directors.
Films will be shown at the
Filmhouse, Cameo, Everyman, Vue
Omni, and of course outdoors in St
Andrew Square Garden for the middle
weekend’s Film Fest in the City.
If you just cannot choose from the
extensive film festival programme then
Film Fest in the City is for you. Films are
chosen from you over the three days and it is
an outdoor, free and non-ticketed event. Our
choices? Paddington on Friday at 11am,
2001: A Space Odyssey on Saturday at 8pm
and Shrek at 11am on Sunday.
FILM FEST IS FREE
Kristy Matheson said: “We are delighted to be
able to present such a fantastic programme of
free events for Edinburgh residents and visitors
alike to enjoy on our opening weekend. These
great films correspond with our wider EIFF
themes – our celebration of female directors and
Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022, among others
– and we are sure everyone will find something
in the programme that they will enjoy. See you
in August in the beautiful surroundings of
St Andrew Square for a weekend of pure
cinematic entertainment!”
Roddy Smith, Chief Executive and Director,
Essential Edinburgh: “The shared experience of
enjoying a good film out in the fresh air is hard
to beat, so we’re delighted to bring this hugely
popular event back to Edinburgh city centre.
“We want to provide an occasion to be
enjoyed by people of all ages and tastes, which
will cost nothing to attend. The outdoor cinema
has always been a firm favourite with locals for
over a decade with the stunning backdrop of St
Andrew Square Garden. We can’t wait to see you
there and welcome you to enjoy a film as well as
the retail and hospitality offering throughout
our city centre.”
Robert Howat
as Rob Roy
heralding the
return of Film
Fest in the City
The outdoor
film festival has
always been
popular with
locals
Tuns of choice
at Porty Vault
By STEPHEN RAFFERTY
A BREWERY specialising in sour beers
has hit the sweet spot with the opening
of a new bar in Portobello.
Vault City Brewing, supported by £45,000
raised by crowdfunding, has enjoyed a
busy first month since it opened its doors
in the former Skylark in the beach town’s
High Street.
Porty Vault has 36 taps featuring 24
of the brewery’s own double-fermented
fruit flavoured beers with the remainder
fonts featuring guest beers, wines
and mead.
An authentic American smoker
imported specially produces a range of
“slow and smoked” BBQ style foods and
snacks with vegan options. Vault City
Brewing head of marketing, Richard
Wardrop, said: “Our brewery is only a
short walk from Portobello High Street
but opening the Porty Vault feels like we
now have a real connection with the
community. We enjoyed a really strong
start with people from Portobello out in
force supporting us.”
The bar and smokehouse is also
enjoying a “mini pilgrimage” with
customers from Vault’s other bar - The
Wee Vault at Haymarket - heading down
to Portobello.
Richard added: “We’ve seen quite a few
people from our Haymarket tasting room
make the trip and hopefully it means
there are a few more people wandering
about Porty taking in a bit of the seaside.”
FRUIT FORWARD
Vault City describe their beers as “fruit
forward” with the beers fermented
initially with yeast and culture, followed
by a second fermentation with up the
40% fruit content adding the distinctive
flavours and colours.
Most popular so far has been Cloudy
Lemonade and Strawberry Sunday
beers - both of which are available in
iced slush versions for takeaway on hot
sunny days. The beers range from a
typical 4% ABV all the way up to the
powerful Kärleksmums Imperial Pastry
Stout at 12% which is described as
having chocolate, coffee, coconut and
vanilla flavours.
Porty Vault plan to introduce guest
cask beers in time and there will be
future collaborations with other
breweries with tap takeovers.
www.vaultcity.co.uk