Press room

Rebecca Fons joins Barbican as new Head of Cinema 

The Barbican is delighted to announce that Rebecca Fons has been appointed as the new Head of Cinema at the Barbican. She will take up the role in early September 2025.   

Rebecca is a film curator, arts administrator, and educator and brings a wealth of experience to the role. She joins the Barbican from the Gene Siskel Film Center, a public programme of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she is currently working as the Director of Programming. Rebecca is also the Programming Director for the historic Iowa Theater in her hometown of Winterset, in Iowa. 

Rebecca previously served as Programming Director for FilmScene in Iowa City and as Education Director for The Chicago International Film Festival. She was co-founder of the Chicago event series Destroy Your Art, and in 2022 was named Chicagoan of the Year in Film by the Chicago Tribune. Rebecca holds an MA from Columbia College Chicago. 

Rebecca was appointed after an extensive international recruitment campaign led by Arts Consulting Group, and in her new role as Head of Cinema will oversee the Barbican’s dynamic film programme, taking a leading role in the development of the cinema strategy. 

On joining the Barbican, Rebecca Fons, said: 

"I am honoured to join the talented Barbican team, and work alongside my colleagues to uphold the Centre’s revered history of presenting distinct, thoughtfully curated cinema; while shepherding creative collaboration across disciplines at the Barbican, and exploring what we can create together beyond the frame. Film has been my passion and profession for over two decades, and the opportunity to facilitate the coming together of friends, neighbours, and strangers for the collective moviegoing experience is a great privilege. 

I am eager to connect with our audiences, artists, students, and partners, and, together with the cinema team, look forward to sharing with you seasons that are daring, diverse, and exceptional. The moment the lights go down and the screen begins to glow is as powerful as ever - I’ll see you at the cinema!" 

Devyani Saltzman, Director for Arts and Participation at the Barbican, said: 

“I’m incredibly excited to welcome Rebecca to the Barbican. Her love and knowledge of film, her experience helming the Gene Siskel Film Center, connected to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and her passionate and collaborative approach to leadership, will only allow us to build on the amazing work of the Barbican cinema team whilst contributing to realising our renewed artistic vision going forward. I can’t wait for her to join us.”

Barbican Cinema presents the best international new releases, ScreenTalks with filmmakers, major curated seasons and leads in the presentation of the performing arts on screen.