Rachel Hamada will take up post with Edinburgh-based Take One Action. 

A charity film festival based in Scotland has announced the appointment of a new director. 

Take One Action has confirmed journalist and community organiser Rachel Hamada will take up the post. 

The festival, whose 16th edition, ‘Renewal’, took place in Glasgow from 6-10 December, looks to encourage communal exploration of the stories, ideas and questions at the heart of positive social change. 

Established in 2008, Take One Action is an Edinburgh-based, independent charity founded by film lovers, cultural activists and globally-concerned citizens who believe that shared cinematic experience can catalyse lasting change.

Making the announcement, the charity wrote on social media: “We are incredibly excited to announce that Rachel Hamada is joining the Take One Action team as Director!

“Based in Edinburgh, Rachel Hamada is a founder and co-chair of Scottish investigative journalism cooperative The Ferret. She has worked as a journalist and community organiser for over two decades, with a particular interest in social justice, marginalised communities and new models.

“She designed the Bureau of Investigative Journalism’s Community-Led Investigations pilot project and also ran their health inequalities strand and the Change the Story project, looking at reimagining local news with an emphasis on collaboration, inclusion and power building. And if that wasn’t enough, she is also currently studying for a Masters in Playwriting at the University of Edinburgh! We can’t wait to start working with Rachel to find new and compelling ways to catalyse the power of story and interconnection into deep change in the world around us. A warm TOA welcome to Rachel!”

Writing about her appointment, the charity’s new director said on Twitter/X: “I’m leaving TBIJ after five and a half exciting years to join the brilliant team at Take One Action. Can’t wait to get started!”