22/12/2010

Preparations for the 65th Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF, June 15-26, 2011) that were in disarray after Artistic Director Hannah McGill quit in August, appear to be back on track thanks to a blueprint prepared by journalist/filmmaker Mark Cousins who’s a former artistic director of the festival himself, and actress Tilda Swinton.

The blueprint, which follows the theme “All That Heaven Allows”, will be a “moving away from the traditional concept of ‘film festivals’” and will culminate in a “radical new approach to the image and structure” for the festival, according to an official statement.

The statement also reveals that the festival “may cease to have a competition section or prizes, and will focus more on inviting a team of guest curators to program their own selection of films or contribute to special themed days within the festival.”

EIFF has hired James Mullighan, currently creative director of independent filmmaker network Shooting People, to produce the festival.

Gavin Miller, CEO, Centre for the Moving Image, the parent body of EIFF, said, “We live in a very fragmented and competitive space and so it becomes much more important to continually refresh, revitalise and re-invent. I’m both confident and excited with this blueprint that Mark Cousins has shaped, which will deliver a unique and distinctive festival. I am delighted also that James is joining us as the producer and I believe that his years at Shooting People put him in a good position to build on the heritage of EIFF as a distinctive cultural force.”

The full blueprint will be revealed in the New Year.