‘I Don’t Know’: Kenneth Branagh on Directing,  ‘Harry Potter’ and How Christopher Nolan Had Him Speaking Russian Backwards

The Oscar-winning actor-director accepted EIFF’s inaugural Outstanding Contribution to Cinema award before reflecting on four decades of stage and screen.

By Callum McLennan

Callum McLennan

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Sunday at the Edinburgh Intl. Film Festival turned into Edinbranagh, with a morning screening of the four-hour epic “Hamlet” followed by a wide-ranging onstage conversation with Kenneth Branagh, which began with him receiving the inaugural EIFF Outstanding Contribution to Cinema award.

“Festivals are more important to our industry than ever before,” Branagh said, holding the award and arguing they offer a lifeline to films struggling to find a traditional theatrical path. He promptly turned the honor back on the packed audience: “You are the reason, certainly the reason why I stand here.”

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