Wide Prairie, an animation, will be shown alongside the British première of Robert Redford's The Horse Whisperer.

It is understood former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney will not be attending the première of his wife's work, which is described in publicity material as a surreal short-film.

Linda MCartney singing with the group Wings

The six-minute film, which took two years to make, was conceived and produced by Linda to illustrate a song of the same title which she wrote and recorded.

According a spokesman the film "tells of a woman traveller's fantasised longing to escape the tedious schedules and confines of the modern world by returning to ride horseback through the wide prairie where her native spirit is set free with her dream lover".

Redford absent

Screen-legend Robert Redford will not be in the audience which will see Wide Prairie ahead of his latest production.

Robert Redford: video link

The star, 61 on Tuesday, directed, produced and starred in The Horse Whisperer, adapted from the book by British writer Nicholas Evans.

The best-seller makes for an impressive pastoral epic about reconciliation with Redford playing the 'horse whisperer' who is blessed with a gift for healing.

Kristin Scott Thomas is the New York editor who seeks him out in Montana after her daughter is involved in a riding accident. She proceeds to fall in love with him, as well.

Although he will not be at the première, Robert Redford will speak at the Edinburgh Festival via a video-link from his home in Utah.