MUMBAI: The British Film Institute (BFI) has appointed former Sydney Film Festival director Clare Stewart to head its exhibition interests.

Stewart‘s appointment follows immediately after BFI LFF artistic director Sandra Hebron decided to leave immediately after the conclusion of this year‘s event in October.
 
The ex-Sydney fest official‘s responsibility include the BFI IMAX theatre and the cultural and commercial performance of BFI Southbank, the organisation‘s base in London.
Stewart will be assuming office late August 2011 after spending the last five years leading the Sydney Film Festival programming.

Stewart‘s final Sydney Film Festival ended on 19 June.