Dawn Hudson

Dawn Hudson has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 2011. Dawn Hudson was the Executive Director of Film Independent (formerly IFP/Los Angeles) since 1991. Under her leadership, Film Independent has grown seven-fold, from a 900-member organization to its current membership of 5,000. Revenues have also increased an average of 25% per year. Film Independent is dedicated to cultivating the careers of independent filmmakers, increasing the audience for independent films, and increasing diversity within the film industry. In 2001, Film Independent acquired the Los Angeles Film Festival, now the largest film festival in Southern California, with attendance of more than 80,000. The Los Angeles Film Festival and the 25-year-old Spirit Awards remain Film Independent's two signature events. The organization also produces 250 educational and screening events annually. Prior to Film Independent, Hudson was Editor-in-chief of St Louis magazine and a freelance magazine writer. She received her B.A. from Harvard University, and did graduate work in political science at the Institut des Etudes Politiques in Grenoble, France, and at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Hudson serves on the Advisory Board of the Latino Entertainment Media Institute.