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| Lesli Klainberg on the appointment of Eugene Hernandez as Director of the New York Film Festival and Dennis Lim, Director of Programming: “This is a very exciting new chapter in the story of the New York Film Festival and Film at Lincoln Center.” Photo: Henny Garfunkel |
Film at Lincoln Center’s Executive Director Lesli Klainberg announced this morning that Eugene Hernandez has been appointed Director of the New York Film Festival, succeeding Kent Jones, who stepped down on September 19, 2019. Dennis Lim has been named Director of Programming for the festival.
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| Eugene Hernandez: "I had just moved to the city and saw Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, opening night of the 32nd NYFF, and was immediately under the spell of the festival's prestige and singular programming." Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze |
“I'll never forget my first experience at the New York Film Festival,” said Eugene Hernandez. “I had just moved to the city and saw Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, opening night of the 32nd NYFF, and was immediately under the spell of the festival's prestige and singular programming. Ever since, the vital work of Film at Lincoln Center has been integral in shaping my passion for international cinema. I have learned so much from former Directors Richard Peña, Kent Jones, and selection committees through the years, as well as the festival's sharp, enthusiastic audiences that make NYFF truly New York’s film festival. As Director of NYFF, I am honoured to usher this legacy forward, and create an event that is inviting, engaging, and a home for a diverse array of artists and audiences, as it has always been for me.”
“I’m honoured and excited to take on this new responsibility at a festival that has played a central role in the city’s film culture and that has meant so much to me personally,” said Dennis Lim. “At its heart, the New York Film Festival has always been about making a case for what matters in cinema, and beyond that, for the importance of cinema as an art form and as it relates to the world around us. I believe that is a more essential mission than ever today, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with the programming team to shape a festival that retains its singular identity while remaining open to discovery and surprise.”
“This is a very exciting new chapter in the story of the New York Film Festival and Film at Lincoln Center,” said Lesli Klainberg. “Eugene Hernandez is a singular presence in the film community, and when we began to consider the qualities needed for a person in this position, we knew we had the perfect person in-house already. His background as a journalist and founder of IndieWire as well as his more than eight years at FLC make him uniquely qualified to lead NYFF into a new era.
“Dennis Lim is one of the most highly respected programmers in the world. In addition to the expert curatorial oversight Dennis brings to FLC's year-round programming, we’re exceptionally fortunate to have him collaborate with Eugene to bring new energy to this venerable festival, which remains FLC’s most important annual event.”
The 58th New York Film Festival will run from September 25 through October 11, 2020
