The Edinburgh International Film Festival announced today that from next year, they will operate a June programme.  This move away from the traditional August date is intended to raise the profile of the EIFF, placing it between Cannes and the 'Venice/Toronto logjam' as Tilda Swinton has it...

The EIFF is the world's longest-running film festival, having taken place every year since 1947. I'm sure this change will position them better in the global calendar of film events, but I'm not sure how well it will be received by the 'Edinburgh festival tourist' - whoever (s)he is.  I for one liked the fact that everything is happening at the same time up here... and I think I will almost certainly see fewer festival films next year than I have in recent times as a result of this decision.