After four years as artistic director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), Hanna McGill is to leave her post in order to pursue a career in writing.

During her time with the festival she has overseen its move from August to June and successfully rebranded it as a showcase for new and independent British filmmakers. “”I love EIFF and have been privileged to be a part of it,” said McGill “I’m very proud of what the team achieved during my time as artistic director, and I take away a great many happy memories. The decision has really come down to my own personal life. I always intended to do the job for around this length of time and had pretty much decided before this year’s festival that it would be my last. It is a job that I have been madly in love with, but it does take up so much of your time and I do want to get a bit of my life back.”

McGill’s decision follows the announcement that the EIFF will lose £1.9 million in funding over the next three years; a direct result of the government’s axing of the UK Film Council.

EIFF chairman Ian Smith said, “We are immensely sad to see Hannah go, but wish her the very best for her future career. She has been a huge asset to the festival and we thank her for all her hard work over what has been a significant four years for the festival.”