The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced the appointment of Lesli Klainberg as Executive Director and Eugene Hernandez as Deputy Director, a newly created post at the organization. Klainberg has been in place as the Film Society’s Interim Executive Director since December, and will now officially take the helm. Both will also assume the role of Co-Publisher for Film Comment magazine.
Ann Tenenbaum, the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Board Chairman said, “It is especially gratifying to us to select the Film Society’s new leadership team from within our own ranks. Lesli has a deep appreciation of our mission and we are confident that, together with Eugene, she will build on the success we have realized in recent years.”
Lesli Klainberg was Managing Director of the Film Society for almost two years and produced the last three New York Film Festivals, prior to her appointment as Interim Executive Director in December. Before joining the Film Society, Lesli was the Executive Director of NewFest, New York’s LGBT Film Festival, and also worked as a Consulting Producer for the Sundance Institute’s Documentary Film Program and as the Producer of IFP’s Independent Film Week Forum. In 2009, she was named Co-Leader of IFP’s weeklong Documentary Finishing Lab, and held this post for three years. Klainberg is a Founding National Board member of GLAAD and a former Board member of both Outfest and NewFest.
Klainberg is also an award-winning producer and director of independent documentaries through her production company, Orchard Films. Her film credits include the acclaimed Paul Monette: The Brink of Summer’s End, Miss America, In the Company of Women, Indie Sex, and the 2013 PGA Award–nominatedA Place at the Table, as well as other documentaries for IFC, AMC, PBS, and A&E.
In his new role as Deputy Director, Eugene Hernandez will oversee all strategy and operations for the organization, including partner relations, community and industry initiatives, educational outreach, and overall administrative duties for year-round programs and theater operations. He will also work closely with the Film Comment team on expanding their digital platforms and content offerings.
Hernandez joined the organization in 2010 as the Director of Digital Strategy, where he oversaw numerous new initiatives, including the re-launch of the organization’s website, FilmLinc.com; the creation of the digital publication FilmLinc Daily; the management and growth of all social media platforms; and the introduction of integrating streaming video content for the organization. He also worked closely with Associate Director of Operations and Programmer for Convergence, Matt Bolish, on a year-round Convergence program, launched at the New York Film Festival, the new home for immersive media and transmedia in New York.
Prior to joining the Film Society, Hernandez co-founded Indiewire in 1996. In his 12 years as Editor in Chief, he built the company into the leading online community and editorial publication for independent and international film. Winner of two Webby Awards for Best Film Website, Indiewire was lauded as a “must read” by Variety, branded the “online heartbeat of the world’s independent film community” by Forbes, and dubbed the “best indie crossroads” by Roger Ebert. SnagFilms acquired the company in 2008.
Michael Gibbons, Manager of Digital Strategy, has been promoted and will step into the role of Director of Digital Platforms, to oversee the Film Society’s Web and mobile initiatives, with the continued mission to support the organizations programming, and to reach a broad and diverse audience. He will continue to evolve and enhance the experience on multiple screens and platforms, providing seamless access to content and programming through FilmLinc.com and FilmComment.com, and to develop long-term strategy for the future on existing and emerging digital platforms.