Film Festival set to stick to June slot

THE Edinburgh Film Festival looks set to retain its June slot despite pressure for a move back to August, it was reported today.

A sharp fall in the number of premieres and attendance figures followed a controversial re-think of the event this summer.

A new artistic director is being hired for the festival after a troubled spell, during which it lost senior staff and a major funding deal with the UK Film Council.

Critics claim the EIF has struggled to maintain its public profile, secure media coverage and attract enough high-profile industry talent since moving to June in 2008.

But the switch was agreed after years of research, which found the event was struggling to compete with international rivals in the autumn. A final decision is expected when a formal consultation ends later this month.