Richard Herskowitz

Artistic Director

The Houston Cinema Arts Society artistic director and Festival curator is a nationally renowned film programmer who brings expertise and a strong vision to the organization.  Before joining HCAS, Richard Herskowitz served as director of the Virginia Film Festival from 1994 through 2008.  Among the hundreds of featured artists he recruited during his tenure were Anthony Hopkins, Vanessa Redgrave, John Sayles, Morgan Freeman, Lynn Hershman, Sydney Pollack, Pierre Huyghe, George Kuchar, William Styron, and Guillermo Arriaga.

Previously, Herskowitz directed the Cornell Cinema program, one of the country’s best-known media art centers, for twelve years. He also served as adjunct curator for film and video at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, where he organized art exhibitions by Derek Jarman, Joan Jonas, Bruce and Norman Yonemoto, among other artists.  Herskowitz has been trustee and president of the legendary Robert Flaherty Film Seminar and was chair of its 50th Anniversary Committee. He received a Master of Arts in film studies from the University of Wisconsin in 1978 and has taught, written and lectured extensively on contemporary independent film.