Bingham Ray, 1954 - 2012

Bingham and his daughters Annabel and Becca
January 27, 2012

New Castle resident Bingham Ray, 57, an industry leader in the distribution of independent films, died Monday, January 23, in Utah while attending the Sundance Film Festival in Park City. Bingham’s wife, Nancy King, and their three children, Nick, Annabel and Becca, were with him when he died. He was surrounded as well by friends and colleagues in the film industry and was in the midst of doing what he loved to do best, scouting new independent films.

The family plans to hold a memorial service in his honor in early February. In lieu of flowers, they request that contributions be made to the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, on whose advisory board Bingham served since its inception and where he used to host the JBFC Film Club, or to the San Francisco Film Society, for which Bingham began working in October 2011. Links to both are below.

Tributes to Bingham Ray, 1954 - 2012

Below are links to several of the articles and tributes that have been written about Bingham upon his untimely death.

The Fighter: Bingham Ray (1954 – 2012) by Eugene Hernandez, the director of digital strategy for the Film Society of Lincoln Center and a co-founder of Indiewire; posted 1/24/12 on the Film Society of Lincoln Center blog

Sundance 2012: Bingham Ray Remembered by Kenneth Turan, the film critic for the Los Angeles Times and director for the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes; posted 1/23/12 on the Los Angeles Times online

The Bingham Ray Film 101 Syllabus by Sasha Bronner, who worked for Bingham from 2008 – 2010. Upon learning of the gaps in her film education, he promptly supplied her with a list of must-see films from the 30s, 40s and 50s; posted 1/23/12 on Huff Post Entertainment.

Bizzers gather to remember Bingham Ray; Impromptu Sundance gathering draws tears, stories, by Josh L. Dickey in Variety, 1/23/12

Donation information

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Jacob Burns Film Center in honor of Bingham Ray should visit the JBFC homepage, http://www.burnsfilmcenter.org/. You will find a “Tribute to Bingham Ray” on the homepage as well as a ‘DONATE NOW’ button, a red rectangle on the far right. Clicking the button will take you to a secure donation page. Once you fill out the first page, there is room for comment, where you can write “In honor of Bingham Ray.”  His family will be informed of your donation, and you will receive an acknowledgment letter by mail shortly after you’ve made your donation. If you have any questions please call Melissa Tepé, 914-773-7663 ext 436.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the San Francisco Film Society in honor of Bingham Ray should visit the SFFS homepage, http://www.sffs.org.