EXCLUSIVE: Oscar-nominated producer and longtime production executive Richard N. Gladstein has been appointed Executive Director of the Hamptons Film Festival. Gladstein will report to HamptonsFilm Co-Chairs Alec Baldwin and Randy Mastro. David Nugent has also been elevated to Chief Creative Officer of HamptonsFilm and will report to Gladstein. Originally hatched to extend the summer Hamptons season, the festival has been something of a sleepy gem among the big three awards-season kickoff festivals Telluride, Venice and Toronto. Gladstein’s challenge will be to raise the festival’s profile with splashy premieres and programming.
Gladstein will use his relationships to lead HamptonsFilm and the Hamptons International Film Fest, overseeing strategic planning while creating year-round artistic offerings. He will work closely with the Board of Directors, artistic leadership, and staff to deepen community engagement, expand industry partnerships and sponsorship, and grow the impact and visibility of the annual festival in October. Beyond the festival, Gladstein will focus on extending the organization’s reach in the Hamptons throughout the year.
Gladstein most recently served as Executive Director of Brooklyn College’s Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema. He is the President and Founder of the production company FilmColony, and has been twice Oscar nominated as producer for The Cider House Rules and Finding Neverland. Gladstein has produced more than 30 films, including The Hateful Eight, The Bourne Identity, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Jackie Brown, Hurlyburly and She’s All That.
He previously served as Dean at the AFI Conservatory, Executive Vice President & Head of Production at Miramax Films, and Vice President of Production & Acquisitions at LIVE Entertainment. Gladstein served on the PGA’s Board of Directors for eight years. In addition, he has frequently served as a juror for many festivals and awards organizations, including The Gotham Awards.
“The organization and the festival have long been a bright cultural center for the East End community, the industry, and for filmmakers and audiences across the globe, as an organization that champions bold and diverse storytelling,” Gladstein said. “I look forward to helping build on that legacy, working with the team, the board, our partners and sponsors, and the broader film community.”
Said HamptonsFilm co-chairs Baldwin and Mastro: “We are delighted to welcome Richard as our new Executive Director. His vision, leadership, and deep commitment to the power of film and entertainment will be instrumental in guiding our organization into its next chapter. We’re confident that under his direction, we will continue to grow our impact, elevate new voices, and strengthen our connection with the community.”
As for the promotion of Nugent, he has had a long tenure with the festival. Nugent first joined in 2007, rising from Director of Programming to Artistic Director, a role he has held since 2012. In addition to curating films, he has led the development of year-round programming with the SummerDocs Series, Screenwriters Labs and the expansion of the festival to eleven days in length. During his time at HamptonsFilm, Nugent oversaw an 11-year stretch during which HIFF screened the eventual Best Picture winner each year, the only festival in the world with such a distinction.
“It’s been a privilege to shape our artistic vision at HamptonsFilm, and I’m excited to continue that work with an even broader creative mandate,” said Nugent. “I look forward to stepping into this new role at such a transformative time for the organization and working with Richard, whose leadership and passion for film is inspiring.”
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