A film producer and former pop band manager has been named chairman of the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Bob Last, who has made films such as the House of Mirth and the Oscar-nominated The Illusionist, will begin a four-year stint as chairman of the Centre for the Moving Image, the parent company of the film festival and the Filmhouse Cinema. Mr Last, also former manager of pop band The Human League, succeeds Lesley Hills, who remains on the centre's board.
Sylvain Chomet's The Illusionist opened the 2010 edition of the film festival, which had a successful first edition under new artistic director Chris Fujiwara earlier this year.
Mr Last said: "I am excited and honoured to take on this role. The EIFF and Filmhouse have seeded and sustained a lifelong delight in film since my teenage outings in the 1970s. The Centre for the Moving Image and the festival in particular have had a challenging few years.
"I look forward to doing everything I can to help the CMI team in their quest to see Filmhouse build its role in the life of our city and the EIFF build its international significance, facilitating discovery of cinema's rich culture and inspiring the next generation of film makers and audiences."
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