Cleveland Film Festival Names New Board Leadership
The appointment follows a $700,981 deficit and comes as the event works to stabilize its operating model.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in People
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Peter Lawson Jones has been appointed board chair of the Cleveland International Film Festival, with Cigdem Slankard named as vice chair. This leadership change follows a period of significant financial restructuring as the organization attempts to reverse a $700,981 deficit.
Why it matters
The festival is navigating a challenging fiscal transition, with expenses climbing 63% and revenue falling 17% since 2021. New leadership must now address these mounting pressures and stabilize operations following the closure of the festival's physical office space.
The festival reported a $700,981 deficit in 2025 compared to a $750,979 profit in 2021. Over that same period, organizational expenses rose 63% while total revenue declined by 17%.
The players
Peter Lawson Jones
An attorney and former public official who has served on the film festival board for 18 months.
Cigdem Slankard
An artist and documentary filmmaker who connects with diverse communities through global storytelling.
Paul Sloop
The current director of programming and operations tasked with managing the festival's event logistics.
Joe Marinucci
The outgoing board chair who led the organization's governance starting in 2024.
The details
The board election aims to steer the organization through a period of internal turnover and venue transitions. Recent operational shifts include closing the permanent office space on West 25th Street and adopting a split-venue format at the Cedar Lee Theatre for the festival's 50th iteration. Management is also working to boost attendance numbers after a period of stagnation.
Timeline
1977: The festival began operations at the Cedar Lee Theatre.
2021: The organization recorded a profit of $750,979.
July 2026: Paul Sloop was promoted to director of programming and operations.
November 2026: The organization plans to release details of a new strategic plan.
Market Landscape
The current restructuring marks a significant departure from the festival's historical residency at Tower City, which previously supported attendance of 100,000. These changes reflect an ongoing effort to adapt to the venue-split model after years of financial volatility.
Operators should monitor the upcoming strategic plan release for indicators of how the festival will manage its overhead. Tracking the pivot back to a multi-venue format next year will provide a key signal regarding the organization's ability to drive attendance back toward historical levels.
The takeaway
The festival's transition highlights the difficulty of scaling operations amid shifting venue logistics and rising costs. Business leaders should watch for the upcoming strategic plan to see how the organization attempts to leverage new community partnerships to restore financial stability.
What happens next
The organization expects to release its new strategic plan in November 2026.
Further reading
For more background on leadership shifts in the city, visit People.
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