Introduction to James Woolley. 1:39 min. Interview: Raymond Elman. Post-Production: Lee Skye. Music: Tony Succar, Recoded via Zoom. 2/19/2025. Miami.
In 2024, JAMES WOOLLEY became the Executive Director of the Miami Film Festival.
He has worked on more than 20 large-scale film festivals throughout his career, including the Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane Film Festivals. Most recently, he was executive director of the Frameline Film Festival in San Francisco.
Woolley is committed to enhancing the festival’s international programming and furthering its reach to audiences in Miami and beyond. His experience in developing programming, marketing, and box office operations, coupled with his passion for film and the arts, positions him as an ideal leader to drive the Miami Film Festival into its next chapter.
The videos below are recorded via Zoom, organized by Success Factor, and run between 30 seconds and 2 minutes. Click on any video. You must be connected to the Internet to view the videos.
INSIGHT & INSPIRATION: 0:41 sec.
Is filmmaking the predominant art discipline in Australia?
SERENDIPITY: 0:41 sec.
Do you remember your first experience in a movie theater?
SEIZES OPPORTUNITIES: 0:57 sec.
What was your journey for embarking on a career in the film industry?
UNDERSTANDS ARTISTS’ NEEDS: 1:01 min.
Given the proliferation of film festivals, are the people engaged with making films pleasant and friendly when they slog around the world?
CRITICAL THINKING: 1:20 min.
How does Miami’s diversity impact the film festival?
UNDERSTANDS THE BUSINESS OF ART: 1:43 min.
Given the lack of tax incentives in Florida for the film industry, are you able to do anything to support and encourage young filmmakers?
UNDERSTANDS THE BUSINESS OF ART: 1:11 min.
Fundraising is one of the worst responsibilities of leading an arts organization. Are you good at it?
COLLABORATION: 0:31 sec.
I have never met anyone who doesn’t like movies.
UNDERSTANDS THE BUSINESS OF ART: 1:36 min.
Do you attend several other film festivals each year?
COLLABORATION: 1:00 min.
What is your strategy for engaging countries in Central and South America, and how fluent are you in Spanish?
CREATIVE FLEXIBILITY: 0:27 sec.
What’s your favorite movie?
CRITICAL THINKING: 1:35 min.
One of my favorite Australian films is Fred Schepisi’s “The Devil’s Playground.” He seems to be a forgotten director these days.
UNDERSTANDS THE BUSINESS OF ART: 1:06 min.
Do you have role models or mentors who have helped shape your career?
CRITICAL THINKING: 1:04 min.
Does the Miami Film Festival offer the opportunity to stream movies as well as go to theaters?
CRITICAL THINKING: 1:03 min.
For me, comedies are the most difficult genre to do well, and the most critical to view in theaters with a laughing audience.
UNDERSTANDS THE AUDIENCE’S PERSPECTIVE: 1:04 min.
What’s your 5-year plan for differentiating the Miami Film Festival from other film festivals?
