Connolly surprises fans at film festival
The 58th Edinburgh International Film Festival started last night, with comedian Billy Connolly making a surprise appearance at the UK premiere of the opening movie.
The star-studded event began earlier this evening with the first British screening of The Motorcycle Diaries, based on the best-selling autobiographical journals of Ernesto "Che" Guevara.
Director Walter Salles, regarded as one of the great contemporary South American filmmakers, came straight from the airport to attend the VIP showing at the city's UGC Cinema in Fountainpark.
Other big names, such as Scots actor Ewan Bremner, of Trainspotting fame, actor and writer Stephen Berkoff and Edinburgh author Ian Rankin, turned up for the gala evening.
A man believed to be "comedy terrorist" Aaron Barshack, who famously gatecrashed Prince William's 21st birthday celebrations dressed as Osama bin Laden, showed up uninvited, but was quickly led away by police.
Hundreds of films, including 45 UK premieres and six world premieres, are to be shown throughout the city as part of the festival.
