Edinburgh International Film Festival appoint New Artistic Director

Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) today announced the appointment of Mark Adams to the position of Artistic Director.

Mark Adams has been Chief Film Critic for respected film trade magazine Screen International for four years and he is also the film critic for The Sunday Mirror.  With over 25 years’ experience as a film programmer, journalist and reviewer, Adams has attended all the key international film festivals and has written for Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Moving Pictures International, as well as many national newspapers in the UK.

He was Head of Programming at the National Film Theatre in London, was Director of Cinema at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London, and has programmed for numerous film festivals around the world.

Adams said; “I’m thrilled to be helping the Edinburgh International Film Festival develop and grow and am looking forward to bringing new, challenging, entertaining and exciting cinema to the city. This is a great festival that deserves its recognition and can only get better and better.”

Ken Hay, CEO of EIFF commented; “We are delighted to have Mark joining the team.  His passion for film, his fantastic experience as a programmer, journalist and critic, along with his reputation in the UK and internationally, make him the ideal choice to drive the future success of the Festival.”

Natalie Usher, Director of Film and Media at Creative Scotland, said: “We are delighted by the news of Mark's appointment. EIFF is a key event in Scotland's cultural calendar, delivering inspirational, world-class cinema experiences to audiences and providing an excellent platform for emerging and established filmmakers. Mark has the commitment, vision and drive to build on the festival's strengths and ensure its continuing success.”

Ben Roberts, Director, BFI Film Fund said; “Congratulations to both Mark and the Festival on this appointment.  He has the experience, the charm and the passion for film festivals to make a big impact at EIFF.  I'm excited to see his first edition in 2015”

Mark will begin his role as Artistic Director in March next year.

About Edinburgh International Film Festival
Established in 1947, Edinburgh International Film Festival is renowned around the world for discovering and promoting the very best in international cinema - and for heralding and debating changes in global filmmaking. Intimate in its scale, ambitious in its scope, and fuelled by pure passion for cinema in all its manifestations, EIFF seeks to spotlight the most exciting and innovative new film talent, in a setting steeped in history.

Notable films premiered in recent years have included: A MOST WANTED MAN, COLD IN JULY, FRANCES HA, WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS, THE IMPOSTER, BRAVE, TABU, THE HURT LOCKER, MOON, FISH TANK, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, MAN ON WIRE, CONTROL, KNOCKED UP, RATATOUILLE, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, TSOTSI and BILLY ELLIOT.

EIFF is supported by Creative Scotland, the BFI, the Scottish Government through the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund, the City of Edinburgh Council, and EventScotland.

The Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) was founded in 2010 with a mission to be at the forefront of the development of film and the moving image in Scotland.  The CMI currently comprises EIFF, Filmhouse in Edinburgh and the Belmont Filmhouse in Aberdeen.

The Edinburgh International Film Festival Limited is a company registered in Scotland No: SC132453.  It is a subsidiary of the Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) which is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status with Scottish Charity No. SC006793.

About Creative Scotland
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here.  We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life.  We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information about Creative Scotland please visit Facebook and Twitter: @creativescots