Ted Hope will step down at the end of the year as Executive Director of the San Francisco Film Society, the organization said Wednesday. Hope, the veteran producer of dozens of films including 21 Grams, American Splendor and Martha Marcy May Marlene, will “pursue other film interests,” but will remain in his post, which he began in August 2012, until December 31st.

SFFS said that its Board of Directors have already begun the search for a new Executive Director, and expects to have a new leader in place as the organization embarks on its 57th year. Hope said he will join the SFFS Advisory Board to “assist in guiding the [SFFS] into the future in a new capacity.”

“When I came to San Francisco after producing so many films, it surprised some that I wanted to lead a non-profit organization,” said Hope. “Over the past 14 months I’ve come to realize that as much as I fully embrace the mission of the Film Society, my passion is more entrepreneurial. We accomplished a great deal at SFFS over the last year, and the same fantastic team that initially drew me to the Bay Area is still in place to drive the organization well into the future.”

“[The San Francisco Film Society] has been fortunate to have Ted Hope at its helm,” said David Winton, SFFS Board President. “He brought with him a lot of great ideas about expanding our already considerable role in promoting film culture given so much disruptive change in media, and we are grateful for his tenure and guidance. We are happy to have Ted’s continued creative input as he steps into his new role on our Advisory Board. The SFFS Board of Directors is committed to finding a new leader that will continue to work closely with our staff to further the mission of the Film Society and its core programs.”

SFFS produces the annual San Francisco International Film Festival, the oldest such event in Americas, which will take place next year April 24 – May 8.