Sir Sean Connery hosts film festival party in Edinburgh
22-Aug-2006 • Actor News
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The former Bond star carried out his duties as festival patron by hosting the event at the National Gallery in the city on Saturday - reports the BBC.
This year's festival has been extended by two days because of the anniversary.
As well as walking the red carpet, the 75-year-old took part in a forum to discuss his rise to fame.
Sir Sean talked about his 50-year career with the festival's artistic director Shane Danielsen after a special screening of the 1969 documentary The Bowler and the Bunnet, which he produced and presented.
The festival began in 1947 as a documentary-based event.
The Edinburgh-born actor was also presented with a Bafta Scotland Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film.
Sir Sean praised support the festival has received in recent years.
He said: "It's been going for 60 years and is the one continuous festival recognised by people like John Houston and Steven Soderbergh.
"Seventeen years ago he brought Sex, Lies and Videotape here - which sounds a bit like the Labour government.
"Anybody in the film world or who knows anything about movies is a supporter because it has produced lots and lots of successes, and it will produce even more because we have a plan to develop it even further."
Other celebrities in attendance included Oscar winner Charlize Theron and cult director Kevin Smith.
They were joined by Hollywood stars Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tilda Swinton, Gabriel Byrne and Scottish comedy actor Robbie Coltrane.
Thanks to `Boris` for the alert.
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