Barbara Scharres, Artistic Director

Barbara Scharres is a film scholar, writer, and lecturer who has published feature articles in criticism in film magazines and journals, including Film Comment, American Cinematographer, Chicago Reader, Variety, The Independent, Chicago Sun-Times, and www.RogerEbert.com, an outlet for which she has contributed extensive coverage of the Cannes Film Festival for more than twenty years. After receiving an undergraduate degree in art from St. Xavier University, she was awarded a master of fine arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In 2006, the French government awarded Scharres one of its highest honors by designating her a Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Allison Hayford, Development Officer

Allison Hayford works with Festival sponsors to enrich the culture of Palm Beach County with high visibility, top-quality events. She joined the Festival after spending more than a decade as an investment analyst in New York City and Washington, DC. An active proponent of Florida arts and social welfare, Allison received her bachelor’s degree in economics from Cornell University.

A native of Palm Beach County, Glaze brings experience with two of the nation’s most significant film festivals, having assisted with coordinating and managing VIP events for the Tribeca Film Institute and having served as a festival coordinator for advancement events for the Sundance Film Institute. She received a bachelor’s degree in business media and arts management from Marymount Manhattan College in New York.