Tabitha Jackson Named New Director of NYC’s Film Forum
Film Forum, a nonprofit cinema located in downtown Manhattan, has appointed industry veteran Tabitha Jackson as its new director, effective February 23. Jackson, who previously led the Sundance Film Festival, brings over 30 years of experience in independent and nonprofit media from both the United States and her native England.
Jackson was appointed director of the Sundance Film Festival in 2020, where she successfully navigated the event through the challenges of the global pandemic. Under her leadership, Sundance transitioned to fully digital formats for two consecutive festivals, tripling its audience, establishing partnerships with independent arthouse cinemas, and enhancing accessibility for historically underrepresented communities. She joined the Sundance Institute in 2013, initially serving as head of the Documentary Film Program.
Her career began with roles as a researcher, producer, and director at the BBC before moving to Channel 4, where she served as a Commissioning Editor for Arts and Performance and Animation, as well as an Executive Producer at Film4. Most recently, Jackson has held research fellowships with institutions such as the MIT Open Documentary Lab and the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as a residency at the Rockefeller Foundation.
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In 2022, she co-created the podcast *The Film That Blew My Mind* alongside former Sundance Festival head John Cooper.
Jackson is also a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and has served three terms on the Documentary Branch Executive Committee.
“Independent nonprofit arthouse cinema — those four words distill everything I’ve championed throughout my career. That they also describe Film Forum, my local movie theater, makes this appointment feel like coming home,” Jackson remarked. “For 56 years, Film Forum has built a national and international reputation for bold curation, unparalleled repertory programming, fiercely loyal audiences — and legendary banana bread. It is an honor to step into the world built by my predecessors Karen Cooper and Sonya Chung, Artistic Directors Bruce Goldstein and Mike Maggiore, Managing Director Chad Bolton, and the rest of the incredible Film Forum staff and board.”
Jackson succeeds Karen Cooper, who led Film Forum for 50 years and departed in 2023, with Chung, then Deputy Director, stepping in temporarily until her exit at the end of 2025. Jackson’s appointment follows a national search spearheaded by board chair Gray Coleman.
Founded in 1970, Film Forum aims to present the New York City theatrical premieres of a diverse range of new independent documentaries and narrative features, guided by Premieres Artistic Director Mike Maggiore. The repertory program, launched in 1986 by Bruce Goldstein, showcases classic restorations, festivals, and special events, including the popular Film Forum Jr. series for children. With approximately 225,000 annual admissions, Film Forum showcases 400-500 films each year, both domestic and international, along with over 200 live events.
