The Santa Barbara International Film Festival has hired development and marketing veteran Cindy Chyr as its new director of advancement. In her new role, Chyr will be responsible for generating funds to support SBIFF’s dynamic arts and educational programs through sponsorships, grants and donations.
Chyr joins SBIFF from the International Documentary Association, a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization whose mission is to build a thriving documentary film culture, where she served as director of development.
“Cindy has a passion for the art of storytelling, and social and political activism that is almost impossible to match,” said Roger Durling, executive director of the SBIFF. “She has dedicated her career to non-profit resource development and administration and we are thrilled to have her bring that same enthusiasm to our family here.”
“I’m so excited to be joining the team at Santa Barbara International Film Festival,” added Chyr. “They have built an organization that not only champions filmmakers and talent, but are also staunchly dedicated to the Santa Barbara and the amazing community that live here.”
SBIFF’s educational lineup serves a wide-range of students from various backgrounds and educational levels, from elementary school to college students, and aims to provide well-rounded programming including Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies, which introduces film appreciation to elementary school students through free movie screenings; the 10-10-10 program, a filmmaking competition which serves high school and university-level students and introduces participants to the craft of filmmaking, including scriptwriting, editing and other production work; and the Film Studies Program, SBIFF’s most intensive educational opportunity, which targets students studying film at the university level to teach them analytical thinking and how to use the festival as a learning tool for real world experience.
SBIFF offers 200+ films, tributes and symposiums over the course of 11 days, during which the festival that attracts more than 90,000 attendees. SBIFF commitment to education includes AppleBox Family Films, 3rd Weekend and educational seminars. In recent years SBIFF has expanded its year-round presence with regular screenings and Q&As with programs like Cinema Society, The Showcase and its Wave Film Festivals.
Chyr previously worked at the Covenant House California, FAME Assistance Corporation, Public Counsel and the Legal Aid Society’s Prisoner’s Rights Project.