Edinburgh film festival seeking new artistic director, say reports

The Edinburgh international film festival is to begin recruitment for a new artistic director, it has emerged. After a 65th anniversary edition that has been beset by a funding crisis and a critical mauling , the Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) – the organisation that controls the festival – is looking to advertise the post for the second time in two years, according to a report in the Herald . Current festival director James Mullighan has only been in the post since January this year and is expected to reapply. His original appointment was shrouded in confusion when it was originally announced in December 2010 that he had been taken on as the festival's "producer", while "creative advisers" Mark Cousins, Tilda Swinton and Linda Myles would supply artistic direction. However, it emerged that the latter trio had ceased to be involved from mid-February 2011 on after delivering their blueprint , and that Mullighan's role had been greatly expanded. Leslie Hills, chair of CMI, said: "James Mullighan is leading the EIFF's 65th birthday celebrations and we are delighted with audience response. In July, as planned, we will begin the recruitment process for 2012." Meanwhile Caroline Parkinson, director of creative development at Creative Scotland , one of the festival's major funders, added: "As for next year, we look forward to the EIFF building on this year of reinvention." Creative Scotland are understood to be leading the push for an artistic director with a strong background in cinema to replace Mullighan.