The AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs Festival has appointed Sky Sitney as artistic director. She willtake over the role immediately.

Sitney will lead the festival’s programming, strategic development, partnerships and overall artistic vision. She joined Silverdocs as director of programming in 2005.

She was previously programming director at the Newport International Film Festival and film programmer at the New York Underground Film Festival. She co-founded and curated the Fresh Film Series at the Anthology Film Archives in New York and has also held industry positions at C-Hundred Film Corp and Fine Line Features.

AFI Silver Theatre director, Ray Barry, said Sitney had a “deep knowledge and appreciation of cinema” as well as track record for spotting emerging talent.

This year’s festival is scheduled to run in the Washington DC area from June 15 - 22.