Film Independent has made notable additions to its ranks with Dan Stern elected to the board of directors, while Chaz Ebert, Kasi Lemmons and Lulu Wang join the nonprofit arts organization’s advisory board.
The new appointees are the first under Film Independent board chair Brenda Robinson’s tenure after her January 2022 election.
Stern is the founder and CEO of Reservoir Capital Group as well as the chairman of the board of Film at Lincoln Center. He joins Film Independent’s board of directors, which is comprised of leaders from the film community and beyond, who serve in a volunteer capacity and “make strategic decisions on the direction and vitality of the organization.”
In a statement announcing his election, Robinson praised Stern for the “extraordinary value” he’ll bring to the role.
“His passion and experience in the nonprofit arts space, coupled with his expertise in the financial sector, make him uniquely well-suited to help us navigate the ever-evolving economic realities and challenges that face artists and the arts today,” Robinson said of Stern, a longtime supporter of Film Independent. “We are thrilled to have him join us in this official capacity and welcome his continued support of our mission in amplifying independent storytelling.”
The current board of directors is comprised of Len Amato, Randy Barbato, Adriene Bowles, Mathew Cullen, Vondie Curtis Hall, Eric d’Arbeloff, Rhys Ernst, Javier Fuentes-León, Brenda Gilbert, Matthew Greenfield, Michael Helfant, Laura Kim, Sue Kroll, Karyn Kusama, David Linde, Mynette Louie, Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Ted Mundorff, Gail Mutrux, Sue Naegle, Col Needham, Catherine Park, Alan Poul, Ed Rada, Robinson, Andrea Sperling, Cathy Schulman and Jeffrey Soros.
Likewise, Film Independent’s current advisory board is comprised of film industry executives, creatives and thought leaders who function as a sounding board for the board of directors and executive leadership. The current advisory board members are Ed Carroll, Don Cheadle, Bill Condon, Peter Rice, Ted Sarandos and Forest Whitaker.
In a statement welcoming the trio of “dynamic and talented industry vets” to the advisory board, Robinson added: “Chaz, Kasi and Lulu are at the forefront of independent artistry and each brings a unique and valuable perspective and knowledge to our organization.”
All three also have longterm ties to Film Independent. For many years, Ebert — who is a lawyer, producer, philanthropist and the CEO and publisher of Ebert Digital, which publishes RogerEbert — funded the Chaz and Roger Ebert Fellowship at the Spirit Awards and she has also been a supporter of Project Involve, the organization’s program promoting diverse voices in creative storytelling. In 1998, Lemmons’ debut feature “Eve’s Bayou” won a Spirit Award and the filmmaker, actor and professor went on to become a Film Independent board member and officer. Wang’s experience ties the trio together: She is a Film Independent Fellow (2014 Project Involve), the recipient of the 2014 Chaz and Roger Ebert Directing Fellowship and her film “The Farewell” won best feature at the 2020 Spirit Awards.
The 2024 Spirit Awards will take place on Feb. 25, with “American Fiction,” “May December” and “Past Lives” dominating the film categories at five nods apiece while “The Last of Us” and “I’m a Virgo” lead the TV contenders. Aidy Bryant will host the ceremony, which begins at 2 p.m. PT. It will stream live on Film Independent’s YouTube channel and IMDB from its signature Santa Monica beach tent location.
