Sydney Film Festival appoints Frances Wallace as its new Chief Executive

Sydney Film Festival has appointed global arts leader, Frances Wallace as its new Chief Executive following an extremely competitive recruitment process.

Wallace has worked in film festivals and cultural organisations in Melbourne, San Francisco and New York and will be returning to Australia after 20 years offshore, including six years spent as Executive Director of San Francisco's Frameline film festival.

Wallace is a globally recognised non-profit film and cultural leader with 25+ years of experience engaged in large scale festivals and event producing.  She is renowned for being an optimistic builder, visionary and creative strategist.  Her most recent position was as Executive Director of Frameline, the world’s largest film non-profit solely dedicated to expanding social justice and cultural strategy through LGBTQ+ media across the US. 

In the pandemic, Wallace trained as a leadership coach and has guided leaders in non-profit film, working towards creating more equitable models of growth and sustainability, in these challenging times. 

She was awarded a Certificate of Honour by the Board of Supervisors of the City of San Francisco for her outstanding contribution to the culture of the city and served for six years on the Board of the Ninth Street Independent Film Centre, San Francisco.

Sydney Film Festival Chair Deanne Weir notes “we are delighted to welcome a leader of Frances's calibre to the Sydney Film Festival team. Frances has presented the Board with an exciting and energetic vision of future opportunities for the organisation. The combination of Frances, plus our internationally admired Festival Director Nashen Moodley, leading a passionate and dedicated SFF team, will allow us to deliver a compelling 70th Festival in 2023 and build an exciting future in the years ahead."

Wallace enthused “I am beyond thrilled to join the prestigious Sydney Film Festival as CEO and co-lead alongside the esteemed Festival Director Nashen Moodley. My 20+ years of experience in the US has continued to expand my vibrant, builder perspective and I’m excited to bring this energy home and collaborate with the SFF team. I strongly believe in the power of film festivals, especially in these challenging times, to build communities and ignite discussions that broaden the audience’s perspective. It is certainly my honour to be named to this post, especially on the advent of SFF’s 70th edition.”

Nashen Moodley added “It is a great pleasure to welcome the distinguished Frances Wallace to the Sydney Film Festival team. Frances’ established leadership qualities, experience and innovative ideas make her the ideal CEO as SFF embarks on its landmark 70th edition and beyond. All of the SFF team warmly welcomes Frances, and so looks forward to working with her.”

Wallace will commence her role on Tuesday 4th October. Weir also expressed the Board’s sincere thanks to Nashen Moodley for his commitment as Acting Chief Executive since March.

Jane Bridge and Dean Hassall of Johnson Partners assisted with the Chief Executive search.

The Sydney Film Festival will celebrate its 70th birthday from 7th to 18th June 2023, offering Sydneysiders another exciting season of cinema amidst a whirlwind of premieres, red-carpet openings, in-depth discussions, film guests and more.  

Sydney Film Festival is a major event on the New South Wales cultural calendar and is one of the world’s longest-running film festivals.