SAG HARBOR, NY — The Sag Harbor Cinema recently welcomed a new executive director.
The Sag Harbor Cinema Arts Center's search committee and executive committee worked with Juliet Page/Julep Consulting and conducted an extensive search before unanimously appointing James Hook to the position, according to a release.
Jamie Hook is a director, producer and nonprofit entrepreneur: In 1995, he was the founding director of the Northwest Film Forum in Seattle, “growing that organization from the seed of a small grant into a diversified nonprofit.” , which includes two movie theaters, a film production studio and a strong educational program for students ages 8 to 80, the release said.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, 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.
Hook then “took the reins” at the Minnesota-St. Paul International Film Festival, “breaking attendance records and launching a number 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 launch Lynn Shelton's career and produced “Brand Upon the Brain!” by Guy Maddin, who then toured the world with a live A-list line-up. cast, the release said.
He also led the Danish Art Center, where he launched the successful DamJam music festival, attracting 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,” the only screen appearance of the late August Wilson.
Hook said he is honored to be selected as SHCAC's executive director. “I look forward to beginning work in this diverse, supportive, talented and visionary community that is the East End,” she said.
Sag Harbor Cinema Board President John Alschuler added, “Jamie has emerged as a superstar candidate to lead our cinema and I look forward to his interactions with the board as well as our community. He will bring experience, a great sense of humor, an engaging personality and deep intelligence to the position.”
