Byron Alpers is the new executive director of the Milwaukee International Film Festival (MIFF).

Alpers, who took over the post on Feb. 4, replaces the festival's co-founder, David Luhrssen, who remains on the board of directors.

Alpers comes to the festival with more than 25 years of experience in developing and implementing marketing programs, chiefly for investment management companies. A vice president for marketing at Scudder Funds in his native Boston, he came to Milwaukee to serve as both director of marketing and creative director at Strong Funds. After a similar stint at Heartland Funds, Byron joined Artisan Funds, where he served as a partner.

Until recently, he was an independent marketing consultant to such clients as Baird Investment Management, U.S. Bank and Ziegler Capital Management.

Byron minored in art at Dartmouth and earned a Masters in Creative Writing from Boston University. One of his plays, "Just Looking," was produced off-Broadway as part of the Rosetta Festival of New Works. He is also a sculptor. His works in stone and turned wooden bowls are represented in a number of private collections on the East Coast.

"I'm delighted to be part of MIFF. It's one of Milwaukee's major cultural events, and the opportunity to help lead it is very exciting," Alpers said.

The sixth annual Milwaukee International Film Festival opens Sept.18 and runs through Sept. 28, 2008.