Film Festival cuts executive director

For the executive director of the Sonoma International Film Festival, there will be no sequel. After one year on the job, Louisa Percudani has been laid off in a move to save money and restructure the festival’s administrative staff.
“The board truly appreciates Louisa’s contributions to the overall success of the 12th annual festival,” said board chair Kevin McNeely. “We are facing some very real economic and sponsorship challenges. The Board decided that in the best interests of festival, it was time to reorganize.”
No replacement will be named and the job description will likely change, said McNeely, who will now oversee the day-to-day operations. Programmer Cevin Cathell will continue in her role, and director of operations Jesse Lindow is expected to return, as well.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity and privilege of serving as the Executive Director for the 12th Annual Sonoma International Film Festival,” Percudani told The Sun. “ I’m proud of all that was accomplished, and I wish the festival continued success.”
McNeely said that current staff, along with volunteers and board members, will be adequate to handle daily operations. “We’ve got it covered,” he said. “As the 2010 festival grows nearer, we will hire additional staff.”
In addition to the restructuring, the board has added new members Robert Chimsky and Patti Williams.
Chimsky is the senior partner/owner of inCode Telecom, a firm that performs consulting services to companies in the telecommunications field. A film screener for the 1999 festival, he also co-chaired the Oscar Party and Auction Committee. His focus will be programming/screening, operations and fundraising.
Williams, who has served as mayor of Los Altos, is a partner in The Delta Group, a financial advisory firm. She was instrumental in the festival securing a grant this year from the City of Sonoma, and she worked on budgetary files. She will serve as treasurer.
McNeely was named Chairman Emeritus at the close of the last festival when the board presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award. He announced then that he would step down as active board chair.
Things changed, McNeely said, when the Board heard a detailed proposal for the organization’s future from local residents Steve Kyle and Kurt Krauthamer, who upon its approval would have joined the Board as co-chairmen. The board declined to act on that proposal, keeping the single-chairman structure – and McNeely – in place.
The 2010 Festival will be held April 1–4, 2010. McNeely said the Film Society is developing summer special events including a “night flick” – an outdoor, family-friendly screening. The date and details will be announced soon, he said.