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ASHLAND INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL Ashland Independent Film Fest searching for new director Burgeoning film fest searching for new director of programming Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted May. 21, 2015 at 7:45 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted May. 21, 2015 at 7:45 PM » Social News The Ashland Independent Film Festival is searching for a new director of programming, someone with full-time experience in the field and the ability of combing through hundreds of movies and creating a compelling palette of movies — and someone they can have aboard by Aug. 1. It’s a “plum” job now that the AIFF has become so notable and loved, and the person needs to have, not just movie smarts, but management skills, says Cathy Dombi, who, just before the festival in April, was boosted from interim director to executive director. Before that, she was development director. She and the staff are already interviewing, including many Ashland residents, and are winnowing down the list. The person chosen will replace Joanne Feinberg, who held the job for 11 of the festival’s 14 years. Giving AIFF a little budget nudge, the Varsity Theater this Friday, May 22, will show the documentary “Iris,” the story of fashion design maven Iris Apfel, 94. It’s one of six benefits they do for the festival each year. It’s directed by the late Albert Maysles, the 2008 winner of AIFF’s Lifetime Achievement Award. It showed at the recent festival, but was missed by many, says Dombi, due to seating limitations. “Maysles was an incredible filmmaker, one intrigued by real life characters,” says Dombi. “It makes growing old look more inviting and like there is life after 70. It’s encouraging to young people too.” The film, according to the recent AIFF program, is “a portrait of creativity and how, regardless of age, a soaring free spirit continues to inspire. Iris is an extraordinary woman who reminds us that fasion, just like life, in nothing but an experiment.” The film runs through the following Thursday, but the two shows on Friday evening are the ones that benefit AIFF. The director of programming for AIFF creates the schedule for the Festival on a point system, after reviewing comments from the many volunteer movie viewers in the Ashland community, says Dombi. “The person sets the tone for the Festival and should have “a solid level of experience in the film industry and connections to the industry, as it’s important to have relationships with the filmmakers." Under Feinberg, AIFF became a “filmmaker’s film festival,” meaning, says Dombi, “it has great hospitality and a lot of opportunity for interaction with an enthusiastic audience. We have a great relationship with filmmakers, distributors and our partners and sponsors. They all love our audiences.” Dombi said the new director of programming will not be someone searching for the perfect film, but putting together “a great combination of shorts, docs and features, like an array of good stories in a magazine or good dishes on a great menu.”  The new person will do film selection, but also draft the articles in the souvenir program, work with volunteers to get it all done and be able to “work long hours with grace.” This includes much shuffling of logistics up to the last minute, as staff finds out which film people will be coming and when. Dombi says AIFF has become “second tier” among regional film festivals and she’s had many filmmakers say if they can only make it to two festivals, it’s Ashland and something else. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted May. 21, 2015 at 7:45 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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