Former Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) Executive Director Michelle Byrd has been named as the Managing Director of PGA East, ScreenDaily reports. She’ll oversee operations from the New York office and report to PGA National Executive Director/COO Vance Van Petten and PGA Associate National Executive Director/COO Susan Spring, both of whom are LA-based.
Byrd has more than 15 years of experience supporting prominent nonprofit media organizations. She most recently ran Run It By Byrd, her own consulting practice. Since launching in 2013, Run It By Byrd has provided services to Ghetto Film School, Green Beetz, and Museum Of The Moving Image. Byrd is perhaps best known for serving as Executive Director for IFP from 1997 to 2009. She “helped to establish programming and partnerships, including a collaboration with the United Nations, and re-positioned IFP’s Gotham Awards into awards season,” ScreenDaily writes. Her employment history also includes serving as Co-President of Games for Change, a role she held from 2010 to 2013. The org is dedicated to creating and distributing games with a social impact.
In 2010 Byrd received Chicken & Egg Picture’s Good Egg Award for Distinguished Leadership. She’s also been honored with the “Made in New York Award” from NYC’s Mayor. Byrd sits on the Board of the Adrienne Shelly Foundation, which supports female filmmakers. She will start her new role May 8.
