The highly regarded Newport International Film Festival (a local Cannes, according to one travel magazine) has announced that Jennifer Maizel has become the new Executive Director of the Newport International Film Festival. Maizel had a prior stint with NIFF in 2006 as the Director of Guest Services. Most recently, she has served, for the past three years, as Managing Director of the Sarasota Film Festival.

“Jen is a superb addition to the NIFF, just the kind of person to take us to the next level,” stated Alan Weiss, NIFF Board Chair.
“She has broad-ranging experiences and skills that include management, industry contacts, fund raising, and staff development. We are overjoyed that we were able to lure her from Sarasota, which says a lot for our product, our environment, and our people here.”

Maizel is not new to the region, having moved with her family to Rhode Island as a teen, graduating from Toll Gate High School. Following college at Brandeis University, Maizel spent 5 years working in the talent relations department of Showtime Networks, specifically coordinating film festival promotion.

“I’m very excited about Newport,” states Maizel. “I think my main goal is to continue the strong relationship between the festival and the community, not just the Newport community but the state and the region. And I want the festival to have a strong relationship with the film industry. That’s important.”

Maizel will be the festival’s fifth director in its 11-year history. Co-founder Christine Schomer served from 1998-2002, followed by Greg DiStefano in 2003. Laurie B. Kirby headed the festival from 2004-2007, succeeded by Percudani.

The Newport International Film Festival (NIFF) was founded in 1998 by Christine Schomer, Nancy Donahoe and Pami Shamir. In its 10 years, NIFF has grown dramatically into one of America's leading regional film festivals. The Festival has a reputation for stellar programming and has cemented its status as one of the most exciting and exclusive festivals of its kind. Annually attracting over 10,000 filmmakers, celebrities, journalists, and film enthusiasts of all kinds together in a less frenzied, less commercial, and more intimate environment, the Festival has distinguished itself as one where art ranks before commerce.

NIFF programming offers unique opportunities for the community to interact with filmmakers and artists in a celebration of the art of film and storytelling. In addition to our daily panel discussions with well-known industry professionals, NIFF schedules over 100 screenings of feature length narrative films, documentaries and shorts, as well as both international and U.S. film premieres. Believing firmly in the development of young people through the creative process and hands-on learning, NIFF has partnered with local organizations to offer a range of programs to teenagers.

Whether it is a look at new works by emerging artists, or a retrospective of contemporary world cinema; whether it is a program of music on film, or Rhode Island spotlight, the Newport International Film Festival provides a context that stresses the art of filmmaking and media's influence on today's society.

Contact: Gary Springer, 212-354-4660, gary@springerassociatespr.com.