Edinburgh

Well over a hundred people gathered in Edinburgh's Festival Square Saturday morning to participate in a Laurel and Hardy-inspired flash mob led by Mark Cousins and Tilda Swinton, who were in town promoting the official launch of their 8 1/2 Foundation. Dozens of the dancers had reunited in Edinburgh days earlier after meeting at last summer's "A Pilgrimage", a film festival of sorts which Cousins and Swinton had facilitated in Northern Scotland. After a few Swinton and Cousins-led practice sessions in and around the city, the resulting performance went off quite splendidly. Check out complete video of the performance here.

Edinburgh International Film Festival patron Tilda Swinton showed up for the festival's closing night screening of Hattie Dalton's "Third Star," which was preceded by the festival's annual awards announcement, which Swinton assisted in. Photo courtesy of the festival.

"The Dry Land" star America Ferrera attends the closing night festivities at the Edinburgh International Film Festival this weekend, where her film won an award. Photo courtesy of the festival.

Antonio Plazza receives the Edinburgh International Film Festival's Best International Short Award for his and Fabio Grassadonia's film "Rita" at the Mercure Point Penthouse in Edinburgh Tuesday evening. [Photo courtesy of the festival.]

The Edinburgh International Film Festival celebrated its 2010 "Trailblazers" earlier this week. Stewart Comrie (pictured) was among the 10 up-and-coming British film industry folks honored. Comrie directed the short animated film "Battenberg," which is screening at the festival. [Photo courtesy of the festival.]

"I was a huge fan before I met him and now I am even more so. It has been fantastic to have his great presence and support at the film festival," Edinburgh International Film Festival Artistic Director Hannah McGill said as she introduced Sir Patrick Stewart to the stage for the festival's BAFTA Scotland Interview. "I am at the end of what has been one of the best weeks of my career – being here in Edinburgh in this glorious weather watching film after film," Stewart said on stage. "There is always something to be learned – something to be discovered." Stewart said he'd seen upwards of 30 films since arriving at the fest.

"Humpday" director Lynn Shelton with Edinburgh International Film Festival artistic director Hannah McGill after the UK Premiere of her film "Humpday." Image courtesy of the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

"Turn It Loose" director Alastair Siddons in Edinburgh last week, just prior to the well-received world premiere of his doc "Turn It Loose." The film follows 16 of the world's best b-boys battle one on one in a disused power station in the heart of Soweto, South Africa, to determine who will be the next world champion. After the film's premiere, a breakdancing workshop was held amidst Edinburgh's historic Grassmarket, where some of the doc's subjects taught aspiring b-boys some moves.

Legendary B-movie master Roger Corman spoke in Edinburgh at a packed 90 minute panel Wednesday. That night, we was spotted with the star of Tali Shalom Ezer's "Surrogate," Amir Wolf, who gushed that he was a "huge Corman fan." The Edinburgh International Film Festival concludes this weekend.

Katie Jarvis just had a pretty unique 18th birthday. The "Fish Tank" actress spent the morning of her big day at the Caledonian Hotel in Edinburgh, where she was graced with both a birthday cake and an award delivered to her by Sir Sean Connery.