EIFF: Choose Irvine Welsh
Irvine Welsh in his own words, with Iggy Pop, Martin Compston, Danny Boyle and others paying tribute.
Dir. Ian Jefferies / United Kingdom / 2023 / English
From his early days in Leith to his times in London, San Francisco and Miami, iconoclast author Irvine Welsh has always had a restless mind and a particular genius for capturing the dynamics, language and sheer buzzing energy of life. In a documentary rich with personal archive material, Welsh relays his own story and philosophy with characteristic wit, while a roll call of admirers including Iggy Pop, Martin Compston, Danny Boyle, Bobbie Gillespie, Gail Porter, Rowetta, and Andrew Macdonald share their passion for the books and subsequent film adaptations. And of course hedonism gets a look in, with some particularly hair-raising antics in Ibiza. A vivid film that pays tribute to a man whose writing and life are parallel odes to chaos and meaningful human connection.
Kate Taylor, Programme Director
Irvine Welsh will join director Ian Jefferies to present the film.
Director: Ian Jefferies
Ian Jefferies is experienced in both the music industry and film production. He worked with bands such as Happy Mondays, Jeff Buckley, and Radiohead during his 25-year music career. Ian's Film and TV projects include Top Boy, Blinded by the Light, To Be Someone, For the Love of Mod & Random Acts. Most recently Ian has been working with the original cast of Quadrophenia on a book about the film. Before directing Choose Irvine Welsh, Ian made the documentary Kick Out the Jams - The Story of XFM featuring Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant discussing the beginnings of their entertainment careers.
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