Richard Peña

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Richard Peña
Peña in 2013
Born1953 (age 70–71)
Occupation(s)Film critic, educator, and program and festival director
FamilyMarried, three children

Richard Peña (born 1953) is a Professor of Professional Practice at the Columbia University School of The Arts.[1][2] He was formerly program director of Film at Lincoln Center, organizers of the New York Film Festival and the New Directors/New Films Festival.

Early life and education

Peña is the son of Spanish and Puerto Rican parents. He was raised in New York City.[3] He earned a bachelor's degree at Harvard University and a Master's degree in film from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Career

Peña taught at the

Argentine cinema
.

In the wake of the

Muslim
world."

From 2001 to 2002, Peña was the host of

Sundance Channel's Conversations in World Cinema, on which he interviewed Harmony Korine among other filmmakers. Since 1996, he has organized together with Unifrance Film the annual "Rendez-Vous with French Cinema Today" program. He is also responsible for creating the annual New York Jewish Film Festival.[6]

Peña is a Professor of Professional Practice in the Film Department at Columbia University, where he specializes in film theory and international cinema and founded the Columbia University MA program in Film Studies: History, Theory and Criticism (HTC). He resigned from his posts as the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Program Director (after 25 years)[6] and as the head of the NYFF Selection Committee[1] and as of 2012 was to be organizing a new educational initiative for the film society.[7]

Honors

He was honored at the 2013 Jerusalem Film Festival and held a discussion with Mohsen Makhmalbaf after the screening of The Gardener about the power of cinema.[8]

Personal life

He resides in his hometown, New York City, with his wife. He has three children.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Rohter, Larry (16 October 2011). "Film Society Director to Step Down". The New York Times.
  2. ^ "Richard Peña". arts.columbia.edu. Columbia University School of the Arts.
  3. ^
    Village Voice
    . Retrieved 9 October 2010.
  4. ^ Feinberg, Scott (27 September 2012). "New York Film Fest Director Richard Pena on 50th Edition, Decision to Step Down". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
  5. ^ Dargis, Manohla; Scott, A. O. "New York Film Festival". The New York Times.
  6. ^ a b Robinson, George (September 11, 2012). "Film Fest Titan's Farewell". thejewishweek.com. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  7. ^ Lee, Felicia R. (14 September 2012). "ARTSBEAT; A New Double Bill For the Film Society". The New York Times.
  8. ^ Brown, Hannah (June 27, 2013). "The Jerusalem Film Festival turns 30". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved February 9, 2022 – via jpost.com.