August 25: Edinburgh Film Festival director Lizzie Francke mentioned Kate in her commentary for The Scotsman on the success of this year’s festival:

Edinburgh in August is an extraordinary forum of ideas. What has pleased me most about this year's Film Festival has been the constant sense of a community of film-makers, admiring and learning from one another.

I witnessed Haskell Wexler in conversation with Mike Figgis, two iconoclastic directors. Guillermo del Toro invited David Lynch's regular composer, Angelo Badalamenti, to play a vampire in his next movie - and also wanted him to do the score...

The wealth of local talent showcased in work both British and international - Brian Cox, Tilda Swinton, Seamus McGarvey, Dougray Scott, Alan Cumming, John McKay - testifies to Scotland's global film community.

Despite the often appalling weather, the stars have come out in force. Sean Penn, Kate Winslet and Tim Roth provided some Hollywood glamour. Angelo Badalamenti tickled us by simultaneously performing the Twin Peaks theme tune and imitating David Lynch in rapturous glee.

I think there can be no more thrilling end to my five years as Artistic Director than the chance to conduct a masterclass with Emma Thompson, before the screening of her deeply moving new film Wit.

August 21: Ananova News reports on the success of the Edinburgh Film Festival:

This year's Edinburgh Festival is the most successful ever, organisers have said.

More than one million people will have visited shows, talks and film premieres by the end of August.

Ticket sales have increased across the board with more people flocking to see little-known productions and up-and-coming comedy and stage stars.

Promoters say they are "thrilled" with the success of this year's event, which has drawn audiences and performers from more than 40 countries.

Even the assortment of street performers who battle it out for prime-time space on Edinburgh's cobbled streets say they are enjoying record takings - despite the wet weather.

Charlotte di Corpo, communications manager at the Festival Fringe, said street performers were making up to £1,000 a day this year, compared with £500-£600 in previous years.

Organisers say a special two-for-one ticket offer which was backed by the Scottish Arts Council and ran at the start of August helped give more people a taste for the diversity of the world-renowned festival.

Ms. di Corpo said: "This offer was a wonderful concept that was really designed to give people in the Edinburgh area a push and encourage them to go along to see shows, including those they might normally dismiss. This was a great way for the festival to kick off, with big and eager audiences. This deal was also accompanied by an extremely good publicity campaign that caught people's attention."

This year the Fringe has seen 1,350 companies and individuals give almost 17,000 performances in 175 venues throughout the city, five more than last year.

A total of 275 new works have premiered - another record in the Fringe's 54-year history - and a number of festival veterans, particularly in comedy, have returned to perform.

Ms. di Corpo added: "This really has been a vintage year. We have had more quality performers than ever before and audiences who are willing to taste things a little out of the ordinary. It has been great."

The International Book Festival in the city's Charlotte Street has also proved a big hit, with authors such as Gore Vidal, Joanne Harris and Melvyn Bragg and Italian novelist Giorgio Pressburger speaking to capacity crowds.

Film Festival organisers also revealed a surge in ticket sales and said they were four days ahead of sales compared with the same time last year.

Personal appearances at the festival from big movie names including Kate Winslet, Dougray Scott and Sean Penn - whose workshop being staged tomorrow sold out in just over 24 hours - helped attract bigger crowds.

A spokeswoman for the film festival said: "This has been a very successful year for us, with many more people buying tickets well in advance. There is something here for everyone and that is demonstrated in the fact we are well ahead with sales this year. We have a lot to live up to next year."

August 21: The Guardian also has a story today about the festival’s success:

"Festival’s Buzz is Back..."

Fiachra Gibbons, arts correspondent

The weather has been miserable, the comedy has been just as depressing, but Edinburgh has got its mojo back.

After a decade in which the biggest arts festival in the world has been accused of becoming overblown, over-hyped, and most damagingly, to have disappeared up its own fundament, Edinburgh has rediscovered the buzz that made it great in the first place.

By next weekend, traditionally Edinburgh's busiest, 1m people are likely to have bought tickets for the Fringe festival, and the book, film and international festivals - the highest number ever.

...A low budget documentary called The Natural History of the Chicken was the fastest to sell out in the film festival, filling up quicker than even the gala premieres of Enigma, Lucky Break, and Gabriel And Me, which had the added lure of sharing the same cinema with the likes of Kate Winslet, Alan Cumming, Billy Connolly and Saffron Burrows.

August 21: Thanks to Sylvia of Dougray Scott in Focus for forwarding to me this item she received from Melissa M:

Keith Aitken Column, The Express (Aug 20)

It’s not the style of this column to burden readers with starstruck accounts of my social diary. ("Monday evening: fell asleep watching Newsnight. Tuesday evening: fell asleep watching...") Just this once, though, I must break the rule, Darlings, because the Aitken combo scored an invite to Saturday’s premier of the movie Enigma, an event judged to be the celebrity occasion of this year’s Edinburgh Festival. What was it like? Well, Kate Winslet is every bit as winsome in the flesh as on screen, Saffron Burrows is about eight feet of willowy loveliness, and Mrs. Aitken now spends more time than necessary discussing Dougray Scott's dimple. Oh, and the film's pretty good. The only disappointment was the no-show of co-producer Mick Jagger. Just like his last scheduled festival appearance. I suppose his tax accountants must once again have warned him off. No doubt he'll turn up in two years' time.

August 20: The UK Times reports today on the Enigma premiere in Edinburgh:

"Missing Jagger is Enigma of Film’s Premiere," by Nicola Woodcock

The must-see UK film of the year is supposed to be Enigma, yet one of its producers, Mick Jagger, did not turn up to the British premiere, and one of its stars left after 15 minutes to watch a football match from a local pub.

The Second World War romantic thriller was screened for the first time outside America at the Edinburgh Film Festival this weekend. Enigma, which was co-produced by Jagger, has been tipped to follow in the footsteps of British boxoffice successes such as Four Weddings And A Funeral and Notting Hill.

Jagger was expected to attend the gala screening but pulled out at the last minute for unknown reasons. Dougray Scott, who plays the lead character Tom Jericho, left to watch the match between his football team, Hibernian, and Rangers on a television in a nearby pub.

Kate Winslet, who plays a mathematician’s assistant in the film, had to rush to Edinburgh’s Odeon Cinema on Saturday night. "I only got here off the plane half an hour ago, so it’s been a bit of a rush," she said. "I didn’t have long to put my make up on and the rain has made my hair go a bit funny." She praised Jagger’s producing debut. "Mick was on set a lot of the time and he was absolutely brilliant," she said.

The film tells a fictionalised version of the celebrated British battle to crack Germany’s codes, at Bletchley Park.

The film’s director, Michael Apted, said that he was pleased that all its leading actors were British, making it a likely hit in the United States. "British films do very well in America and American audiences really like British actors," he said.

The script was adapted by Sir Tom Stoppard from Robert Harris’s bestselling novel, Enigma. Harris said that he approved of the changes to his story in the film script and was delighted with the outcome. "They’ve done a wonderful job and I really like the changes that have been made," he said.

August 20: Kate is apparently not into football, LOL, but Dougray found someone at the premiere party to chat with about his favorite sport:

Simon Pea’s Festival Diary:
Nice to meet a star who really knows the score --

Duty calls, but still we’re not happy. Having to head off to the Film Festival gala première of Enigma and miss the Hibs v Rangers game on television is a bit much. We didn’t even know the score, but succour was at hand.
Who should be skipping up the steps to the reception with us, but Stevie "Dougray" Scott and co-star Kate Winslet?
"Stevie, what was the Hibs score?"
"It was 2-2, man, but we blew it. We should have gubbed them."
"Who scored?"
"Tam McManus and Orman. Brilliant goal. But Luna should have finished them off at the end."
Still, we agreed it was another moral victory over the forces of darkness and Dougray had already started celebrating by the looks of it.
Kate did not seem amused and was even more bemused when we complimented her on her lighter. "It’s just a cheap, green one."
She seemed relieved when Saffron Burrows arrived as there was no-one else there yet, except for us. Saffron was with her man, Mike Figgis, and kept stroking his ear. That must be why his hair stands on end. Meanwhile, the Scott clan turned up in numbers for their boy "Stevie", all the way from, as Variety in Hollywood quaintly puts it "the post industrial wastelands of Fifeshire, the small town of Glenrothes".
Which is just "a ba’ heer awa, ya hoor sur ... fae Lumphinnans".
Have we not said this is Fife’s year at the Fest?
Meanwhile, we were left to ponder an enigma with Dougray. Why have Hibs not won the cup since 1902? You can take the boy out to Hollywood, but you can’t take Hibs out the boy.

August 19: Kate says her most recent two films will do little for her image. From the Sunday Herald:
"Stars Piling in to Edinburgh? What an Enigma," by Juliette Garside

Producer Mick Jagger couldn't make it... but Kate Winslet, Dougray Scott and Saffron Burrows turned up for the international premiere of the wartime thriller Enigma at Edinburgh last night.

Jagger was due to make an appearance at the Edinburgh International Film Festival screening, but had to cancel at the last minute.

No sooner had Scott arrived than he said he was looking forward to sneaking off and catching the end of the Rangers-Hibs match at Ibrox. The Glenrothes-born Hibs fan told reporters: "I'll nip off to the pub to see the game." He slipped out of the cinema 15 minutes later to do just that.

Scott, who co-starred with Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible II, was looking tanned but thin. He had to loose two stone, including the bulk he put on for M:I II, for his Enigma role.

His character, Tom Jericho, is recovering form a nervous breakdown when the film begins and is a brilliant mathematician working at the top- secret Bletchley Park trying to crack the German army's infamous enigma code. When his girlfriend Claire Romilly (Burrows) disappears, he teams up with Winslet's 'jolly hockeysticks' character Hester Wallace -- another mathematician at Bletchley -- to crack the code and find her. The film is based on Robert Harris's best-selling book and was directed by Michael Apted. Both Harris and Apted were at the premiere.

Scott said he had read the book 10 times after hearing he was to star in the film. "It was a good source of research," he said.

Winslet praised Jagger's involvement in Enigma, which is the first film he has produced. "Mick rocks. He was very much the driving force behind it. He was there a lot, like everyone else, with his Wellington boots on."

The Titanic star, who was carrying her first child, 10-month-old Mia, while filming Enigma, said she was enjoying motherhood. "I have to remind myself to check my clothes for carrot and snot before I go out. That's the main problem. But I'm lucky being an actress because I can take her to work."

Winslet, wearing a figure-hugging corset-style black dress and a faded denim jacket, said it was lucky she had been cast in a dowdy role, because her weight ballooned during filming, which ended when she was six months pregnant. "I just got so fat, so we had to strap everything in."

She described her look for the film as "completely unglamorous, almost no make-up, bit of a dumpy potato." Her next movie is about the life of the late Oxford-based author Iris Murdoch, where she will play an equally unglamorous role as the young writer, with Judi Dench playing the elder Murdoch.

Winslet, who flew up from London yesterday for the premiere, said Iris would again do little for her image. "It's not my pulling film. I look like a soap dodger."

August 19: More details of the premiere from IOFilm’s festival diary:

Every year there is always one gala that stands out as the big one of the festival. Enigma is this year's. The cast and crew of Enigma turned out in force to wave to the crowds lined up in the rain outside the Odeon today.

Although Mick Jagger was threatening to turn up, he never appeared in the end. Instead we were treated to the director, Michael Apted, director of photography, Seamus McGarvey, and three of the film's stars: Kate Winslet, Saffron Burrows and Dougray Scott.

All three stars were fairly casual, Saffron sporting a summer dress combined with leather jacket, Dougray a striped casual shirt and jacket, and Kate looking stunning in a corset under denim. Kate in particular proved just how nice a celebrity she is, preferring to scott round the crowds talking to people and signing autographs rather than dashing inside out of the rain.

After the screening, the stars were whisked off in their limos to the Royal Museum for the annual sponsors dinner. Sadly, your intrepid diarist’s attempts to crash the party were laughed at by the security on the door. However, my spy inside tells me that the dinner was "simply beautiful" although after excessive consumption of alcohol he can't actually remember much more of the evening...

So what was my highlight of the day? Definitely meeting Dougray and Kate (who says even experienced pros like myself can't go weak at the knees when presented with true celebs?) although coming a close second was being asked to do a TV interview outside the Odeon - better watch out Winslet, stardom beckons for me now!

August 19: My local paper, the Orange County Register, has deciphered (pardon the pun) Kate’s lingo:

"Corsets Hide Winslet's Titanic Pregnancy in Film"

Titanic actress Kate Winslet says she had to squeeze into corsets to keep from looking overweight and pregnant on the set of her latest movie. "I just got so fat, so we used to strap everything in to make it not show. I was about six months' pregnant by the end," she told reporters at the premiere of Enigma at the Edinburgh film festival.

But the 25-year-old British actress said the look went well with her character, a dowdy code-breaker in the World War II spy thriller. "I did look quite podgy, which kind of worked with a boffin," Winslet said.

According to the People Central Code Book, "podgy" means "pudgy" and "boffin" translates into "research scientist."

Sky News also carried one of the earlier stories.

August 19: BBC News has a story posted about the ‘Enigma’ screening. It is a reworking of articles we’ve already seen, but they’ve added comments by Robert Harris, the writer of the novel:

"Winslet Attends Enigma Premiere"

Titanic star Kate Winslet has appeared at the Edinburgh première of her latest film Enigma, a World War II thriller about code breakers. The 25-year-old actress was joined by her co-stars Dougray Scott and Saffron Burrows for the film's first screening outside the US at the Scottish capital's film festival.

Enigma is adapted from the best selling novel by Robert Harris.

Winslet revealed why she was attracted to the role of Hester Wallace, the heroine who assists a brilliant mathematician in his attempt to crack the German Navy's secret codes during the Second World War. "She is completely unglamorous, doesn't wear much make up and also wears really dodgy glasses. There aren't many nice costumes in this film," she said. "She's quite boring, but she's a really good character and was a real challenge for me to play."

August 19: Kate looked "interesting" at last night's 'Enigma' UK premiere, according to the Scottish Sunday Mail:

"Hi. I’m Kate Windswept," by Steve Hendry and John Millar

She blames the Scottish weather for her bad hair night at big bash.

Kate Winslet looked windswept and interesting in a low-cut black dress as she arrived in the nick of time for the Edinburgh premiere of her new film.

She flew in to meet Enigma co-stars Dougray Scott and Saffron Burrows with just 30 minutes to spare last night.

The star of Oscar-winning movie Titanic said she felt a mess, thanks to the Scottish weather. "It's been a bit of a rush," she said. "I only threw my make-up on about an hour ago and my hair has been messed up by the drizzle."

But before arriving at the Film Festival, Kate - now mum of baby Mia - had to go through a strange routine. "I always have to check myself before I go anywhere now. There's always a bit carrot or rusk or something on me."

Dougray Scott, from Fife, was delighted to be at the premiere, but admitted he'd rather be watching Hibs playing Rangers. He said: "It's great being here but I'd rather be at Ibrox. I'll nip out to the pub later." True to word, he managed to catch the end of his team's 2-2 draw.

He went on: "I am incredibly proud of the fact that I'm Scottish and that this sort of success is not unobtainable for people like me. I hope wee boys and girls with the same background as mine can take inspiration. If I can do it, they can do it."

Co-star Saffron Burrows was full of praise for her leading man. The beautiful actress, who towered above the rest of the guests, said: "I think Dougray's done a brilliant job. He's really pulled it off."

Set in 1943, Enigma is adapted from the best-selling novel by Robert Harris, about Britain's efforts to break Nazi codes.

Guests at the bash included Robin Cook and his wife Gaynor and Edinburgh Lord Provost Eric Milligan and Menzies Campbell.

But there was one really big enigma - the whereabouts of the film's producer, Rolling Stone Mick Jagger. He was due at the gala screening but, pulled out at the last minute.

Kate said Mick was a fantastic inspiration when the film was made. She said: "He was on set a lot of the time and he was absolutely brilliant. It's quite easy for people to say he was just a name attached to the project, but he was the driving force behind it and he was there all the time being the producer and wearing his Wellington boots."

Kate, who was pregnant during filming, admitted her condition complicated things on set. She said: "I just kept getting bigger and bigger I became an expert in corsets. I was very tired all the time - but I made up for it when I had Mia."

The director, Michael Apted was also full of praise for Jagger but admitted he didn't know where he was, either. He said: "Mick bought the book so he was involved in the project from the very beginning. It's been a very long haul for all of us but even more so for him."

Apted said he was delighted to have brought the story to the big screen and was glad the leading actors involved were all British. He said: "British films do very well in America and American audiences really like British actors. If the film had been made in America, it would have been a lot more expensive and glossy, but it would not have had the ring of truth. We would also have had to put up with some strange acting."

August 19: Here’s more on the premiere from the same publication; Ewan McGregor also attended the screening:

"Top Film, Shame I Missed The Game"

Hibs fan Dougray's regret

Scots star Dougray Scott had only one regret about last night's premiere of his wartime thriller Enigma - he missed the big Rangers-Hibs match. But the Hibs fan said: "It is important to me that Enigma was shown at the Edinburgh Film Festival because Edinburgh is my football home town." Speaking at the glitzy Odeon celebration, he added: "Football plays an extraordinary part in my life."

The Cowdenbeath-born movie hunk, who stars alongside Kate Winslet in the code-breaker drama, has never let celebrity turn his head.

The Mission Impossible 2 star added: "Sometimes people don't know where I come from because of the characters I play. But I am incredibly proud of the fact that I come from Fife and I am Scottish and that this sort of success in film is not actually unobtainable to people like me. That's very important."

And the pin-up, who rubs shoulders with the Hollywood big names, had a message for Scots youngsters with dreams of fame and success. "I hope that wee boys and girls with the same background that I come from should maybe take inspiration from what has happened to me," he said. "If I can do it they can do it. The important thing to remember is that it's about being happy and really having a go."

Scott was speaking as Enigma was premiered at the International Film Festival. He said: "This is a film that I'm very proud of."

He slimmed down to lose a stone in weight to play a character on the verge of a nervous breakdown in the big screen version of Robert Harris's best selling World War II thriller. And he revelled in playing the lead role in a story of mathematician trying to turn the tide of the war by breaking Nazi codes.

Titanic star Kate Winslet flew in from London, leaving husband Jim Threapleton at home in London with baby Mia.

The warm welcome and cheers from the crowds made the journey worth it.

And there was a suprise appearance from Perth-born Ewan McGregor. He was best man at Scott's wedding and was north of the Border to act as Chieftain of the Crieff Highland Games.

Afterwards, the stars joined an invited audience for a party at the Royal Museum of Scotland.

Sandbags were placed outside the doors in keeping with the film's 1940s theme and a swing band entertained the guests.

August 18: ITN has filed this story (containing info already published, but including a quote from Burrows):

"Winslet Windswept in Edinburgh"

Titanic star Kate Winslet has arrived in Edinburgh for the international premiere of her latest film and said the wet Scottish weather had ruined her hair style.

The 25-year-old actress was joined by her co-stars as the Second World War thriller Enigma was given its first screening outside the United States at the Edinburgh Film Festival.

The actress said she had only arrived in Scotland an hour before turning up at the City's Odeon Cinema and had to put her make up on in a hurry to make sure she did not miss the film.

She said: "I only got here off the plane half-an-hour ago, so it's been a bit of a rush. I didn't have long to put my make up on and the rain outside has made my hair go a bit funny."

The film's producer, Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, was due at tonight's gala screening, but to the disappointment of film fans he had to pull out at the 11th hour.

Winslet said Jagger was a fantastic inspiration when the film was made. "Mick was on set a lot of the time and he was absolutely brilliant. It's quite easy for people to say he was just a name attached to the project, but he was the driving force behind it and he was there all the time being the producer and wearing his Wellington boots."

She also revealed what attracted her to the part of Hester Wallace, the heroine who assists a brilliant mathematician in his attempt to crack the German Navy's secret codes during the Second World War.

She said: "She is completely unglamorous, doesn't wear much make up and also wears really dodgy glasses. There aren't many nice costumes in this film. She's quite boring, but she's a really good character and was a real challenge for me to play."

The film's lead character is Tom Jericho, who is played by the Fife-born actor Dougray Scott. Although the actor turned up for the beginning of the premiere, he left just 15 minutes into the screening to watch his favourite football team Hibs play Rangers on TV in a nearby pub.

He said: "It's really nice to be here, but I'd rather be at Ibrox where the match is being played. In fact I'm going to nip out to the pub to watch the game later on."

English actress Saffron Burrows said she was delighted to be in Scotland for the screening. "Whenever I am in Scotland I always feel very embarrassed about being English. It's very frosty down south, so I prefer it when I'm up here. I'd like to work up here full time, that would be really nice."

August 18: Reuters published this story this afternoon:

"Actress Winslet in Corsets for Latest Film"

EDINBURGH (Reuters) - "Titanic" actress Kate Winslet has revealed how she had to squeeze into figure-hugging corsets to stop herself looking overweight and pregnant on the set of her latest movie Enigma.

"I just got so fat, so we used to strap everything in to make it not show. I was about six months pregnant by the end," she told reporters at the Enigma premier at the Edinburgh film Festival on Saturday.

But the 25-year-old British actress, who braved the wintry Scottish weather in a slinky black dress and light blue denim jacket, said the look went well with her character, Hester, a dowdy code-breaker in the World War Two spy thriller. "I did look quite podgy which kind of worked with a boffin," Winslet said.

Enigma, adapted from British author Robert Harris's best-selling novel, tells the tale of Bletchley Park, Britain's top-secret code-breaking unit set up to smash the famous Enigma cypher used by the German U-boats.

In an all-British line-up, Winslet stars opposite up-and-coming Scottish actor Dougray Scott who plays genius mathematician and ace codebreaker Tom [Jericho].

And British actress Saffron Burrows plays Claire, his bewitching ex-lover and colleague whose sudden disappearance sparks the hunt for the mole who could expose the best kept Allied secret of the war to the Germans.

Hundreds of fans turned up in the pouring rain to catch a glimpse of the stars, even though soccer-mad Scott confessed he would rather be watching his beloved Hibernian playing football in Glasgow than appearing at the premier.

There was also disappointment for those who wanted to see Rolling Stone Mick Jagger, who made his production debut with Enigma.

The rubber-lipped rocker failed to make it on the night, but Winslet said Jagger, famous also for his passion for spy stories, had made the transition from the stage to screen with ease. "He was there with like everyone else with his Wellington boots on, and really getting into it. He was great," Winslet said.

August 18 (12 noon PDT): Here’s the first story about the Enigma premiere in Edinburgh! From Ananova News:

"Scots Rain Has Ruined My Hair, Says Kate Winslet"

Kate Winslet arrived for the international premiere of her latest film and said the wet Edinburgh weather had ruined her hair style.

She was joined by her co-stars as Enigma was given its first screening outside the US at the Edinburgh Film Festival.

The actress said she had only arrived in Scotland an hour before and had to put her make up on in a hurry.

She said: "I only got here off the plane half-an-hour ago, so it's been a bit of a rush. I didn't have long to put my make up on and the rain outside has made my hair go a bit funny."

Winslet also revealed what attracted her to the part of Hester Wallace, the heroine who assists a brilliant mathematician in his attempt to crack the German Navy's secret codes during the Second World War. She said: "She is completely unglamorous, doesn't wear much make up and also wears really dodgy glasses. There aren't many nice costumes in this film. She's quite boring, but she's a really good character and was a real challenge for me to play."

The film's producer, Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, was due at the gala screening, but had to pull out at the 11th hour.

Fife-born actor Dougray Scott plays the film's leading character Tom Jericho. He turned up for the beginning of the premiere but left after 15 minutes to watch Hibs play Rangers on TV in a nearby pub. He said: "It's really nice to be here, but I'd rather be at Ibrox where the match is being played. In fact I'm going to nip out to the pub to watch the game later on."

August 18: Thanks to my pal Sylvia of Dougray Scott in Focus for passing along to us this article from the Edinburgh Evening News:

"Titanic Star to Appear at City Premiere"
Titanic star Kate Winslet will bring a touch of glamour to the Capital tonight when she attends the international premiere of the Second World War thriller Enigma.
The tale of a brilliant mathematician who cracked the German Navy’s wartime code is being screened for the first time outside the United States as part of the Edinburgh Film Festival.
The Titanic star is expected to appear alongside Scottish star Dougray Scott, who also stars in the film.
But fans of Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, the co-producer of the film who was also expected to attend the screening at the Capital’s Odeon cinema, were set to be disappointed after it was revealed that he was pulling out.
Tonight’s event is the most eagerly anticipated at the Film Festival so far.
Directed by Michael Apted, the film has been adapted from Robert Harris’s bestselling novel.
Fife-born Scott plays the lead role in Enigma, while Winslet stars as the housemate of his ex-lover Claire, who is played by Saffron Burrows.
Winslet, Scott and Burrows were all due to attend tonight’s screening along with the film’s director.
This year’s festival has already attracted a host of top names, with Billy Connolly and Tim Roth among those who have attended screenings.
Next week’s big event will be the appearance of American actor and director Sean Penn, who is due to arrive in Scotland with his wife Robin Wright for the premiere of his latest film The Pledge.

August 17: Ananova entertainment news reports that Kate is expected to attend the 'Enigma' screening on Saturday:

Kate Winslet is expected to attend the Edinburgh premiere of her latest film.

Enigma will receive its international premiere at the Edinburgh Film Festival on Saturday.

Dougray Scott and Jeremy Northam are already on the list of stars due to attend at the event.

The movie is an adaptation of Robert Harris's best seller.

The 1940s thriller is about a boffin trying to crack the infamous Enigma code at Bletchley Park.

Winslet plays the housemate of his ex-lover.

Enigma is due to be released in the UK on September 28.

August 16: Who will attend the Saturday screening of ‘Enigma’? The speculation continues...

"Edinburgh: One Surprise Down, But More To Come? " By Adam Minns

Mick Jagger may be wavering, but Tim Roth paid an unexpected visit to the Edinburgh International Film Festival last night (August 15) to introduce the event's surprise film - Planet Of The Apes.

The festival is now hoping that Jagger, who was to have been the star guest this weekend, changes his mind after publicists said that he is unlikely to attend. The Rolling Stones front-man was to hit the Scottish capital for the international premiere of Enigma, the first film from his production outfit Jagged Films. But the pressure of finishing off a solo album means no one will know for sure if he is coming until he arrives.

Kate Winslet may, however, turn up for Enigma, which screens on Saturday. Scottish actor Dougray Scott is amongst those confirmed for the Intermedia film. Sean Penn is scheduled to arrive towards the end of the festival for The Pledge, along with Robin Wright Penn.

Emma Thompson is to attend for closing film, Wit, and may give a public interview with festival artistic director Lizzie Francke. Ghost World, screening on Friday, is expected to be supported by director Terry Zwigoff and actors Steve Buscemi and Thora Birch.

Kooky French hit Amelie, which opened the festival on Sunday (August 12), has so far proved the most popular film in the audience poll. UK title Gabriel And Me is next, followed by Thai western Tears Of The Black Tiger. It also emerged that Norwegian film Cool And Crazy, which opened the documentary section, was picked up for the UK in the run-up to the festival by indie distributor Artificial Eye.

Amelie director Jean-Pierre Jeunet was amongst those attending, giving a public interview. Other guests so far included Glasgow-born comedian-turned-actor Billy Connolly, in town for Gabriel And Me, apparently with his beard died green in honour of football club Celtic.

Jagger fans, however, can at least rely on the Fringe arts festival which runs alongside the film event. The rock 'n' roll legend appears alongside an Edinburgh health-and-safety inspector and a camp cocaine vendor amongst the characters in the well-received comedy sketch show, Crouching Ferret, Hidden Beaver.

August 13: Small mention of ‘Enigma’ in BBC News:

Enigma -- The [Edinburgh] Film Festival will see a host of première screenings including the first UK showing of The Full Monty director Peter Cattaneo's Lucky Break, and Billy Elliot screenwriter Lee Hall's Gabriel and Me, starring Billy Connelly.

Four Weddings and a Funeral star Andie MacDowell's film Crush and the adaptation of Robert Harris' best-seller Enigma, produced by Rolling Stone Mick Jagger, will also be shown. Jagger is expected to attend the event.

August 13: A writer for The Scotsman comments on the absence at the film festival of ‘A-list’ stars:

In recent years, the opening night of the Edinburgh International Film Festival has been heralded with a gathering of celebrities worthy of any glitzy American premiere. Famous names who have graced the prestigious event over the last few years include Sir Sean Connery, Cate Blanchett, Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlyle. And Hollywood’s golden couple Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas were among other big names who attended major events at the festival as it established itself as a leading player on the international film circuit.
This year, however, the cast list is somewhat less glittering. Sean Penn is the only big Hollywood name lined up to come to the festival, while last night’s premiere boasted a cast which could hardly be described as A-list.

August 6: The Sunday Mirror included this bit on the Enigma screening at the Edinburgh Film Fest:

ENIGMA, the first film rock star Mick Jagger has produced, will have its premiere in Edinburgh on August 18. Guests will include the film's stars, Kate Winslet, Dougray Scott, Jeremy Northam, Saffron Burrows and Michael Apted.

August 6: Here’s another brief mention of the film, from The Express -- thanks to Sylvia of Dougray Scott in Focus:

Forget Cannes and Venice - Britain's finest Film Festival provides the first glimpse of this autumn's hottest new movies...

ENIGMA -- Mick Jagger's production company makes an impressive bow with this elegant adaptation of the Robert Harris novel, unearthing skullduggery and betrayal among the Bletchley code-breakers of World War Two. Dougray Scott and Kate Winslet co-star. Odeon, August 18.

August 3: Today’s issue of the UK Times includes this nice mention of ‘Enigma’ at the Edinburgh Film Fest:

The 55th Edinburgh Film Festival promises the Scottish capital’s most prestigious programme to date...

Enigma (15, 2001) -- Odeon, Aug 18; UGC7, Aug 19

Based the book by Robert Harris, Michael Apted’s classy thriller has Kate Winslet and Dougray Scott sharing top billing in a ripping yarn about love and military code-cracking, set among the legendary Bletchley Park crowd who broke the Nazi cyphers during the Second World War. Saffron Burrows and Jeremy Northam also star in this best-of-British affair.

August 3: BBC News says ‘Enigma’ is one of the ‘acts to watch’ at the Edinburgh Film Festival:

...Also watch out for the premiere of WW II thriller Enigma starring Kate Winslet - Rolling Stone Mick Jagger is expected to attend on 18 August as producer of the movie.

August 2: I found a recent mention of Kate attending the upcoming Edinburgh Film Festival in a Scottish newspaper:

FILM -- You may be wiping your eyes in disbelief on the city streets over the next few weeks with Sean Penn, Mick Jagger and Kate Winslet jetting in for the Film Festival. A line-up of movies directed by the Coen brothers, Mike Nichols, Alan Cumming and Danny Boyle, featuring performances by Emma Thompson, Tilda Swinton, Billy Connolly, Jack Nicholson, Dougray Scott, Thora Birch, Billy Bob Thornton, Benicio Del Toro, Vincent Gallo and Jacqueline Bisset mixes with fascinating pop promos and advertising, the Mirrorball section, the Rosebud new talent forum and Late Night Romp with films sure to raise temperatures after the sun goes down. Reel Life live offer interviews with movie greats.

Now, you may recall that it was first reported that Kate will appear at an ‘Enigma’ screening. Then, BBC News reported that she would be unable to attend. But, you never know (wink).

July 30: The UK Times reports on the popularity of this year’s Edinburgh Film Festival:

The Edinburgh Festival is set for its best-yet year as English tourists flock to the Scottish capital to avoid the lingering effects of foot-and-mouth disease in the countryside. Advance ticket sales for the festival have surged by 70 per cent - the sharpest jump on record — as the theatres have found huge demand for the record 16,000 performances being laid on this year...

Brian McMaster, director of Edinburgh International Festival, said that its greatly enhanced 2001 programme has felt no effect of any tourism downturn. This year, the festival needs audiences for 1,350 shows in nearly 200 venues. "It’s frightening at the moment because the box office is way up and absolutely no one has cancelled," Mr McMaster said. "Everything’s fantastic."

...The Edinburgh Film Festival has also laid on an enhanced bill including Amélie, the new French film from the producers of Delicatessen and Enigma, which has been adapted from the Robert Harris novel and stars Kate Winslet and Dougray Scott.

July 26: The UK Times carried an article this week about "what to see, where to be seen":

...Film buffs should, of course, head for the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the last for artistic director Lizzie Francke... Star-spotters will be able to catch actor/director Sean Penn, in Edinburgh for the British premiere of his film The Pledge.

The British contribution includes From Here to Where; Disco Pigs, an adaptation of an Edinburgh Fringe play; Enigma, featuring Kate Winslet and Dougray Scott, and Lucky Break, a sort of Full Monty 2. From the Scots there’s Danny "Trainspotting" Boyle’s Vacuuming Completely in the Nude and Strumpet.

July 20: New features have been added to the Edinburgh Film Festival site, including a page on ‘Enigma’, where you will find ticket info and this synopsis:

Adapting Robert Harris’s compelling best seller, Michael Apted’s team has produced a smart 1940s-set thriller that evokes the suspenseful pace of such classics as The 39 Steps. The exceptional British cast includes Scott as Tom, a boffin who is key to cracking the infamous Enigma code at Bletchley Park. Burrows plays the beguiling Claire, his ex-lover and colleague who has mysteriously disappeared. The intricate tale commences when Tom, on the mend from a breakdown, returns to Bletchley. Teaming up with Claire’s housemate, the redoubtable Hester (Winslet), the two discover their missing friend was implicated in something quite sinister. Add in Northam as the urbane agent Wigram on their trail, and you have a real savvy jaunt of a film.

July 15: Scotland on Sunday writer Allan Hunter believes that Enigma is one of the "must-see" movies at the Edinburgh Film Festival:

This year’s programme is [festival director] Francke’s last and is a typical mixture of exciting discoveries, quirky charmers and local premieres of some of the most acclaimed films of the past year. If there is one thread running through her final choices it is an incredible array of strong female performances and films that explore all the joys and woes of womanhood...

Short films, animation, the cutting-edge delights of Mirrorball and the Surprise Film all make welcome returns this year amid a list of potential guests that include Sean Penn, director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, cinematographer Robby Muller, composer Angelo Badalamenti, actress Kate Winslet and Mick Jagger, who has abandoned the day job to embark on a parallel career as a film producer.
In a packed programme it’s impossible to select all the highlights but these are 10 of the must-see movies and events...
Enigma -- Dougray Scott takes another step towards international stardom with his striking performance as the haunted, highly strung mathematician devoted to breaking the wartime enigma code in this intelligent adaptation of the Robert Harris bestseller. Kate Winslet and Jeremy Northam co-star in a highly acclaimed first film from Mick Jagger’s production company. Rumour has it Jagger and Winslet will attend the premiere.
Odeon 1, August 18, 6pm; UGC, August 19, 1pm
The 55th Edinburgh International Film Festival, August 12-26. Credit Card Hotline 0131-623 8030.

July 12: The Popcorn site has an article today about the Edinburgh Film Festival. Excerpts:

Several films will hold their world premieres at Edinburgh, including the Scott McGhee-directed 'The Deep End', starring Tilda Swinton, and the British comedy 'Lucky Break', starring James Nesbitt, Timothy Spall, Bill Nighy and Olivia Williams. Michael Apted's World War II drama 'Enigma', starring Kate Winslet and Dougray Scott, will also hold a special gala screening at the festival...

Tickets for the event will be available from Saturday July 14, and you can get hold of them by visiting www.edfilmfest.org.uk or phoning 0131 623 8030.

July 12: There is also an article about the film festival in The Scotsman. Excerpts:

Actor Sean Penn and rock legend Mick Jagger will be among the famous names to attend this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival, it was announced yesterday. They will also be joined at the 55th festival, which takes place in August, by Dougray Scott, Saffron Burrows, Robin Wright Penn, Jeremy Northam and Alan Cumming.

Among the world premieres is... The adaptation of Robert Harris’s best-selling 1940s thriller surrounding attempts to crack the infamous Enigma code at Bletchley Park stars Dougray Scott, Kate Winslet and Jeremy Northam, has been directed by former James Bond director Michael Apted and produced by Jagger.

July 11: I found an article on the BBC news site that states Kate is unable to attend the Edinburgh Film Festival :

Edinburgh's 55th International Film Festival has unveiled its programme for this year at an event in the city. It will show more than 100 films from around the world and conduct master classes with some of cinema's top talent during a 15-day run in August...

British stars Dougray Scott, Jeremy Northam and Saffron Burrows are expected to appear in the city for a showing of Enigma, directed by Michael Apted. The blockbuster adaptation of the Robert Harris bestseller stars Kate Winslet, who is unable to attend.

Note that there are conflicting reports about Kate's attendance at the festival.

July 11: Thanks to my pal Sylvia of Dougray Scott in Focus for sending me this info she received about the screening of Enigma at the festival:

"The Enigma Premiere is at the Odeon Cinema at 6pm on Saturday 18th of August. There is also a screening on the Sunday 19th at the UGC at 1pm. Other industry screenings of Enigma will be prior to premiere."

July 11: Ananova News has also published a story about the films being screened at the festival:

...The festival will also see the first screening outside the United States of Enigma, directed by 60-year-old former James Bond director Michael Apted and produced by Mick Jagger. The film, starring Dougray Scott, Kate Winslet and Jeremy Northam, is an adaptation of Robert Harris's best selling 1940s thriller surrounding attempts to crack the infamous Enigma code at Bletchley Park.

July 8: I found confirmation in a Scotland on Sunday that ‘Enigma’ will be screened at the Edinburgh Film Festival in August - and that Kate is scheduled to attend:

"Hollywood Stars Come out for Edinburgh Premiere," By Gina Davidson
Hollywood star Kate Winslet and rock legend Mick Jagger will attend the European premiere of a major new British film in Edinburgh next month. Enigma, based on Robert Harris’s best-selling novel, stars Winslet and was produced by the Rolling Stones frontman.

The showing is a major coup for the Edinburgh Film Festival as it will only be the second time it has been screened in public - the first was at the Sundance Film Festival in January where critics described it as "compelling", "sumptuous" and "unabashedly old-fashioned".
A romantic thriller, Enigma tells the story of British efforts to break German naval codes during the Second World War. Adapted for screen by playwright Tom Stoppard and directed by Michael Apted, it is the first production venture by Mick Jagger’s Jagged Films.
With the Titanic actress, Mission Impossible II star Dougray Scott, model turned actress Saffron Burrows, and Jagger, the premiere will be the most star-studded movie event in Scotland in two years.
In 1999 Pierce Brosnan, Rene Russo, Sean Connery, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas all arrived in the capital for the launch of the movies The Thomas Crown Affair and Entrapment.
Last night an insider said the premiere would be a "very glitzy affair" with the screening followed by a gala dinner at the Royal Museum of Scotland.
The Enigma story revolves around the code breakers at Bletchley Park, Britain’s top secret Station X.
The movie is also being seen as a way of "setting the record straight" about just which Allied country broke the German codes after last year’s Hollywood movie U-571 claimed Americans sailors made the discovery rather than the British.

July 7: Dougray Net reports that the July 6 issue of the Daily Mail indicates that ‘Enigma’ will be screened at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, which takes place August 12-26. The official site states that the festival includes a "focus on British cinema - showcasing this year’s shapshot of British film" and "galas - world, international and UK premieres of international films with the big movie feel destined for commercial release." The schedule of films to be shown at the festival is not yet posted on the official site; it will be updated Monday, July 9.