The Circuit

The Evening News of Edinburgh reports of some growing local criticism of film fest artistic director Hannah McGill's decision to move Edinburgh's dates to June. I'm sure it was expected since the film festival is a major part of the city-wide arts celebration in August. In the article, Richard Mowe, who runs the Edinburgh-based French and Italian film festivals, says removing the festival from August "downgrades the festival city at this time of year..." He continues: "It seems to be a move imposed by bureaucrats and strategists rather than those with a real passion for the arts in general, and film in particular." 

Hannah McGill defends the move in an op-ed piece here: "The analogy I keep using about Edinburgh's festivals is that of a child that has its birthday on Christmas Day. It loses out on celebrations and presents because everything happens at once."  (Mike Jones)