Scottish cinemagoers are set for a treat as animated Disney-Pixar blockbuster Brave – which is set in Scotland – is released up north two weeks before the rest of the UK.

Voiced by Scottish stars including Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly and Robbie Coltrane, the film will be showing across Scotland from August 3.

Brave will then be going on release around the rest of the UK on August 17.

Coming from the makers of WALL-E, Up and Toy Story 3 the film is hugely anticipated, and is having its European premiere on the closing night of the 66th Edinburgh International Film Festival on June 30.

First Minister Alex Salmond has said of the film’s benefit to the country: “This will present us with an immense opportunity when Scotland will be centre stage in the film with all the tourism and business opportunities this will bring.

“I fully expect that as the film launches across the world, so will awareness of Scotland increase.”

He added: “Brave will be the most high-profile film ever set in, and themed around, Scotland, featuring Scottish stars.”

In Brave, Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald) is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson).

Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of Scotland: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the family.