Ted Hope is stepping down after 14 months as executive director of the San Francisco Film Society (SFFS) in the latest personnel blow to befall the organisation after announcing that his passion is “more entrepreneurial.”

Hope, the co-founder of This Is That whose producer credits include American Splendor, Happiness and The Ice Storm, had been a busy advocate for the Society since he relocated from New York 14 months ago.

He assumed the role in August 2012 as successor to Bingham Ray, whose short-lived tenure as executive director ended when he died from stroke in January 2012 at the Sundance Film Festival. Prior to Ray, Graham Leggat had held the post for five-and-a-half years until his death from cancer in August 2011.

In a statement issued on Wednesday (October 9) Hope said: “When I came to San Francisco after producing so many films, it surprised some that I wanted to lead a non-profit organisation.

“Over the past 14 months I’ve come to realise that as much as I fully embrace the mission of the Film Society, my passion is more entrepreneurial. We accomplished a great deal at SFFS over the last year, and the same fantastic team that initially drew me to the Bay Area is still in place to drive the organisation well into the future.

“Vanessa and I plan to stay in the Bay Area and I look forward to staying involved in an advisory role and collaborating with the Film Society in our film-related activities.”

Hope will continue in the role until December 31 while the organisation searches for a successor. He has joined the advisory board to “assist in guiding the Film Society into the future in a new capacity.”

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