EIFF sticks to date despite ticket slump

The Edinburgh International Film Festival will take place in mid-June next year, despite fears that the early summer scheduling has harmed audience numbers.

Council officials have said that they have been told that there is “no intention” of changing the date slot back to August for the 2012 event.

Lynne Halfpenny, head of culture and sport at the city council, said that there is a “strong team” in place on the board of the film festival and that there is “no intention to change the date slot”.

Attendances for ticketed events slumped by 23 per cent, to 34,464, this year and there have been a series of changes at the head of the organisation.

Cllr Steve Cardownie, the city’s festivals and events champion, said: “Like any festival, these are independent of the council. Of course they consult us but it is largely a matter for their board.”

He said that even if they had wanted to change the date for next year, they would be unlikely to be able to as arrangements are made well in advance.