Carlyle joins Connery as patron of Edinburgh International Film Festival

London, June 30 : Scottish film actor Robert Carlyle has been recruited to join Sir Sean Connery as a patron of the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Connery himself asked Carlyle to team up with him and Oscar-winning English actress Tilda Swinton as a patron of the event, say reports.

The patrons are seen as a key factor in maintaining the event's profile and network of contacts, drawing new films, stars and filmmakers to the city.

Carlyle was honoured with the festival's top performance award on Sunday in recognition of his performance as a petrol station attendant in the film 'Summer', reports the Scotsman.

He also appeared in another festival premiere, Stone of Destiny, his first Scottish-set film in a dozen years.

A source described him as an accomplished actor who "exemplified the spirit of the festival".

The festival's first formal awards ceremony was held at the Filmhouse cinema on Sunday, with Connery handing out the trophies.

The newspaper report said that the ceremony was part of the campaign to raise the festival's profile.

Shane Meadows' movie 'Somers Town' bagged the Michael Powell Award for New British Film, the top trophy award the prize money for which was this year increased from 5,000 pounds to 20,000 pounds.

ANI