Carol Coombes Joins On As Artistic Director of Philadelphia Film Festival

TLAvideo.com has announced that the award-winning creative force behind the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Carol Coombes, will be joining TLAvideo.com as a Managing Editor.  Coombes will be working to develop and nurture TLAvideo’s growing and popular lesbian catalogue. Her position begins in early October, 2008.

“I am delighted to be joining TLAvideo.com as Manager Editor of Lesbian content.” Said Coombes. “I am looking forward to working with the terrifically dedicated team at TLAvideo.com.”

Additionally, Coombes will serve as the Associate Artistic Director of the Philadelphia Film Festival (www.phillyfests.com), presented by the Philadelphia Film Society.  Her duties will include programming and curating special events for one of the premiere film events on the East Coast, which will run March 26 through April 7, 2009. Her position as Associate Artistic Director is effective immediately to coincide with her attendance at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival.

 "I am very excited to have Carol join the TLAvideo.com and Philadelphia Film Festival teams,” said Raymond Murray, President of TLA Entertainment Group and Artistic Director of the Philadelphia Film Society. “Her film experience working in London with the British Film Institute and in Miami with the MGLFF is unparalleled. Her success in Miami - in taking a small regional gay/lesbian film festival - and in a few short years, making it one of the most important film festivals in the United States is a testament to her organizational abilities, her vast programming knowledge and overall vision of creating a world class film festival."

The Manchester, England native previously worked with the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, before moving to the United States to work on the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in 2001;   eventually rising to the position of Director/Program Director.  Coombes brings with her nearly a decade of solid festival work, as well as a lifetime love-affair with cinema. She will be relocating to Philadelphia, headquarters of TLA Entertainment Group and the Philadelphia Film Society in late September.