After he faced tough criticism over a $1,500 contribution in support of Proposition 8, Richard Raddon resigned his post as director of the Los Angeles Film Festival last week, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He had held the position at Film Independent's festival since 2000. Buzz and anger about his contribution had been growing for weeks: Film Independent has openly gay members on its board and actively encourages diversity among its stated goals.
The controversy comes as some groups are calling for boycotts of supporters of the "Yes on 8" campaign. Some have called for a boycott of the Sundance Film Festival because it is located in the Mormon church's home state of Utah, or a boycott of the Holiday Village Cinemas used by the festival because the theater is owned by the Cinemark chain, whose C.E.O., Alan Stock, contributed to the campaign, according to THR. There have yet been no calls for a boycott of the L.A. Film Fest or Film Independent's Spirit Awards.
