A/perture Cinema welcomes a new executive director

Winston-Salem’s a/perture Cinema is under new leadership. The board of directors has named Leigh Dyer as its executive director.

She replaces Lawren Desai, who started the theater dedicated to art house films in 2010, and recently announced her voluntary resignation.

In September, a/perture launched a fundraising campaign, warning that the theater could close if its goal was not met by the new year.

Dyer has experience as a leader at several visual arts nonprofits, including the Mint Museum in Charlotte and the GreenHill Center for North Carolina Art in Greensboro.

Film fans can meet Dyer at a free screening of Casablanca on December 18.

WFDD's Neal Charnoff spoke with Leigh Dyer about her background and plans for the theater. 

Interview highlights: 

On a/perture's fundraising efforts:

"I have been assured the community's response is extremely generous, and that the model is viable based on what we've seen so far, and we are going to seek community support to make sure we can make this art form accessible to the Triad."

On her love of film:

"I've actually been going to film festivals for a long time, probably more than two decades, since the late 90s, early 2000s when a relative of mine moved to Park City, Utah, and invited me to the Sundance Film Festival, and I fell in love with independent film. I love a good popcorn blockbuster as much as the next person, but I really love these smaller, more intimate, personal stories being told through this art form."

On addressing filmgoers' changing habits:

"I'm here to ... get the word out a little better, make sure people know about these special programming opportunities that you can only get at a/perture and you can't stream at home in your living room."

On upgrading the theater's infrastructure:

"There hasn't really been a significant physical upgrade in the entire 15 years that a/perture has existed. I do think that some facility upgrades are in order ... there is some groundwork being laid."