With the film industry shifting beneath our feet, New Orleans Film Society Executive Director Carroll Morton is meeting the moment with vision, strategy, and an unwavering commitment to independent film.
As the New Orleans Film Festival ramps up for its 2025 edition, Morton is leading the charge to reimagine what a world-class festival can be in a changing cinematic landscape. While Hollywood may be pulling production elsewhere, Carroll sees an opportunity: to elevate local talent, welcome rising voices, and make New Orleans a magnet for the next generation of filmmakers.
“In the climate we’re in, I see a shift to independent filmmaking,” Morton told The Times-Picayune. “My plan is a reimagining of what we were, what we are, and how we move into the future—by adapting.”
That adaptation is already underway. Under Carroll’s leadership, the Film Society is reevaluating everything from venues to programming to how we attract major films and distribution opportunities—without losing the soul of what makes our festival one of MovieMaker’s “25 Coolest in the World.”
Carroll Morton is steering the New Orleans Film Society with heart, creativity, and fierce advocacy for artists. Thanks to her leadership, the future of film in New Orleans isn’t just hopeful—it’s happening.