Dylan Skolnick is returning as Director of the Cinema Arts Centre following protests and boycotts over his firing.
In a post announcing Skolnick’s reinstatement, the Long Island cultural institution said that its board of directors had sat down for a series of meetings with an independent mediator. “Those discussions have resulted in an agreement to move forward together, and we are pleased to welcome Dylan back to the Cinema,” the announcement read.
In September, Skolnick was ousted by the CAC board of directors for “serious misconduct.” In justifying the move, the organization slammed Skolnick as a “dysfunctional” and “disloyal” manager whose freelance work as a film buyer for other indie cinemas was a conflict of interest. Skolnick and his supporters countered that the CAC board was experiencing a “hostile takeover” and said that his moonlighting as a film buyer was common practice in the business. Skolnick said he had informed an earlier iteration of the board of his work, but conceded that the current leadership was unaware of his side gig.
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Skolnick had deep ties to the institution, which his parents had founded in Huntington, New York more than 50 years ago, as well as strong connections to the wider filmmaking world. Major figures such as Edie Falco, Kent Jones, and Isabella Rossellini leapt to his support, while donations to the CAC dried up, and box office receipts cratered, IndieWire reported last month.
The CAC said that as part of Skolnick’s reinstatement, a new co-director will be hired in the coming months to help lead the organization and its board will invite several new members, “including individuals with backgrounds and experience in the film world.” Skolnick and his fellow co-director and and the CAC board will “undergo additional training focused on effective governance, leadership, accountability and fostering a positive workplace culture.”
In a statement, the CAC leadership acknowledged the fissures created by Skolnick’s ouster, as well as the need to repair relationships and address the non-profit’s financial challenges.
“We want to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who spoke up, showed their support, and stood by the Cinema during one of the most challenging periods in its history,” the theater said in a statement. “Your voices made a difference, and your continued commitment to this institution means more than we can express.”