An Australian journalist has been named as the next artistic director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

The new director will be Shane Danielsen, who has a law degree and is a writer, critic and columnist specialising in cinema for The Australian newspaper. He will take over from current artistic director Lizzie Francke after she has presided over her fifth Edinburgh International Film Festival, which this year runs from 12-16 August.

It is reported that Danielsen is a friend of Franke and was her preferred choice to take over the running of the festival.

As well as being a journalist, Danielsen has worked with a number of film festivals. He served as a programme adviser for the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, and as a guest programmer for the Melbourne International Film Festival and the Edinburgh International Film Festival, where he programmed the Max Ophuls retrospective in 2000.

Danielsen told Screen International that his primary role would be "to build upon what Lizzie has done, which is to lift the profile of the festival with the film industry, and in the UK and Europe."

He said he wanted Edinburgh "to have a similar presence in Europe as Rotterdam or Locarno as a forum for high quality, adventurous work".

He has yet to make clear whether he will move full-time from Sydney to Edinburgh.

One of the criticisms of Ms Francke’s tenure was that she was not based in Scotland.

Meanwhile Danielsen has indicated a change of direction for the festival.

"We are bombarded with high-profile releases, some good and some bad; we need a wider variety of alternatives.

"Coming from where I do, I have international experience which allows me to have a clearer perspective."

But he added: "I know, as a journalist, the press need something to hang an event on. It’s definitely on the agenda to get stars here."

Explaining that he was passionate not just about film but all areas of the arts, Danielsen says he wants the festival to look at "film within a unified artistic framework, not just as an island unto itself." This might mean inviting guest DJ’s to provide soundtracks to films and encouraging links with the Fringe, a musical and theatrical event that runs side by side with the film festival every year.

He added: "I want to select the best possible examples of cinema both past and present, and to provide a forum for emerging British talent."

Francke commented: "I am absolutely thrilled to be handing over to Shane. Having had him involved in the festival this year and last and knowing him from the international festival circuit, I am confident that he will bring considerable knowledge and extensive skills to this wonderful festival.