The Edinburgh International Film Festival(EIFF) has appointed Hannah McGill as its new artistic director. She replacesShane Danielsen, who will step down after nextmonth's festival as his five-year tenure comes to its scheduled end.

McGill starts her post on Sept 1. She hasbeen working with EIFF since 2001 as a programme consultant. McGill is also afilm critic for The Herald newspaper in Scotland and has also published short fiction. She is a Scotland native, born in Shetland and a graduate of Glasgow University.

"Having advised on programming andpresented screenings for the past five years, Hannah knows the Festival insideand out, making her the perfect choice for this position," said EIFF chairmanJohn McCormick. "She will now begin to stamp her own personality on theFestival beyond its 60th year.'

Added McGill: I'm absolutely thrilled anddeeply honoured to have been entrusted with this position by a festival forwhich I have so much respect...I hope that I can build upon the legacy of mypredecessors, most recently Shane Danielsen, inhonouring Edinburgh's unique history within British film culture, andconsolidating its position as the UK's foremost showcase for exciting cinemafrom all over the world.'

This year's EIFF, marking the festival's60th anniversary, runs Aug 14-27.