Movie Vet Joe Pichirallo Named Chair Of NYU's Kanbar Institute Undergrad Program

Joe Pichirallo has been appointed the new chair of the Undergraduate Film & Television program in the Tisch School of the Arts Kanbar Institute of Film and Television at New York University. The appointment was made by Mary Schmidt Campbell, dean of the Tisch School of the Arts. Pichirallo will begin in the fall and succeeds Lamar Sanders, who steps down after six years.

Pichirallo has a diversified resume. He has been a Washington Post reporter on the national security and politics beats; production executive at HBO, Fox Searchlight and Focus Features; film producer; and teacher. Pichirallo has taught at the American Film Institute for the last 14 years and has also taught at Chapman University and UCLA.

“I’m honored to join the world-class film and television program that Dean Campbell and her faculty have built,” Pichirallo said in a statement. “The opportunity to help the faculty guide the next generation of filmmakers is an irresistible challenge, especially at a time of rapid and fundamental changes in our industry. I am especially looking forward to continuing the Tisch School’s tradition of turning out standout storytellers.”

Pichirallo most recently was a producer and headed film production for Eric Gold’s The Gold Company. Before that, he headed the feature film unit for Will Smith and James Lassiter’s Overbrook Entertainment, where he produced The Secret Life of Bees and exec produced Lakeview Terrace. He’s been exec producer on Hollywoodland and Something New.