I Feel Good!
This just in — the new Artistic Director of Edinburgh International Film Festival has been named as Chris Fujiwara. This strikes me as EXCELLENT news. An excellent critic and author of works on Jerry Lewis (pictured), Jacques Tourneur and Otto Preminger. That’s the retrospectives back on the table then.
This welcome bombshell is accompanied by the news that Gavin Miller is stepping down as CEO of the Centre for the Moving Image, the Festival’s governing body.
I’m going to pour myself a beaker of blue stuff and celebrate.
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September 13, 2011 at 7:30 pm
I hope this means a brighter future for the festival (and a return to August!)
September 13, 2011 at 7:33 pm
Looks like you’ll never get that interview now!
September 13, 2011 at 7:37 pm
GM just emailed me last week to say he hadn’t forgotten. Maybe he’d like to spill a few beans now the pressure’s off. I’ll ask him, anyhow.
Fujiwara’s appointment suggests a brighter future — I can see pros and cons for June versus August, so that doesn’t bother me so much.
September 13, 2011 at 7:43 pm
Great news. Chris is DA MAN!
September 13, 2011 at 8:09 pm
There was another announcement from the CMI Board (reported in the Scotsman) suggesting the festival would stay in June for now.
Exciting news about Chris though!
September 13, 2011 at 9:59 pm
hummm interesting…
September 13, 2011 at 11:08 pm
I’m all excited!
September 14, 2011 at 12:21 am
Great news! Thanks once again for your fantastic interviews, which have helped me and I’m sure many others put this announcement in a fascinating historical context. I’m sure folks may have already made the connection, but I thought it was quite fitting (given the discussion of Sam Fuller on your Lynda Myles blog) that Fujiwara’s own blog is named for a line in Shock Corridor – http://www.insanemute.com/
September 14, 2011 at 1:01 am
And also he’s written a book on Jacques Tourneur, with whom Linda corresponded!
September 14, 2011 at 1:22 am
Honestly extremely heartening news. It’s obviously early days, but I’ll be interested to see what, and more importantly who, he’s got to work with over the coming months. With all the talk of Mullighan being a more effective producer than creative director, who’s playing that role for Fujiwara?
September 14, 2011 at 2:58 am
This is Great news.
September 14, 2011 at 11:18 am
I was wondering if Ginnie Atkinson might come back to produce: she did the job effectively for years before Gavin Miller sort of replaced her, and nobody’s really filled her shoes since.
September 14, 2011 at 11:42 am
Definitely. Certainly she’d make a great interview, bet she’s got some stories to tell if she’s willing to tell them (hint, hint).
September 14, 2011 at 12:11 pm
She’s already shared some thoughts with me, but not for publication. Maybe her lips will be loosened now. She did say that she wanted to make her views known on the dates controversy.
September 14, 2011 at 12:31 pm
That would be interesting to hear, and if she was willing to tell it, also the circumstances of her departure. On the other hand, perhaps it’s in the nature of her job to keep schtum.