BendFilm Festival’s executive director, Todd Looby, leaves organization; Ann Witsil to serve in interim role

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) The Board of Directors of BendFilm Festival has announced that Todd Looby, former Executive Director, will no longer be with BendFilm.

Here's the full text of Friday's announcement:

Todd has served as Executive Director for BendFilm for the past 10 years during a period of rapid growth in which the organization has received national recognition as one of the top Ten Film Festivals. The BendFilm Board, staff and community members appreciate Looby’s work over his tenure and wish him well in his next endeavors.

The BendFilm Board has hired Ann Witsil to serve as Interim Executive Director as they begin the search for a new permanent Executive Director to lead the organization into a new stage of development and impact. Ann Witsil has assisted numerous nonprofit organizations, regionally and globally, through leadership transitions as interim executive director and strategic facilitator.

Previously, Ann was an executive with US Bancorp during a period of rapid expansion and service diversification, and with Nike Equipment introducing innovative business lines and delivery services. A member of Page Two Partners based in Portland, Ann lives in Bend and looks forward to working with BendFilm.

BendFilm has had and will continue to have a positive impact on our community and artists around the world, providing a platform to share stories and experiences.

As the number of film submissions for this year’s October Festival has doubled over those of last year, BendFilm looks forward to continuing to bring arts to Central Oregon through our amazing Academy Qualifying annual film festival, the Tin Pan theater, popular summer youth camps, and year-round programming. We look forward to continuing this growth and impact as we transition to new leadership.

A transition committee consisting of board members, staff, and community volunteers are focused on filling this leadership position by or before fall of 2023. For information on the candidate application process please refer in June to the BendFilm Festival website. Meanwhile the board, stellar staff, and myriad volunteers are excited and committed to the success of the upcoming 20th Film Festival on October 12-15, 2023. They are working to assure the ongoing operations of BendFilm are fully supported.

For more information, please contact: BendFilm Festival 541-388.3378, info@bendfilm.org