Edited by John O’Brien
The Cleveland International Film Festival is proud to announce the appointment of Hermione Malone as its new Executive Director. As a seasoned and accomplished leader, Hermione brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit management, entrepreneur support and organizational transformation to the Festival. Hermione will start her role at CIFF on June 10, 2024.
“Using a search consultant, we cast a national net for this position, receiving an extraordinary slate of candidates seeking to replace outgoing executive director Marcie Goodman at CIFF,” said Chris Blake, president of CIFF’s board of trustees. “Ultimately, our search committee’s work became easy as we realized that Hermione was the clear choice to lead CIFF as we head into our sixth decade of bringing the best films from around the world to Cleveland.”
Hermione brings more than 15 years of experience in strategic development, program design and implementation, innovation, and collaboration to the role. Most recently, as Head of Emerging Markets at the American Journalism Project, Hermione built and led philanthropic partnerships to close local news gaps across the U.S. Her work resulted in the launch of a new state-wide organization and raised over $17 million dollars in seed funding across two markets.
“We are confident that Hermione will use her skills in strategic development, fundraising, program design and collaboration to help CIFF continue to prosper, building on top of the foundation created by Marcie Goodman over the last 23 years,” Blake said. “On behalf of CIFF’s entire board of trustees, I am excited to welcome Hermione back to Cleveland as our fourth executive director since the founding of the Film Festival in 1977.”
“Hermione has been an innovative leader in the non-profit space both in and outside of Cleveland,” said Joe Marinucci, who will become CIFF’s next board president at the end of June. “I am very much looking forward to working with her.”
Originally from Detroit, Hermione spent 13 years in Cleveland before moving to New Orleans in 2016. During her time in Cleveland, Hermione held leadership positions at Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals. In addition, Hermione donated her time and talents to serve on various key Cleveland boards and committees, including the Cleveland (OH) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, ICA Art Conservation, Office of the Cuyahoga County Executive, Susan G. Komen For the Cure Northeast Ohio Affiliate, Women in Sports and Events, and the Junior League of Cleveland, where she served two years as President and 11 years as a member.
“I have always said that the Cleveland International Film Festival was one of the best things about living in Cleveland. So I am thrilled to return to the city to lead CIFF at this transformative time as the Festival reimagines ways to attract new audiences and deepen its community partnerships,” said Hermione Malone. “I look forward to working with a talented staff and board to create a sustainable future for the Festival, one that enhances the city’s dynamic arts and culture landscape and allows more residents and visitors alike to see themselves at CIFF.”
Outgoing executive director Marcie Goodman shared, “I am so excited for Hermione Malone, who gets to inherit a dedicated board of directors, an extraordinary staff, generations of devoted volunteers, a group of corporate and philanthropic funders who go above and beyond time after time, a passionate assembly of members and attendees, and the most supportive community any leader could ever hope for.”
CIFF49
CIFF49 will take place March 26-April 5, 2025 at Playhouse Square. Among the longest-running and largest Film Festival in the USA, CIFF is one of the few festivals in the world that is Academy Award® qualifying for all three categories of short films—live action, animated, and documentary. Among its accolades, the CIFF has been featured for multiple years as one of MovieMaker Magazine’s 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee, as well as one of its 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World. Submissions for CIFF49 will be open mid-summer 2024.
The Cleveland International Film Festival is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Also, the Cleveland International Film Festival is made possible in part by state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.
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