News
CIFF RINGS IN 2012 WITH APPOINTMENT OF NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
January 9, 2012, Calgary,AB… The Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) Board of Directors kicked off 2012 with a great deal of buzz and excitement, announcing Stephen Schroeder, an award-winning cultural industry professional, as CIFF’s new Executive Director. Schroeder takes over the helm immediately, replacing Jacqueline Dupuis who completed her term at the end of December for a new role in Vancouver.
“We’re beyond excited to announce Stephen Schroeder as CIFF’s new leader,” said Domenic Venturo, president of the CIFF Board of Directors. “As far as ideal candidates go, Stephen embodied everything we were looking for and more. He has an incredible track record, a robust knowledge of Calgary’s arts and culture community, but most importantly, a vision for CIFF’s future and the passion and energy to take us there,” he said.
With over 15 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, Schroeder is a well-known fixture in Calgary’s arts and culture community. From 1998 to 2010 he was Executive Director of one of Canada’s best-known performing arts companies, One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre. While there, he produced over a dozen new works of theatre, managed the company’s national and international touring, helped establish the Summer Lab Intensive school of performance creation, co-created the successful and long-running Wine Stage fundraising event, and worked to build The High Performance Rodeo, Calgary’s International Festival of the Arts, into the largest event of its kind in Western Canada. In 2006 he won the Rozsa Award for Excellence in Arts Management.
The audience experience is at the centre of Schroeder’s vision for the continued growth of CIFF as a festival of first-‐rate artistry. Cultivating partnerships and fostering the sense of excitement and fun around the festival are things he looks forward to focusing on.
“I’ve been a fan and regular attendee of CIFF since year one,” said Schroeder. “As someone who watches a wide range of films every chance I get, I feel incredibly lucky to be able to combine that passion with my other one–working to support and grow Calgary’s vibrant cultural and festival scene.”
About the Calgary International Film Festival
Founded in 1998, the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) is a charitable, not-for-profit, cultural organization based in Alberta, Canada. CIFF entertains and enlightens audiences through the experience of film, showcasing the best-of-the-best in International cinema in a world-class forum. Building a legacy for the filmic art form for Calgarians and cinema-goers around the globe is a primary focus of the Festival. CIFF is held annually at the end of September, screening hundreds of films and hosting several gala events, awards and special presentations.
For more information visit www.calgaryfilm.com.
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