Posted by Larry Gleeson
The California Film Institute (CAFILM) just named Rose Kuo as Artistic Director, a newly created leadership position established earlier this year to guide the organization’s artistic vision and ensure a seamless program leadership transition in the years ahead.
Kuo is an internationally recognized leader in cinematic arts with a broad background in film festival programming and curatorial work. She previously served as Executive Director of the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the New York Film Festival, was Publisher of Film Comment magazine, and held the position of Artistic Director at AFI FEST (AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival).
At her previous stops, Kuo has developed a reputation as an innovator and risk taker. Notable highlights included Kuo being the architect of AFI FEST’s free festivals, which was the first time a film festival of that size had offered free tickets to film screenings. At Film Society of Lincoln Center (now called Film at Lincoln Center), she instituted a requirement for the gala selections to be world premiere screenings, which instantly upped the ante for the film festival to have more press relevance. In addition, she added a ”secret screening”, which also heightened the anticipation for the film festival to a level it hadn’t seen for decades. Finally, she stewarded FSLC’s Filmmaker in Residence program, which brought an acclaimed up-and-coming filmmaker to NYC to assist developing their next film project.
In her new role, Kuo will oversee the artistic and curatorial direction of CAFILM’s acclaimed programs, including the Mill Valley Film Festival, DocLands Documentary Film Festival, the Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael, the Sequoia Cinema in Mill Valley, and CAFILM Education initiatives.
“Rose brings a remarkable combination of international experience, artistic vision, and deep commitment to the cinematic arts,” said Mark Fishkin, CAFILM Founder and Executive Director. “Her leadership will ensure that CAFILM continues to champion independent voices, engage audiences, and inspire the next generation of filmmakers.”
Most recently, Kuo founded FESTWORKS, a film consultancy organization, where she has advised major studios on global festival strategies and collaborated with nonprofit cinema arts groups to strengthen their programming and audience engagement.
Earlier in her career, Kuo worked as a programmer and curator for leading film festivals and cultural institutions, including the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the San Francisco International Film Festival, and the Mill Valley Film Festival — a return that underscores her deep connection to CAFILM’s mission.
CAFILM announced earlier this year that longtime Mill Valley Film Festival Program Director Zoe Elton will transition to a new part-time curatorial role after leading the 48th Mill Valley Film Festival, scheduled for October 2-12, 2025. CAFILM stated that Kuo and Elton will work together to ensure a smooth transition of the festival’s curatorial responsibilities, maintaining the quality of films and patron experiences, including the Mind the Gap gender equity initiative that Elton championed ten years ago.
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