FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Marty Schechter
May 5, 2022 303-882-4585
marty@schechterpr.com
DENVER – May 5, 2022 – The Denver Film (DF) Board of Directors removed the interim title and announced Kevin Smith has been named chief executive officer of the non-profit cultural institution that produces the award-winning Denver Film Festival, the popular summertime series Film on the Rocks at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre and provides year-round film programming and education at the Sie FilmCenter. Smith, a longtime staff director and most recently, chief marketing officer, has been leading the organization on an interim basis since mid-March following the departure of James Mejia.
With more than 15 years of industry experience, Smith has spent the past 7 years with Denver Film where he has overseen and helped grow signature programming and events, as well as create and deliver new partnerships contributing to the overall success of the organization. Smith’s experience within Denver Film has touched on all aspects of business operations from strategic planning, finance, sponsorship, membership, fundraising and grants, to overall branding, marketing and communications.
“I’m incredibly grateful to the Denver Film board for the confidence and trust they’ve shown in me throughout this process,” said Kevin Smith. “I know that my experience working in a range of roles and being able to touch all aspects of our organization over the past several years provides a strong foundation to build on. I’m eager to take on this leadership role and continue our work to catapult Denver Film to the forefront of the festival circuit and to expand our presence, including accessibility and inclusion, that are making an impact in our city, state and region’s arts and cultural communities.”
Smith has been a key player in helping shape and implement a number of the organization’s initiatives over the past several years including:
In addition, Smith played a major role in helping guide Denver Film operations through the 2020-2022 pandemic including the rapid creation and implementation of an exclusive virtual programming platform that led the market. He also worked with Denver Arts & Venues to present the first Film on the Rocks Drive-In, keeping the two-decade plus event going despite the challenges of COVID.
“Kevin has been an instrumental player who has strengthened our organization over the past seven years and has been a driving force in the creation of a strategic vision that will help shape the future of Denver Film,” said Denver Film Board Chair Chad Jimenez. “Not only does he know our organization well, he is passionate, strategic and has an astute understanding of the changes taking place in the industry. Agile and able to adapt, Kevin knows the importance of those changes and how to develop and implement a plan to be new, efficient and meaningful to our audiences and our communities. He’s been with us, grown with us and has proven that he is ready for the leadership role. Our board is excited to work with Kevin and his staff to support that vision.”
Raised in Detroit, Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Michigan State University where, as a sophomore, his entrepreneurial spirit and desire to connect with community led him to create the Live-To-Give Foundation, a non-profit focused on supporting economically sustainable projects and causes in Detroit. Following graduation, Smith served for two years as a feature film production manager before co-founding a relationship marketing firm. After a year of consulting and defining his next steps, Smith made the move to Denver in 2015 and began his work at Denver Film.
“Having worked closely with Kevin over the past seven years, I know that he delivers a unique understanding of both the business and artistic side of this industry and specifically where the opportunities are for us to grow our presence and impact,” said Denver Film Artistic Director Matthew Campbell. “His knowledge, vision and relationship-building approach have helped him earn the respect not only of our staff, but of our members, sponsors, community partners and industry leaders.”
“As a member of the Denver Commission for Cultural Affairs, Kevin has demonstrated his leadership and commitment to our community and earned the respect of our city’s business, arts, and cultural leaders,” said Denver Arts & Venues executive director Ginger White Brunetti. “I’m also grateful that Denver Film and DAV have built a collaborative and mutually-beneficial partnership that will continue to thrive with Kevin at the helm.”
About Denver Film:
Founded in 1978, Denver Film is a membership-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural institution that produces film events throughout the year, including the award-winning Denver Film Festival and the popular, summertime series Film on the Rocks. With a vision to cultivate community and transform lives through film, the organization provides opportunities for diverse audiences to discover film through creative, thought-provoking experiences.
The permanent home of Denver Film, the Sie FilmCenter, is Denver’s only year-round cinematheque, presenting a weekly-changing calendar of first-run exclusives and arthouse revivals both domestic and foreign, narrative and documentary—over 600 per year, all shown in their original language and format. Denver Film programs annually reach more than 200,000 film lovers and film lovers-in-training.
