Hallam Foe's Sophia Myles launched the film festival's programme

The event, which is in its 60th year, opens with the first showing in Britain of Hallam Foe, also with Sophia Myles.

Bell, 21, will be at the screening along with actress Tilda Swinton and Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand, who are on the film's soundtrack.

The festival runs until 26 August, with 120 feature films from 31 countries.

Hallam Foe actress Sophia Myles visited Edinburgh to launch the Film Festival programme last month.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell is expected to attend, as is comedian Dylan Moran, who starred in the TV series Black Books.

Hallam Foe, shot on location in Scotland, has been labelled a "stunning" piece of film-making by Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) organisers.

Mother's death

The film tells the story of Hallam Foe, played by Bafta award-winner Bell, a boy who begins to suspect that his stepmother may have had a hand in his mother's death.

Directed by David Mackenzie, the movie also features Edinburgh-born Trainspotting star Ewen Bremner and Belfast-born actor Ciaran Hinds.

Filmed in Edinburgh and the Borders, it is adapted from Peter Jinks' novel of the same title.

Organisers have said the movie would be an ideal choice to open a festival which has "the written word" as this year's official theme.

The film festival will also see appearances from actors Samantha Morton and Bob Hoskins as well as directors Stephen Frears and Mike Leigh.