Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) today announced American Airlines as the Official Airline Partner of EIFF 2015, supporting the main 2015 Retrospective ‘LITTLE BIG SCREEN’, during the 69th edition of the Festival.

American Airlines will be flying many of the high profile industry figures and invited guests in to the city for this year’s Festival which runs from 17 – 28 June 2015 on its newly introduced New York – Edinburgh route which will launch on Friday 8 May.

David Thomas, Director of Sales for UK and Ireland at American Airlines said: “We are delighted to be the Official Airline Partner of the Edinburgh International Film Festival this year. We work a lot with the film industry and last year we launched a luxurious transcontinental aircraft to connect the East and West coast of the US (offering fully lie-flat seats and a First Class cabin limited to 10 seats) inspired by travel from the golden age of cinema. We expect many of the stars heading to Edinburgh from Hollywood to sample it. This product, combined with our Edinburgh to New York launch, make it perfect timing for us to be involved in this prestigious event and particularly the Retrospective ‘LITTLE BIG SCREEN’.”

Mark Adams, EIFF Artistic Director said: “We are delighted to be working with American Airlines in supporting this year’s EIFF and in particular our exciting retrospective. The timing and the relationship couldn’t be better and this relationship will help bring attention to what will be an exciting and dynamic festival.”

‘LITTLE BIG SCREEN’ takes an affectionate look back at a selection of the most significant films from the 1960s and ’70s, celebrating the cream of the first golden age of American TV movies. As previously announced, the Retrospective will include screenings of films by some of Hollywood’s biggest directors including Steven Spielberg (DUEL), Michael Mann (THE JERICHO MILE), Tobe Hooper (SALEM’S LOT) and Sam Peckinpah (NOON WINE). Additional titles include John Llewellyn Moxey’s stylish horror THE NIGHT STALKER; Monty Python’s Eric Idle and Neil Innes’ razor sharp pop parody THE RUTLES: ALL YOU NEED IS CASH and animated children’s fable THE POINT directed by Fred Wolf with Dustin Hoffman narrating.

As a complement to the Retrospective and in honour of the late Joseph Sargent, the Festival will present a special screening of his most popular big screen outing, THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE. Famously referenced by Tarantino in RESERVOIR DOGS, Sargent’s cult classic sees an armed gang hijack a New York subway train full of commuters, forcing a downbeat transit cop (Walter Matthau) into a battle of wits with their wily leader (Robert Shaw).