IDA Announces POV's Simon Kilmurry as Executive Director

The International Documentary Association (IDA) is proud to announce the appointment of Simon Kilmurry to the position of Executive Director. Kilmurry will relocate from New York to Los Angeles to begin work on July 6, 2015.

Kilmurry joins IDA following an illustrious 16-year tenure at POV, the long-running PBS showcase of independent documentaries, where he has served as Executive Producer since 2006. He also serves as Executive Director of American Documentary, POV’s non-profit parent organization.

“It’s hard to imagine anyone better qualified to take the reins at IDA,” said Marjan Safinia, President of IDA’s Board of Directors. “As an internationally recognized leader in our field, Simon’s name is synonymous with excellence in documentary, and his passion for the form is unrivalled. He is truly from the tribe of documentary filmmakers that we serve. This, coupled with his extraordinary track record in organizational management and deep insight into the needs of the documentary field, makes him the strongest possible leader to continue our evolution.”

“I’m thrilled to be joining the International Documentary Association,” said Kilmurry. “Documentary is one of the most exciting forms of cultural expression, it is absolutely vital to a thriving democracy, and I am deeply passionate about it. The IDA has never been better positioned to play a leadership role in the field, advocating for and providing support to filmmakers, and convening an international dialogue for filmmakers telling the most relevant stories of our time.”

Kilmurry has won numerous accolades in his role at POV including a Primetime Emmy Award, 12 News and Documentary Emmy Awards, a Special Emmy Award for Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking, as well as more than 50 News and Documentary Emmy nominations. He is also the recipient of five Peabody Awards, three Du Pont Columbia Awards, two Overseas Press Club Awards, a Grierson Award, and is a two-time recipient of the Best Continuing Series Award from IDA. In 2011 he received the National Association of Latino Independent Producers’ Award for Corporate Commitment to Diversity.

Kilmurry has also served as Executive Director of American Documentary, POV’s non-profit parent organization. Under his leadership, the organization was the recipient of a $1 million MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions in 2013. In addition to POV, he is the executive producer of America ReFramed, a documentary series on the WORLD Channel. Established in 2012, America ReFramed is a year-round showcase of independent documentaries featuring contemporary American stories.