Hannah McGill was born in Shetland in 1976, grew up in Lincolnshire, and studied English Literature and Film and Television Studies at the University of Glasgow. As a critic and columnist, she has contributed to numerous publications including The Scotsman, The Herald, The Times, Uncut, Time Out, Art Review, The Guardian and Sight and Sound. She is also a published writer of short fiction and drama.

As a broadcaster she has contributed regularly to arts programmes on BBC Scotland, BBC Radio 4 and the BBC World Service. She has also lectured in Film Journalism at the University of Glasgow.

She became Artistic Director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival in September 2006. In 2008 she was named in Variety's Women's Impact Report as one of 50 female 'movers and shakers' at all levels of entertainment.