Sarasota Film Festival extends Jody Kielbasa at helm

Jody Kielbasa, who has served as Executive Director of the Sarasota Film Festival since its inception 9 years ago, has had his contract renewed and extended for an additional 5 years, it was announced today by Executive Board Member Phil Chmieleski.

Following overtures to Mr. Kielbasa from other internationally top-rated film festivals, the Board and Mr. Kielbasa settled on an agreement to keep him at the helm in Sarasota.

“It was inevitable that with the success of our festival and Jody’s integral part in same, that overtures were to come,” said Phil Chmieleski. “We are just grateful that Jody loves Sarasota and this festival and that our board was able to work out this long term arrangement with him.”

“As a film festival and as a community we have been thrilled with the success we have had. What started off as a 3-day happening has bloomed into a 10-day internationally recognized arts event,” stated Neil McCurry, SFF Board President. “We are very aware of Jody’s part in that growth, and understand that the continuity of his leadership is essential at this point in our progression.”

“I am excited and thrilled to know that I’ll be spending at least the next 5 years with the Sarasota Film Festival,” exclaimed Jody Kielbasa. “Sarasota is my home, and my family and I love it here. I am happy to be continuing with the Festival which has been so much a part of my life, and with the opportunity to grow it into one of the most important events on the international circuit.”

The Festival’s mission is to present unique and quality cinema in a festival atmosphere for the purpose of educating, stimulating, and entertaining audiences. The Festival supports and encourages the filmmaker by supplying essential networking opportunities and open dialogue with intelligent, creative and inquisitive consumers of film. The Festival attracts audiences from local, national and international markets, as well as promotes Sarasota, Manatee and surrounding Gulf Coast communities as cultural centers that contribute to the financial and cultural success of our region.

Established as a non-profit arts organization in 1998 to offer a diverse assembly of films to a diverse audience,

SFF’s 1999 mini-festival included eight feature films, symposiums, and a gala fundraiser. Since this first annual

event, SFF has grown into a ten-day festival comprised of numerous feature-length and short films, documentaries, nationally-recognized Outreach and Education programming, talkbacks with world-renowned filmmakers and stars plus some of the most extravagant parties that Florida’s suncoast has to offer. In 2005, Screen International Magazine called it one of the “20 Best Festivals in North America.”

The 9th year of Sun, Cinema and Celebration of the Sarasota Film Festival runs from April 13-April 22, 2007