A MUSICAL based on songs by the Proclaimers and set in their hometown of Leith is to be premiered – in Canada.
Movie chiefs have snubbed Edinburgh for the premiere of Sunshine on Leith, choosing to roll out the red carpet three thousand miles away in Canada.
The cinematic adaptation of the hit musical will be unveiled for the first time at the famous Toronto Film Festival on September 9.
Twins Charlie and Craig Reid, otherwise known as the Proclaimers, said they were thrilled to be going global.
The film is tipped to be Scotland’s answer to Mamma Mia and is expected to bring more tourists to the city.
But one Leith Councillor has branded the snub a slap in the face for locals.
Councillor Gordon Munro said: “I didn’t know The Proclaimers had emigrated.
“I would have thought the premiere would be here in Leith and they would have done it for the community, given what it’s about.
“The obvious thing for me, was to have some sort of premiere at Ocean Terminal and have the red carpet out.
“It could have had some sort of screening at Easter Road. It makes you think the whole thing was just done for a film festival.”
The film tells of two soldiers returning to Edinburgh after serving in Afghanistan.
It was produced by award winning filmmaker Andrew Macdonald, who worked on Shallow Grave and Trainspotting.
It stars veteran Glasgow actor, Peter Mullan, Little Voice star Jane Horrocks and Paul Brannigan, who shot to fame in The Angel’s Share, last year.
The Reid twins, who have a scene-stealing appearance in the neighbourhood where they were born, both confirmed they would attend the premiere.
The duo, currently on a three week tour of Canada, said they were looking forward to the screening.
Charlie said: “We are both thrilled at the movie being selected for the Toronto Film Festival.
“We think the movie is fantastic and are very proud to be associated with it and have so many of our songs featured.
“It’s a huge boost for the premiere to be there.”
Rose Ellison, film manager at Marketing Edinburgh Film Focus, worked with production to find locations for scene shooting.
She said: “It’s a glorious film and Edinburgh looks beautiful. I think a lot of people will want to come to Edinburgh after watching it.
“The bigger the international following, the better. The Toronto Film Festival is one of the top four in the world. It really does give it a real stamp of approval.
An Edinburgh premiere is expected to be held later in September, before the film is released across the UK on October 4.
Most scenes were filmed in Glasgow to keep costs from spiralling out of control.
However, regulars at the Port O’Leith pub, renowned for it’s blood-red exterior, saw their watering hole painted in Hib’s green ahead of filming there.
The twins have been die-hard Hib’s supporters all their life.
It led to some loyal drinkers threatening a boycott, but returned to its traditional colour once shooting was completed late last year.
A mammoth cast of 500 took part in a dancing scene to Proclaimers hit I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) outside the National Gallery.
