Movies
Edinburgh Festival 2008 will be held earlier
Published Wednesday, Aug 8 2007, 09:10 BST | By Dave West
The Edinburgh International Film Festival is to be held two months earlier from next year in an attempt to attract more stars and raise its profile.
Organisers decided to shift the prestigious movie event so it is no longer in competition for Hollywood's big names with festivals in Venice and Toronto.
It will be the first time the film event will fall outside Edinburgh's traditional festival season so is also intended to give it more of the city's attention.
Sir Sean Connery, patron on the festival, backed the decision to move it to June 18 to 29: "Changing the dates of the festival will create space for a modern, forward-thinking event that offers higher status and an individual identity to film culture.
"An enhanced film festival is a key component in long-term plans to create an Edinburgh hub for the Scottish, UK and international industry. It will ensure that a wider local and global community gets the chance to participate in, and enjoy, what we have to offer."
Hannah McGill, artistic director, revealed the plan days before this year's event begins. She said making it "the only show in town" would get more coverage for its films.
Organisers decided to shift the prestigious movie event so it is no longer in competition for Hollywood's big names with festivals in Venice and Toronto.
It will be the first time the film event will fall outside Edinburgh's traditional festival season so is also intended to give it more of the city's attention.
Sir Sean Connery, patron on the festival, backed the decision to move it to June 18 to 29: "Changing the dates of the festival will create space for a modern, forward-thinking event that offers higher status and an individual identity to film culture.
"An enhanced film festival is a key component in long-term plans to create an Edinburgh hub for the Scottish, UK and international industry. It will ensure that a wider local and global community gets the chance to participate in, and enjoy, what we have to offer."
Hannah McGill, artistic director, revealed the plan days before this year's event begins. She said making it "the only show in town" would get more coverage for its films.
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