Carl Spence has been namedartistic director of the Seattle International Film Festival Group (SIFF) aspart of an organisational restructure that replaces the role of executivedirector with the equal roles of artistic director and managing director.

The restructure follows thedeparture of Helen Loveridge who resigned from her post as executive directorin July to return to her native England. Loveridge had been executive director since 2003.

Spence, who previouslyserved as SIFF's director of programming, will be responsible for conceivingand realising the artistic vision of the organisation.

The SIFF Board is currentlysearching for its managing director, who will oversee the organisation'sday-to-day business. Former board president and Platinum Lifetime memberDeborah Person is currently filling in as interim managing director.

Spence joined SIFF in 1994as festival programmer. Following a stint as director of programming at the SanFrancisco International Film Festival, he returned to SIFF as director ofprogramming in 2003. He is also director of programming at the Palm SpringsFilm Festival.

The 32nd SeattleInternational Film Festival is scheduled to run from May 18-June 11, 2006.