New Board Officers, Board Members Also Announced
LOS ANGELES, January 5, 2009 - Independent film veteran Michael Lumpkin has been chosen by the Board of Directors of the International Documentary Association to lead the organization as its new Executive Director. Lumpkin begins work in IDA's Los Angeles headquarters today.
Lumpkin is an experienced executive leader with over 20 years at the helm of Frameline, an international media arts organization that presents the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, operates Frameline Distribution, and runs other important programs providing funding and training to filmmakers. He brings to IDA an outstanding track record of innovative programming, successful fundraising, effective financial and operational management and strong community support, and maintains valuable alliances with members of the film, philanthropic and business communities. Michael was also co-producer of the landmark documentary THE CELLULOID CLOSET, and has served on international festival juries including the Berlin International Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival.
"I am honored to be joining the world's
leading organization dedicated to non-fiction film," said Lumpkin,
"and look forward to working closely with IDA's Board, staff, members
and trustees to expand the organization's support of documentary filmmakers
around the world. With the growing significance of social issue
media and the rapidly changing landscape of the independent film world,
IDA will continue to play a key role in increasing the appreciation
and relevance of documentary film in all its forms."
According to IDA's outgoing Interim Executive Director, filmmaker Eddie Schmidt, "Michael is the stellar result of an extensive search, and we are thrilled that he will take us into the future."
Schmidt, who ran the organization for
the past six months, will continue a leadership role at IDA, working
with Lumpkin as the newly elected President of the Board of Directors.
Schmidt follows outgoing President diane estelle Vicari, who served
the organization for the past three years. Other new IDA officers
include Thomas Rigler as Vice-President, Sara Hutchison as Treasurer,
Elise Pearlstein as Secretary, and Nancy Willen and Bob Niemack as Members-At-Large.
IDA also announced the election of six new board members, among them Gilda Brasch, Adam Chapnick, Senain Kheshgi, Laurie Ann Schag, Marjan Safinia, and Pi Ware. They round out the group which includes Beth Bird, Brian Gerber, Lynne Littman, Thomas G. Miller, Steven Reich, David Tenzer, diane estelle Vicari, Moises Velez, and Susan West.
The International Documentary Association is a nonprofit, public interest organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the art of documentary film, founded in 1982. The organization publishes a quarterly magazine, Documentary, and its programs include the DocuWeek Theatrical Showcase, the annual IDA Documentary Awards, and its upcoming Documentary Nominees Reception for the Academy Awards.
For more information about IDA, visit www.documentary.org or call 213-534-3600.
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