The Film Festival Alliance (FFA) has announced the appointment of Mallory Martin as its new executive director, with her tenure officially beginning on March 9. Martin brings 15-plus years of film festival leadership and sector advocacy to the FFA, which connects over 300 festivals and industry professionals across North America and the U.K.
Martin most recently served as the artistic director of longtime FFA member CIFF (Cleveland International Film Festival), a position she held from 2020-2025. During her leadership, she helped guide the organization through post-pandemic recovery, oversaw a strategic venue transition, and worked alongside partners to secure sponsorships, grants, and donations, supporting a programming slate of around 300 screenings annually. Before stepping into the artistic director role, Martin served as director of programming and projection, where she built and led filmmaker support programs, cultivated distributor relationships, and developed long-range community engagement strategies.
“Mallory Martin is a leader who embodies the spirit and purpose of Film Festival Alliance. She is deeply respected across the festival community, understands both the artistic and operational realities our members face, and shares FFA’s belief that collaboration and advocacy are essential to the future of independent exhibition. We are confident she will be a unifying and strategic leader for our membership and for the field. We are thrilled to welcome her as FFA’s next Executive Director,” said Karen Cardarelli, Board President, Film Festival Alliance.
Throughout her career, Martin has demonstrated a commitment to independent film and social impact. In 2020, she co-founded rePRO Film, the first film organization dedicated to reproductive justice, supporting films and filmmakers at the intersection of cinema and advocacy. A respected voice in the industry, Martin has participated in juries and panels at events including the Independent Film Exhibition Conference, The Gotham Week, New Orleans Film Festival, Milwaukee Film Festival, Denver Film Festival, Heartland International Film Festival, and more, and was named to The Cleveland 500’s Leadership in Action list in 2024.
“I am truly honored and energized to step into the role of Executive Director of Film Festival Alliance at such a transformative time for our field. Festivals are at the heart of the independent film ecosystem, and together, we can ensure they thrive in this dynamic landscape. My vision is to ensure every member festival, no matter its size, knows that FFA is indispensable to their success: a home base for advocacy, education, and meaningful connection. I’m excited to listen, to engage directly with our membership, and to build on the strong foundation already in place so that together we can amplify our collective voice and strengthen the field we all care so much about. Film festivals bring us together through story; Film Festival Alliance brings together the people who make that possible, and I am honored to lead this community,” said Mallory Martin.
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