HANNAH MCGILL NAMED NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR FOR THE
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), the longest continually running film festival in the world, announced today that Hannah McGill has been named the Festival’s new Artistic Director, replacing Shane Danielsen who will step down as Artistic Director following the upcoming Festival after five years in the position. McGill will take up her post on September 1, 2006.
The announcement was made by Festival Chairman John McCormick.

McGill has served as film critic and cinema columnist with The Herald newspaper in Scotland since 2001 and has been a programme consultant with the EIFF over that same time period. She has written and edited for numerous cinema publications and is known for radio, television and on-stage presentation.
An acclaimed writer, McGill has had short stories published by Canongate and broadcast on BBC. McGill was born in Shetland and attended Glasgow University where she gained a First Class degree in English Literature and Film and Television Studies.
Commenting on the appointment, EIFF Chair John McCormick said, "Hannah is passionate about film and will bring that passion to the post of Artistic Director of the EIFF. As a critic, she is well known for having a clear point of view and bringing fresh insights to her readers. Having advised on programming and presented screenings for the past five years, Hannah knows the Festival inside and out, making her the perfect choice for this position. She will now begin to stamp her own personality on the Festival beyond its
60th year."
Commented McGill, "I'm absolutely thrilled and deeply honoured to have been entrusted with this position by a festival for which I have so much respect. EIFF has a monumental artistic reputation, amazing staff, and the most engaged and intelligent film audiences I have ever come across. I can't imagine an
organisation with which I would rather be involved. I hope that I can build upon the legacy of my predecessors, most recently Shane Danielsen, in honouring Edinburgh's unique history within British film culture, and consolidating its position as the UK's foremost showcase for exciting cinema from all over the world."

EIFF Managing Director Ginnie Atkinson said, "I am delighted that after an international search the Board have found the perfect person so close to home. All of the staff look forward to working with Hannah to fulfill her vision for the Film Festival into the future."
Last week the EIFF announced the programme details for the landmark 60th edition of the Festival. The Opening Night Film is the World Premiere of Douglas Mackinnon’s “The Flying Scotsman.” Additional World Premieres at this year’s Festival include James Marquand’s “Dead Man’s Cards”; Andrew Piddington’s “The Killing of John Lennon”; Richard Laxton’s “Life and Lyrics”; Paul Andrew Williams’ “London to Brighton”; Col Spector’s “Someone Else”; Oliver Rihs’ “Black Sheep”; Simone Van Dusseldorp’s “Deep”; Guy Moshe’s
“Holly”; and Xiaolu Guo’s “How is Your Fish Today”.
There will be no shortage of star power at the EIFF’s 60th Edition with Academy Award® winner Steven Soderbergh, Academy Award® winner Charlize Theron, Academy Award® nominee Sigourney Weaver, Academy Award® nominee Arthur Penn, Academy Award® nominee Alan Arkin, BAFTA Award winner Iain Smith and acclaimed director Kevin Smith all scheduled to participate in the Festival’s “Reel Life” interview sessions.