The programme director of the Dublin Film Festival, Ms Maretta Dillon, has resigned her position, citing "irreconcilable differences". Her resignation is a major blow to the festival at a time when the event has been dealing with crucial venue changes and suffering from declining attendances.
Ms Dillon was appointed programme director in October. "I reached my decision in this regard reluctantly and with considerable regret," she told The Irish Times yesterday, "but was unable to support the way in which issues surrounding sponsorship and a proposed marketing/ liaison executive had been handled over recent months. Consequent organisational structures and strategies are, in my opinion, unworkable." She declined to be more specific about these "organisational structures".
The festival's chairman, Mr Louis Clohessy, said yesterday he was not in a position to comment on Ms Dillon's resignation. "It would not be appropriate for me to comment at this stage, before we have a board meeting." He expects the festival's board of directors to meet to discuss the matter "in the next few days".
Two board members who had been with the festival since it was founded in 1985 resigned in July - the solicitor, Mr James Hickey, who is also chairman of the Abbey Theatre board, and the film producer, Mr David Collins. Another board member, Mr Alan Robinson, resigned last Friday. "I no longer feel confident that the company is being managed in the best interests of the Dublin Film Festival," Mr Robinson told The Irish Times yesterday.