Los Angeles Film
Festival Director Resigns Over Prop. 8

Film Independent announced Tuesday that it had accepted Richard Raddon's resignation as director of the Los Angeles Film Festival, a title he has held since 2000. On November 14, blogger David Poland reported on his Hot Blog, hosted by Movie City News, that Raddon had personally donated $1,500 to the Yes on 8 campaign, in support of the ballot measure to ban same-sex marriage in California, which sparked some controversy.

According to Poland, Raddon actually submitted his resignation that day, but Film Independent's board chose not to accept it. Instead, board members met as a group to decide what to do next.

Raddon issued the following statement today:

"I feel honored to have worked with such a wonderful group of people at the Los Angeles Film Festival over the last nine years. I am proud of our accomplishments. And I am proud to have worked at Film Independent, an organization whose principles and values of diversity and artistic integrity I cherish. I have always held the belief that all people, no matter race, religion, or sexual orientation, are entitled to equal rights. As many know, I consider myself a devout and faithful Mormon. I prefer to keep the details around my contribution through my church a private matter. But I am profoundly sorry for the negative attention that my actions have drawn to Film Independent and for the hurt and pain that is being experienced in the GLBT community."

The board of Film Independent countered with a statement of its own.

"With great reluctance, Film Independent has accepted Richard Raddon's resignation as Director of the Los Angeles Film Festival. Rich's service to the independent film community and to Film Independent has been nothing less than extraordinary. He has always shown complete commitment to our core principles of equality and diversity during his long tenure. It was through his leadership that the Los Angeles Film Festival has grown into a formidable and exciting showcase for talented artists and diverse voices. We are sorry to see him go."

The Los Angeles Film Festival is one of the many divisions of Film Independent, a nonprofit film organization that also hosts the Independent Spirit Awards

Raddon has always been open about being a devoted member of the Mormon Church and is the producer of a number of independent films, including the Lili Taylor-Guy Pearce movie A Slipping-Down Life. (The Advocate)