Exclusive:
Just hearing from sources that the Hamptons Film Festival may have a problem.
Richard Gladstein, named as Executive Director in mid July, may be leaving the post already.
Gladstein has always been a mensch in the film business, either producing the great Lasse Hallstrom movies like “Chocolat” and “Cider House Rules,” or being named Dean of the American Film Institute.
Other hits he worked on during his time at Miramax in its heyday were
“Jackie Brown,” “Pulp Fiction,” “Reservoir Dogs,” plus “Finding Neverland.” Not bad!
No one has confirmed the news definitely, but the rumblings on the grapevine are loud. The Hamptons Fest begins October 4th and they’ve already announced their opening and spotlight films.
Gladstein had succeeded Anne Chaisson, who’d been Executive Director from 2012-2024 but had been on the advisory board for a decade earlier.
Film festivals are tricky to run. The executives are locked into a physical location often not where they live, and boards, etc are entrenched. The Hamptons Fest has really built up its reputation over the years as a top notch launching pad for indie films, but it’s still three hours from New York on a one-lane highway. (Also, hamburgers cost around 25 bucks!)
The face of HIFF remains David Nugent, who became Chief Creative Officer in July. Nugent has had a long tenure with the festival, joining the team in 2007 and expanding from Director of Programming to the organization’s Artistic Director, a role he has held since 2012.
Whatever happens, HIFF will go on and so will Gladstein, to big things.
Kumbaya!
