Edinburgh International Film Festival has announced that Chris Fujiwara is stepping down as artistic director after three editions of the festival. He signed a three-year contract with EIFF in 2012.
Fujiwara came to the helm in 2011 after a turbulent year at the festival and the festival say admissions increased by 33 per cent reaching 46,000 in 2014 during his tenure, which also saw the reinstatement of the Audience Award, Michael Powell Award for Best New British Feature Film and the Award for Best Documentary Feature Film.
Recruitment for a new Artistic Director for EIFF is commencing immediately and it is intended that they will be in place for the 2015 edition (June 17 to 28). In the interim, the existing programming team, led by long-standing deputy artistic director, Diane Henderson, will have responsibility for programming the 2015 Festival.
Chris Fujiwara said: “It’s been a genuine honour to work with the team in Edinburgh and contribute to the rebirth of EIFF over the last three years. However, I have decided to step down from my role at the Festival to pursue other activities.”
Ken Hay, Chief Executive of EIFF, said: “Chris has played an instrumental part in reigniting EIFF, for which the Board of Trustees and I are very grateful. We are sorry to see him go, but are excited and ambitious for the future of EIFF, and we look forward to finding a fitting successor.”
Bob Last, Chair of EIFF, added: "Chris Fujiwara's programming has reminded EIFF and our audiences of how important and inspiring it is to be challenged by technique, by content, by a diversity of view points, and by innovation. As we reach out to wider audiences we will remain grateful to Chris for his contribution to EIFF at one of its most challenging moments."
