The San Francisco film world, and the film world at large, was shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Bingham Ray, the head of the San Francisco Film Society and a longtime champion of independent film. Ray accepted the job as executive director in October 2011, following the death of director Graham Leggat, who died of cancer in August. Ray suffered a series of strokes while in Utah attending the Sundance Film Festival and died at 57 on Jan 23.

Melanie Blum, SFFS board member and former board president, will act as interim director while the organization seeks a replacement, according to a story in the San Francisco Chronicle published Feb. 7. 

In the meantime, SFFS is forging ahead with programming. The 55th San Francisco International Film Festival opens April 19.