LOS ANGELES, CA – Sundance Institute today confirmed that effective February 28, 2009, Geoffrey Gilmore is resigning his position as Director, Sundance Film Festival.

Gilmore joined Sundance Institute in 1990. As Director of the Sundance Film Festival he has worked as part of a team of programmers who select films for the annual event, the preeminent showcase for independent film. From its early days Gilmore nurtured the Festival’s world cinema program, recognized the importance of independent producers and expanded the Sundance Industry Office. He was also an early force for innovation, growing the Festival’s use of state-of-the-art presentation technology.

“I have both a personal fondness for Geoff that comes from working together for two decades, as well as a deep respect for his encyclopedic knowledge of and total commitment to independent film,” said Robert Redford, President, Sundance Institute and Founder, Sundance Film Festival. “Our Festival’s 25th anniversary has been a time of candid reflection. I support completely his decision. The timing is right to move on. We wish Geoff only the best as he embarks on the next phases of his life and career.”

In addition to his work with Sundance Institute, Gilmore has served on numerous international film juries, including the Sarajevo Film Festival, the Locarno Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival and the Shanghai Film Festival, and on committees ranging from the National Endowment for the Arts to the California Arts Council.

Prior to joining Sundance Institute, Gilmore served for 15 years as head of the UCLA Film and Television Archive’s Programming Department. He has served as a Visiting Professor both to UCLA and to Florida State University in Tallahassee.

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Media Contact:
Brooks Addicott
435.658.3456
brooks_addicott@sundance.org