Lesli Klainberg Named Executive Director of Film Society of Lincoln Center

Lesli Klainberg has been named executive director of the Film Society of Lincoln Center. She had been serving as interim executive director since December, when Rose Kuo stepped down as executive director.

The Film Society also announced Friday that Eugene Hernandez, who joined the organization in 2010 as the director of digital strategy, has been promoted to the newly created post of deputy director.

Both will also assume the role of co-publisher of Film Comment magazine.

“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,” Ann Tenenbaum, the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s board chairman said.

Related Stories

Movies

'She Said' Premiere Honors Women Who Exposed Harvey Weinstein's Alleged Misconduct

Lifestyle

Events of the Week: 'Black Adam,' 'Halloween Ends' and More

PHOTOS: 35 of 2014’s Most Anticipated Movies

Prior to December, Klainberg had been managing director of the Film Society for almost two years and produced the last three New York Film Festivals. Before joining the Film Society, she 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 that post for three years. Klainberg is a founding national board member of GLAAD and a former Board member of both Outfest and NewFest.

Klainberg also is a producer and director of independent documentaries through her production company, Orchard Films. Her film credits include Paul Monette: The Brink of Summer’s End, Miss America, In the Company of Women, Indie Sex, and the 2013 PGA Award-nominated A Place at the Table, as well as other documentaries for IFC, AMC, PBS, and A&E. 

In his new role as deputy director, 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.   

PHOTOS: 2014’s New Broadcast and Cable TV Shows

Prior to joining the Film Society, Hernandez co-founded Indiewire in 1996 and spent 12 years as its editor in chief.

Michael Gibbons, manager of digital strategy, has been promoted to 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.