Gavin Miller, CEO Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) announced today that film performer and cultural activist Tilda Swinton and curator, filmmaker and author Mark Cousins have joined the CMI as Creative Advisors.
Swinton and Cousins will work with and shape a creative vision for the CMI as it builds and evolves its ambition as a national focus for curation, research, enterprise, knowledge and educational resources for film and the wider moving image space in Scotland and the UK.
The CMI recently brought Edinburgh International Film Festival, Edinburgh Filmhouse and the Film Guild under a single operating umbrella.
Mark and Tilda have been working together for 3 years bringing their love and excitement for film to audiences in Scotland.
In 2008 they arrived in Nairn for the Ballerina Ballroom Cinema of Dreams and in 2009 they created A Pilgrimage Film Festival around the Scottish Highlands pulling a mobile cinema screen.
In the same year they created ‘Scottish Cinema of Dreams’ in China, a showcase for Scottish film brought to Chinese audiences.
Earlier this year at the Edinburgh International Film Festival they launched their 8 ½ Foundation; a Scottish-based not-for-profit organisation dedicated to introducing world cinema to children.
As Creative Advisors, Swinton and Cousins will also contribute their inventive and resourceful ideas to both Filmhouse and the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Tilda has been a patron of the EIFF since 2007 and Mark held the position of Artistic Director of the Festival from 1995 to 1996 giving them both excellent insight and knowledge of the Festival.
They enthused: "The CMI is a body set up in a spirit of real cultural celebration towards vibrant cinema literacy that can be seen as dynamically accessible to all of us.
"We are very proud of Scotland for initiating the great opportunity that the CMI is. It is a real honour for us to be invited to take part in helping to hold the course of this spirit."
Gavin Miller said; "We are thrilled that Mark and Tilda have agreed to come on board as Creative Advisors.
"They have delivered some truly unique and inspirational cinema experiences to Scottish and International audiences alike and their passion and desire to make a contribution to our vision and ambition is very exciting.
"Their previous initiatives demonstrate their creativity, passion and dedication to audiences old and young; ensuring everyone has the opportunity to enjoy and embrace cinema and the moving image.
"With the appointment of Tilda and Mark as Creative Advisors and our search for a new Artistic Director for the Edinburgh International Film Festival underway, we’re very excited about the future for Edinburgh Filmhouse, Edinburgh International Film Festival and the CMI, building on their creative and cultural heritage and looking forward to a new phase of bold and innovative ideas and initiatives for all to experience and enjoy".
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