George Clooney: Starring in the Coen Brothers' O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Other premieres include period drama The House of Mirth and The Hollow Man, a science fiction adventure.

There will also be debates, seminars, panel discussions, training sessions and filmakers' masterclasses to attend.

Last year the festival, which bills itself as a showcase for British films, featured 22 new works, of which four were world premieres.

The Edinburgh Book Festival will also begin on Sunday with US novelist Norman Mailer and Harry Potter creator JK Rowling among the writers expected to talk about their work.

And the Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival, a gathering of TV professionals, is on this month.

This year the New York City Ballet and Cleveland Orchestra will perform and Scottish Opera starts a new Ring Cycle of Richard Wagner's operas.

In total, 182 performances and events will be staged with 2,500 performers.