New Executive Director Takes Helm At Sag Harbor Cinema

SAG HARBOR, NY —The Sag Harbor Cinema recently welcomed a new executive director.

The Sag Harbor Cinema Arts Center's search committee and its executive committee worked with Juliet Page/Julep Consulting and conducted an extensive search before unanimously appointing James Hook to the post, a release said.

Jamie Hook is a filmmaker, producer, and a non-profit entrepreneur: In 1995, he was the founding director of the Northwest Film Forum in Seattle, "growing that organization from the seed of a single small grant into a diversified non-profit", comprising two movie theaters, a film production studio, and a robust educational program for students aged 8 to 80, the release said.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the NWFF is widely lauded as a national model for an inclusive media-arts organization, and a pillar of Seattle's cultural community, the release added.

Next, Hook "took the reins" at the Minnesota-St. Paul International Film Festival, "breaking attendance records and launching a slew of new initiatives," including the long-running Childish Films series, the release said.

In 2007, he joined The Film Company as a co-director, where he helped to launch the career of Lynn Shelton, and produced Guy Maddin's "Brand Upon the Brain!", which he subsequently toured throughout the world with an A-list live cast, the release said.

He also headed up the Denmark Art Center, where he launched the successful DamJam music festival, drawing award-winning artists, the release said.

In addition to his work as a non-profit entrepreneur, Hook is an accomplished filmmaker, having written and directed award-winning feature films including "Vacationland" and "The Naked Proof," featuring the late August Wilson's sole screen appearance.

Hook said he is honored to have been selected as SHCAC's executive director. “I can’t wait to begin working within this diverse, supportive, talented and farsighted community that is the East End," he said.

Sag Harbor Cinema Board President John Alschuler added: “Jamie emerged as a superstar candidate to lead our cinema, and I look forward to his interactions with the board as well as with our community. He will bring experience, a great sense of humor, an engaging personality, and deep intelligence to the position”.