The Washington Film Institute (WFI) was created to inspire audiences through film education and the cultivation of the cinematic arts. We do this by developing educational programs and programming film events throughout the year.
John Hanshaw
Director
The Institute was founded by John Hanshaw in the Fall of 2007. John has worked in film and television for over ten years at such institutions as NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), PBS and most recently National Geographic. He has degrees from Amherst College, Cambridge University, and GW Law.
Clarissa K. Wittenberg
Creative Director
Clarissa K. Wittenberg was a founder and editor of the Washington Review, a journal of arts and literature that documented cultural life in Washington for over 28 years.
Melissa Farnum
Program Manager
Melissa Farnum joined WFI in 2011 from New York City, where she worked as the Creative Director of the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. She also worked at Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks and The Weinstein Company.
Thomas Hanshaw
Treasurer
Thomas K. Hanshaw is a former World Bank Group executive and international banker, who worked extensively in the Middle East and South Asia. He has degrees from the University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins, and Hamilton College.
