OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.- Michael Anderson, film scholar and critic, will join the staff of the Oklahoma City Museum of Art as film curator, it was announced by E. Michael Whittington, OKCMOA President and CEO. Anderson began his new role on Aug. 13.

"Michael comes to the Museum with vast, inside knowledge of the film industry," said Whittington. "His extensive education and love of cinema, paired with his film festival experience, will take the Oklahoma City Museum of Art's film programming to a new level. We are fortunate to have Michael join our team."

Anderson said, "The Museum has built a strong and respected film tradition that I feel very fortunate to be able to expand upon. My promise to the community is to provide smart and adventurous new and repertory programming that draws on the very best in independent, foreign language and classical cinema."

"Ultimately, I hope to help make cinema a key component of Oklahoma City's cultural identity," Anderson added.

Most recently, Anderson served on the screening and program committees of the Starz Denver Film Festival. He also covered that event as a member of the media. He has attended and written extensively about the New York Asian Film Festival and New York Film Festival.

Anderson has taught film, video and history classes at the college level - most recently at Yale University. Before attending Yale, where he earned his PhD in History of Art and Film Studies in 2013, Anderson earned a master's degree in Cinema Studies from New York University and a bachelor's degree in European Studies from Hillsdale College in Michigan. Anderson also writes two award-winning blogs, Tativille and Ten Best Films, where he has focused on the best of contemporary world cinema and 21st century Hollywood.

Anderson and his wife are excited to make downtown Oklahoma City their new home and to explore a region of the country new to them both.