Editor

The Telluride Film Festival (August 31-September 3) proudly announces its new managing director, Julie Huntsinger. Huntsinger will develop and manage all aspects of the festival’s business administration including budget, corporate accounting, legal affairs and personnel. She will oversee implementation of company policy and procedural consistency and drive festival policy alongside co-directors Tom Luddy and Gary Meyer.

"Despite my long involvement with the festival as a resident curator, taking on the co-director position seemed daunting,” said recently announced Telluride Film Festival co-director, Gary Meyer. “After Julie joined us, my fears were alleviated and I knew the team was complete. She really understands what it takes to run this festival and make it special."

Huntsinger's career in the film business began in 1993 when she joined Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope as Telluride Film Festival founder and Zoetrope producer Luddy's assistant. Five years later she co-produced her first film for Luddy and Zoetrope's Chrome Dragon Films. Boasting various producing and production credits, Huntsinger has worked on a number of major and independent motion pictures spanning the globe including Vertical Limit, Beyond Borders and Racing Stripes. Her most recent project, P.S. I Love You, starring Hilary Swank, on which she was an associate producer, is slated for a 2007 release.

“I have always been impressed with Julie’s ability to look at the big picture and make sure things go smoothly. She’s on top of every detail and keeps her cool in the most stressful situations,” said Tom Luddy, co-director of the Telluride Film Festival. “She brings an extra touch that echoes the kind of show we put on in Telluride.”

Huntsinger holds a BA in French Literature from UC Berkeley and completed Stanford's Mass Media Institute's program in Broadcast Journalism. Huntsinger and her husband, Adam, currently reside in Berkeley, California.