Ken Brecher, the longtime executive director of the Sundance Institute, is stepping down effective April 30.
The Sundance Institute announced Brecher's resignation this week, but officials also noted that he will remain with the organization as a strategic adviser for at least two years.
No reason was given for Brecher's resignation, though he did say that he has "completed my work in building an outstanding leadership team.
"I could not be more confident that (the Sundance Institute) is now poised for the next phase of its innovative work in supporting independent artists," he added.
Brecher joined the Sundance Institute in 1996, having had years of experience as a foundation president, a museum director and a theatrical artistic director.
Under his leadership, the organization established its Documentary Fund, one of the largest human rights, civil rights and freedom of expression filmmaking funds in the world. (Films produced with its support include Academy Award nominees and winners "Born into Brothels," "Iraq in Fragments" and "Trouble the Water.")
He was also instrumental in expanding Sundance's support of film composers through the creation of the Sundance Institute Film Music Program, and he has been responsible for establishing the Institute's strong and diverse base of support and for helping expand the Feature Film Program's efforts in the Middle East.
"(Ken) Brecher's efforts will stand the Institute in good stead in the years ahead," said Wally Weisman, chairman of the board of the Sundance Institute.
His resignation is the latest in several leadership changes that have occurred in both the Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival organization this year. In February, festival director Geoffrey Gilmore resigned and joined the New York-based Tribeca Enterprises media group. Later that month, programming director John Cooper was named as Gilmore's successor.
Cooper's programming post has not been filled yet, though the search is on for his replacement, as well as one for Brecher. (Sundance Institute managing director Jill Miller is one possibility there.)
Cooper and Brecher will be front and center for the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, which will be held Jan. 21-31.
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