Because of the film festival's tremendous growth over the last ten years, the board decided to break up the Director's position to two jobs - a Director and Program Manager.

Board President Frank Groudnwater says they've been thinking about this for awhile.

They offered current Director Orit Schwartz the Program Manager job, but she turned it down.

"It's such a two edge sword.  We should be celebrating the festival's success, but instead we're mourning the loss of Orit.  It's a complicated situation.  We're saddened. But what's happening to Bend Film is for the best -- we're growing."

So the Bend Film Board is starting its search for a new Director, which will mainly be an administrative psoition and a program manager, which will be the more creative position.