The American Film Institute Taps Capitol Hill Veteran Jennifer Hoelzer to
Lead Organization’s Communications Efforts
LOS ANGELES, CA, June 18, 2012 – Concluding its coast-to-coast search, the American Film Institute (AFI) announced that Jennifer Hoelzer will be joining AFI effective July 16 as Vice President, Communications where she will be responsible for developing and executing AFI’s communications strategy and messaging and act as “the voice” of the American Film Institute across the nation – from the Hollywood community to the offices in Washington, DC to the movie enthusiasts in cities throughout the U.S.
A strategic communicator, Hoelzer has more than a decade of experience influencing national policy debates for elected members of Congress, including the last six years as Communications Director and Deputy Chief of Staff for U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), where she worked on issues ranging from health reform to national security to tax, energy and internet policy.
At AFI, Hoelzer will manage the Institute’s press and public relations activities while crafting messaging that underscores AFI’s mission “to preserve the history of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers.”
“Our goal was to find someone who could articulate the relevance of the moving image arts to the nation and the world, and we believe we have found that voice in Jen,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. “She loves the movies, and her fresh perspective and extensive communications experience is precisely what the American Film Institute needs to remind us all that the movies matter.”
“While working for Senator Wyden has been a rare honor, working for AFI is literally a dream come true,” said Hoelzer. There is much to communicate about the relevance of the motion picture and AFI’s important role in preserving the heritage of film and honoring and educating the artists working in the film and television community. It is hard to imagine another organization filled with more talented and dedicated people than AFI. My job will be to make the world aware of the great work being done at AFI – and convey why the movies are important.”
Before working for Wyden, Hoelzer held multiple communications positions, serving two members of the House of Representatives and the National Security Council’s Office of Press and Communications in the Clinton White House. She holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University. She is originally from Stow, Ohio.
About the American Film Institute
AFI is America’s promise to preserve the history of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers. AFI provides leadership in film, television and digital media and is dedicated to initiatives that engage the past, the present and the future of the moving image arts.
AFI preserves the legacy of America’s film heritage for future generations through the AFI Archive, comprised of rare footage from across the history of the moving image and the AFI Catalog of Feature Films, an authoritative record of American films from 1893 to the present.
AFI honors the artists and their work through a variety of annual programs and special events, including the AFI Life Achievement Award and AFI Awards. Celebrating its 40th year in 2012, the AFI Life Achievement Award has remained the highest honor for a career in film while AFI Awards, the Institute’s almanac for the 21st century, honors the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year. AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies television events and movie reference lists have introduced and reintroduced classic American movies to millions of film lovers. And as the largest nonprofit exhibitor in the United States, AFI offers film enthusiasts a variety of events throughout the year, including AFI Fest presented by Audi, the Institute’s annual celebration of excellence in global cinema; AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs, the largest documentary festival in the U.S., celebrating its 10th edition this year; and year-round programming at the AFI Silver Theatre in the Washington, DC area.
AFI educates the next generation of storytellers at its world-renowned AFI Conservatory, named the #1 film school in the world by The Hollywood Reporter for the quality of its instructors and speakers, and its “glittering parade of alumni.” AFI Conservatory offers a two-year Master of Fine Arts degree in six filmmaking disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting. Aspiring artists learn from the masters in a collaborative, hands-on production environment with an emphasis on storytelling.
For more information about AFI, visit AFI.com or connect with AFI at twitter.com/AmericanFilm, facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute and youtube.com/AFI.
Contact:
Jessica Smith - American Film Institute
jsmith@AFI.com or 323.856.7766