Mary Carbine of the University of Wisconsin Arts Institute has directed the Wisconsin Film Festival since its debut in 1999, but Carbine will be stepping down from the film festival and the university to pursue a career in the "private sector" this year.

In preparation for her early retirement — formally effective Friday — Carbine said she would do what she can for the university's Art Institute and hopes for continued success at the film festival.

"In the coming weeks, I look forward to working with Arts Institute leadership to insure a smooth transition and to lay the groundwork for the continued success of the festival," Carbine said in an e-mail.

Susan Cook, UW Executive Director of the Arts Institute, said no one has yet been assigned to fill the position after Carbine's retirement.

Cook assured the film festival would still go on as planned this year from March 30 to April 2 of 2006.

"The Arts Institute has not yet identified anyone to serve as an interim festival director — Mary's shoes will be hard to fill," she said in a released statement. "She has been central to the success of the festival, and has established important connections throughout Madison, the state of Wisconsin and nationwide."

The annual Wisconsin Film Festival includes screenings of the most recent independent films, world cinema and new media alongside talks with various filmmakers.

Tino Balio, professor emeritus in the Department of Communication Arts, taught Carbine when she was both an undergraduate and graduate student here at UW.

Balio said he had an extensive relationship with Carbine through her years at the university as a student and as director of the film festival and said she has "great intelligence and skill."

Carbine expressed her appreciation of the people she had worked with and the success of the film festival.

"I am grateful to the many filmmakers, audience members, volunteers, and university and community sponsors whose contributions have made the Festival such a success," Carbine said. "I'm thankful to have had the opportunity to accomplish many goals and to work with so many dedicated and talented people."

Though the film festival has featured a number of legendary filmmakers such as Samuel Fuller and Chris Gore, Carbine asserted students play a large role in the event.

"I have always considered student involvement to be very important to the Wisconsin Film Festival," she said.

The most recent festival brought in approximately 24,000 people, included over 150 films from 27 countries and involved 60 university and community organizations as sponsors or partners.

Also bringing in a notable financial profit to Madison, the film festival proves to be more than an aesthetic addition to the community, Carbine said.

"I am very pleased that the festival has achieved financial stability and recognition within the film industry and our community," she said.