Lesli Klainberg, president of New York’s Film at Lincoln Center for more than a decade, will step down from the role after the 2024 New York Film Festival (NYFF) running September 27 – October 13.
The board at Film at Lincoln Center (FLC), the nonprofit that presents NYFF and year-round programming in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, will now form a search committee to recruit a new leader. In the meantime, the board has appointed Matt Bolish as deputy director to work with Klainberg during the transition period. Bolish has been at the organization since 2011, most recently serving as FLC’s vice president of operations and managing director of NYFF.
“My tenure at Film at Lincoln Center has been one of the most rewarding periods in my professional life. After over a decade as President and 14 New York Film Festivals come September, I am proud of how the organization has transformed and what we have accomplished. I’m leaving with a passionate and committed team in place,” said Klainberg in a statement. “The recent New York Film Festivals have seen record-breaking attendance and year-round enthusiastic audiences of all ages enjoy the diverse range of FLC’s programming. This demonstrates the enduring power of film to bring people together and inspire. Now is a great time to make this change and allow new leadership to make an impact.”
Dan Stern, chairman of the FLC board of directors, said, “Lesli’s dedication to global cinema and to promoting a vibrant film community has successfully guided FLC towards the robust and active year-round organization it is today. She navigated the difficult COVID shutdown with determination and creativity and is leaving a strong team that positions FLC for future growth and success. On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Lesli for her leadership and dedication. We wish her continued success in the next phase of her career and life.”
Klainberg’s leadership helped evolve FLC from New York’s premier cinematheque to a thriving three-screen film center. She’s produced 12 Chaplin Galas, including the most recent honoring Jeff Bridges. During the COVID lockdown that impacted theaters and festivals globally, Klainberg oversaw the development of a hybrid model for the New York Film Festival, with screenings at drive-ins and on streaming platforms throughout the city. In addition, she served as the publisher of Film Comment magazine.
