Andrew Rodgershas been named director of the RiverRun International Film Festival and willoversee all aspects of the event including programming, strategy, budgets,fundraising, and marketing and publicity.

Rodgers, afestival veteran who began his career as a staff writer on the Chicago Tribune,will relocate to North Carolina in August in preparation for the 2006 festival.He reports to RiverRun executive director Dale Pollock.

He worked as astrategic consultant at this year's incarnation of RiverRun and has heldvarious publicity and marketing positions at Sundance and the ChicagoInternational Film Festival, among others.

"I believe that if we simplycontinue to play to the festival's strengths and bring in the best moviespossible, RiverRun will grow naturally and become one of the country's premiereinternational film festivals." Rodgers added.