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Isle film festival
board votes out
its director
Gaines led the organization to
By Tim Ryan
solvency and wide acclaim
Star-Bulletin
Christian Gaines, who guided the Hawaii International Film Festival to financial solvency, artistic credibility and international prominence, has been voted out as its director.
Gaines declined comment, as did many of the festival's 24 board members, on his ouster Monday night at a closed, four-hour meeting at the office of the board president, attorney Jeff Portnoy.
The vote on Gaines, who had no contract with the festival, was by secret ballot, Portnoy confirmed.
Gaines, who earns about $80,000 a year, was not allowed to speak during the meeting, a source said.
A majority of the board apparently believed that the organization needed to be "overhauled," despite its praise from producers, directors and film critics.
Gaines had to go because conflict between him and at least one board member and two festival staffers could not be resolved, the source said.
Portnoy and two directors informed Gaines of the vote and said they were prepared to negotiate a severance settlement. Gaines is expected to submit a severance offer this week.
Board members Mike Rosenberg, KITV-4 general manager, and attorney Mark Davis, who both attended Monday's board meeting, declined comment about Gaines' resignation, referring questions to Portnoy.
Portnoy, festival president for two years, declined comment on the vote but said,"I have very strong feelings about the good work Christian has done with the festival, but things happen and I want it to be as positive as can be for him and the festival."
He said the search for a new director will begin immediately. "We hope to have someone in place within 30 days."
Varkey James, membership director and education coordinator, has been named acting director.
Portnoy said that Gaines "moved the festival to a new level ... expanded the range and breadth of films, brought in the American independents and late-night kinds of film element, which all have broadened the festival.
"Yet he's been able to maintain the cross-cultural commitment of the festival to the Pacific region."
One of Gaines' moves was to introduce an admission charge to what had been a free festival. That was done without loss of audience or major controversy, and raised much-needed funds to make up for the loss of government funding.
"This alone was an extraordinary and incredible accomplishment," Portnoy said.
