Screen beauty Keira Knightley at city premiere

ACTRESSES Kiera Knightley and Sienna Miller are to open the Edinburgh International Film Festival this year.

They will be joined by actor Matthew Rhys and director John Maybury at the premiere of The Edge of Love – a biopic of Dylan Thomas. Knightley and Miller play two free-spirited woman who are both loved by the Welsh poet – played by Rhys.

EIFF artistic director Hannah McGill said: "I couldn't be happier to be opening with this utterly seductive and fascinating film.

"It stars some of the most charismatic young performers in the business and affirms John Maybury as one of our most important directors.

"It's a film I adore, and opening with it is the perfect expression of our commitment to intelligent, impassioned new filmmaking."

The film will be eligible for The Michael Powell Award, which is judged by an international jury recognising the best new British feature film and carries a substantial cash prize.

It will also be eligible for the PPG Award for Best Performance in a British Film, and the Standard Life Audience Award, chosen by audience votes from the Gala and British Gala Section of the EIFF.

The premiere will take place on June 18, with the film going on nationwide release on June 27.