Schwartz

BendFilm Festival Director Orit Schwartz is leaving the organization after working on four festivals.

According to a press release from BendFilm sent out on Monday, the board of directors decided to restructure its organization, dividing the work of running the festival into separate operational and creative positions. This past autumn, the organization held its 10th festival, attracting 100 filmmakers to the event. The release stated that Schwartz was offered a position within the restructured organization but that she declined.

Schwartz characterized the new position as a demotion and said she was “baffled” by the board’s decision to restructure, noting that “the festival was very successful and growing with amazing publicity and films.” She also said she was “not included in their thought process” on the restructuring.

Schwartz began her tenure with the festival in 2010, serving as artistic director before becoming festival director the following year. Schwartz, a native of Los Angeles, began her career working as a production assistant on the set of the ABC sitcom “Roseanne.” Schwartz later became a screenwriter, penning an episode of the Fox sitcom “Grounded for Life” and short films, including “The Frank Anderson,” which debuted at the BendFilm Festival in 2006. Before serving on the festival’s staff, she was a judge in 2007.

“It’s been a really great ride,” she said. “My plans right now are to just take a nap and find another exciting adventure. But I love the BendFilm Festival; it’s such a great event to be a part of and it’s been a real honor to have been around for four rounds of the festival.”

BendFilm said restructuring will help to “sustain the success and momentum the festival has earned in a decade of progress, and to increase opportunities for community involvement.”

The organization will begin recruiting a new director and program manager immediately. Next year’s festival is scheduled for Oct. 9 through Oct. 12.

— Reporter: 541-633-2160, tleeds@bendbulletin.com