A decline in funding has forced the Calgary International Film Festival to lay off most of its full-time staff, including the director of programming, Trevor Smith, director of operations Christian Argyll and sponsorship marketing manager Danielle Kondruk, leaving executive director Jacqueline Dupuis as the only full-time staff member.

The decision to lay off the three staff members was made by Dupuis and the festival’s 10-member volunteer board of directors with the hope it will be only temporary, Dupuis said.

“My hope is to bring back the same team that we have been working with for a number of years. This is just the result of the times and cash-flow issues. We had to cut more expenses and this is the only place left: staffing. We’ve cut everything else.”

Dupuis said the festival, which ran Sept. 24 to Oct. 3, faced a 30 per cent decrease in corporate sponsorship and 40 per cent decrease in government grants.

She said there are no plans to cancel or further streamline the festival for 2011.