Cucalorus is shouting three big hip-hip hoorays to the moon, because Executive Director and Wilmy native Dan Brawley has been elected the new President of the Film Festival Alliance!! He follows current president Jody Arlington from South by Southwest in Austin, Texas as the leader of the non-profit’s executive board.
Originally a program of the Independent Filmmaker Project, the Film Festival Alliance is an independent non-profit organization that develops and fosters collaboration among mission-driven film festivals around the world. Over 200 film organizations participate year-round to connect festival professionals and support each other in presentation and preservation of film and media programs. The Film Festival Alliance hosts an extensive track of programs for festival professionals during the ArtHouse Convergence, which takes place in the days leading up to the Sundance Film Festival in January.
As acting President, Brawley will drive production and management of resources for active members and be a leader in the national conversation around the vital role of film festivals, filmmakers, and cinema culture. “I’m thrilled that Dan Brawley will serve as president of the executive committee of the Film Festival Alliance,” says Deirdre Haj, Director of Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and outgoing FFA Vice President. “It’s no accident that North Carolina festivals are well represented in the FFA’s leadership, and Dan understands well that good festivals take better care of filmmakers. He’s got a level head and favors collaboration, not competition.”
Fresh from hosting parties, attending screenings and bouncing in the snow in Park City, Brawley added, “I’m honored to be able to lead this work and there’s lots to be done. The film festival industry has grown so fast and there really aren’t any formal networks to stitch us all together. The Alliance is well positioned to provide a guide for filmmakers so that they can navigate their way through the festival circuit without paying high entry fees and feeling powerless. I’m joined by an incredible group from all over the country who also believe that cinema is an essential tool for sharing and understanding, which is needed now more than ever.”
Visit filmfestivalalliance.org to learn more about the FFA! Congrats, Dan!