S.F. film pioneer Graham Leggat dies at 51

LeggatGraham Leggat, executive director from the Bay Area Film Society, died at his Bay Area home on Thursday after an 18-month fight with cancer. He was 51."For pretty much six exciting and major years, Graham Leggat brought the Bay Area Film Society with irrepressible determination, dash and design," stated Pat McBaine, leader from the Film Society's board of company directors. "His vision, leadership, passion, work ethic, tenacity, imagination and daring together with his colorful language and wicked Scottish spontaneity have indelibly marked our company having a valuable legacy and left it within the best shape -- creatively, organizationally and financially -- in the 54-year history."Leggat was hired executive director from the Film Society in 2005. Throughout his 5 years, employees increased from 11 to 35 and also the operating budget was broadened from $two million to $six million and was balanced every year.He started your temporary job in the New You are able to Film Festival in 1994, then executive positions in the American Museum from the Moving Image, the Museum of contemporary Art and also the Film Society of Lincoln subsequently Center. Leggat offered about the boards of Media Alliance and also the Association of Independent Film and Videomakers, would be a programmer in the New You are able to Video Festival and also the Shorts Worldwide Film Festival, and assisted found the Gen Art Film Festival. He was the connect writer of Film Comment magazine, adding editor for Filmmaker magazine and writer for that New You are able to Daily News.In the 2009 Worldwide Film Festival Summit, Leggat received the Director Excellence Award, given to the film festival director that has made considerable contributions along with a lasting effect on his/her film festival and independent film, by having an focus on festival growth, new programs, business structure and overall vision.At the begining of 2011 in france they consul general in Bay Area, Romain Serman, made Leggat a Chevalier p l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, an recognition granted through the French Minister of Culture, in recognition of his significant support of cinema. Leggat is made it by his parents Graham and Marilyn of Niagara Falls, Canada, boy William and kids Vhary and Isabelle, sister Alexandra Leggat of Toronto, partner Diana Chiawen Lee, former wife Ellen Hughes, mother of his kids and former wife Lillian Heard, mother of his boy.Instead of flowers, donations in Leggat's memory might be designed to the Bay Area Film Society. A memorial service, available to the general public, is planned for late September. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com