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Patrick de Bokay had opened the LA office of filmfestivals.com in 2000 Filmfestivals team sends him a warm salute and is happy to see Patrick get even closer to his festival management passion declared Bruno Chatelin from the festivals portal. Patrick and Bruno had worked together for a while when both worked for Fox theatrical arm in France.
Miami Dade College (MDC) President Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón joined the team from the Miami International Film Festival (MIFF), which is presented by Miami Dade College, to announce today that Patrick de Bokay, a film industry professional with more than 30 years of experience, will succeed Nicole Guillemet as festival director following this year’s event. The announcement was made at the Shore Club in South Beach during the news conference for the closing night film and world premiere of The Heart of the Earth. Esteemed director Nicole Guillemet, after having announced her departure last year, is concluding her fifth and final Miami International Film Festival this year.

De Bokay brings three decades of experience to MIFF with a background in both film and marketing and advertising. During his film industry career, de Bokay has held several important positions including executive director of the first Bangkok International Film Festival, director of marketing for Twentieth Century Fox Theatrical in Paris, and vice president of international marketing for Turner Pictures Worldwide Distribution based in Los Angeles
During his years at Fox and Turner, he worked on the releases of more than 100 films including Braveheart, My Cousin Vinny, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Speed. In addition, he coordinated publicity and talent tours for actors Jamie Lee Curtis, Robert Duvall, John Travolta, Andie MacDowell, William Hurt, and Angelica Huston. He also spearheaded marketing efforts for Miramax and Sony Pictures.

Most recently, de Bokay ran his own business and directed a global marketing consultancy in Los Angeles and Paris, creating an extensive network of relations with studios, producers, distributors and sales companies. Through this venue, he developed strategies to facilitate the financing, production, distribution and promotion of films.
“I am extremely pleased and honored to serve as director of the Miami International Film Festival which is renowned worldwide and has so much potential for even greater prominence,” said de Bokay. “It’s wonderful to accept a position with such a great Festival team in place and an acclaimed college, Miami Dade College, as its home.”
“I look forward to continuing the strong programming that Nicole and the team have put in place over the last several years. I also look forward to bringing the Festival even closer to the dynamic community where it resides,” added de Bokay.

De Bokay received his MBA in marketing and international business from the University of Paris IX Dauphine and has completed a doctoral program on worldwide consumer branding.

Meantime, Guillemet, who has been instrumental in joining the college in raising the international profile of the Festival, has moved to New York where she is resuming her career in film consulting with festivals, filmmakers and film productions. She has been the recipient of numerous accolades during her tenure because of her ability to propel the star-studded event into the international spotlight. The New York Times lauded her work, stating “Ms. Guillemet…can turn a small indigenous film festival into the Cannes of the Americas.”
“I am proud of what we have all accomplished in the last five years. The international reputation of the Festival, the quality of the competition categories, the Encuentros program, and the Knight Grand Jury cash awards have served to elevate MIFF to one of the best festivals in North America,” said Guillemet. “I would like to thank Dr. Eduardo Padrón and Miami Dade College for what they have done for the Festival since making MDC its home in 2004. Their support, trust, and ability to embrace the big picture are unrivaled. I wish the team and Patrick the best for the 25th Anniversary and the very best for the successful future of the Festival.”

Stated de Bokay, “I also want to thank the wonderful members of the Festival up front for all their support and assure them that together we will expand the year-round programming of this world-class event.”

During the last four years, the Festival has presented films from more than 60 countries, including hundreds of world, international, North American and US premieres, scores of Oscar winners and nominees, and many international prizewinners.

Watch the excellent video interview fromSandy Mandelberger