BendFilm statuettes await the awards ceremony in this 2018 photo. 

After a decade at the helm of the BendFilm Festival, Todd Looby will no longer lead the organization.

Until a permanent replacement is found, Ann Witsil has been named interim executive director of the 20-year-old institution.

In an email to The Bulletin, Looby confirmed he’d no longer be in charge of BendFilm, but was proud of the organization’s accomplishments. It is uncommon for a community the size of Bend to have a film festival of this caliber, Looby said.

“It’s hard to distill all of the triumphs, laughs, tears, joy, community and connection I had the honor of experiencing and facilitating into one email, but I do once again hope this community rallies around the staff to make this year’s Festival the best one yet,” Looby said. “Thank You to the Bend community for supporting our work for the past 10 years.

“This is difficult work. There is no question, but the community always rallied to support our staff and I hope it continues.”

Neither Looby nor Witsil would provide details on the departure except to say the board spent a lot of time reflecting on its decision, Witsil said in a phone interview Tuesday.

“Todd has served as executive director for BendFilm for the past 10 years and during a period of rapid growth in which the organization has received national recognition as one of the Top 10 Film Festivals,” said Witsil in a prepared statement. “BendFilm looks forward to continuing to bring arts to Central Oregon through our amazing Academy Qualifying annual film festival.”

This year’s festival will be held Oct. 12-15 in person and Oct. 15-22 virtually, according to the festival’s website.

The festival will screen more than 100 films and host 125 filmmakers from across the country. There are an estimated 80 film festivals in Oregon, which generated about $2.4 million in revenue, according to a 2017 report produced by the University of Oregon, Travel Oregon and Oregon Film.

The 13-member board of directors hopes to find a replacement before the start of the 2023 film festival, according to the statement.

Looby was paid $69,197 in 2021, according to the most current public tax documents filed by the nonprofit. In 2021, BendFilm reported total revenue of $912,886 from contributions, investment income and programming, according to the documents. That’s significantly more than the 2020 income of $536,229 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Tower Theatre will give the same level of support and assistance to whoever is named to lead BendFilm, said Ray Solley, executive director of the Tower Theatre. Since Solley took the reins of the theater in 2009, he’s worked with several BendFilm directors, board members and volunteers, Solley said.

“We’ve always accommodated their requests for screenings or additional projection equipment as much as we can,” Solley said. “We feel as if BendFilm is one of the mainstays of the arts and culture scene in Central Oregon. We’re ready to help them take their next step on whatever goals or journeys they might have.”

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Throughout its history BendFilm has drawn visitors to Central Oregon during the the traditional slow months of the travel business, said Kevney Dugan, Visit Bend CEO.

“BendFilm is an incredible asset to the Bend community and an event that draws out-of-town guests in a traditionally slow season,” Dugan said. “As we look forward to celebrating the upcoming 20th BendFilm Festival, we’re excited for what the next 20 years will bring and we thank Todd for his steady hand guiding the organization these past 10 years.”

Witsil has a history of assisting nonprofits through transitions, according to the press statement. Previously Witsil was an executive with U.S. Bancorp during its period of rapid expansion and diversification.

“The festival will continue,” Witsil said. “We’ve had a record number of submissions this year. We will not do anything significantly different this year than what was done in the past.”

Finding light and connection at the 19th annual BendFilm Festival