Chicago Film Office Commissioner Jonah Zeiger Ousted… Who Will Replace Him?

The Chicago Film Office will be seeking new leadership in 2025. Jonah Zeiger has been removed from his role of deputy commissioner for the city’s film office. This news was confirmed earlier this week by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. So who will be the new leader of the Chicago Film Office?

Sources tell SCREEN that a replacement has not yet been decided upon and that a search is currently underway, with an announcement expected in early 2025. Sources also tell SCREEN that the new deputy commissioner will most likely not be an internal hire, with DCASE looking beyond its current ranks to find Zeiger’s replacement.

Former Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot appointed Zeiger to the role of deputy commissioner for the Chicago Film Office in 2022. Zeiger’s departure is the latest in a series of high-profile staff changes in recent months. This move is at least the fourth DCASE deputy commissioner to exit since Mayor Brandon Johnson appointed Clinée Hedspeth to lead the department in March. Click here for more insight into the staff shakeup courtesy of WBEZ Chicago.

Prior to joining the Chicago Film Office, Jonah Zeiger served as Assistant Director of the EPICS Office at Northwestern University’s School of Communication where he led film and television industry programming and oversaw professional development curricula for three graduate programs: the MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage, MFA in Documentary Media, and the MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises (MSLCE). For the MFA programs, he facilitated experiences with leaders from Sundance, The Black List, Participant, Firelight, Video Consortium, and IDA, among others. For MSLCE, he supervised the programming of immersion trips to creative industry capitals and led the program’s Los Angeles trips, during which he convened conversations with executives at the major talent agencies as well as at Disney, Universal, Amazon, HBO, Searchlight, and more.

Jonah was named to Newcity’s esteemed Film 50 list earlier this year, and you can click here for Jonah’s interview with Newcity.

The Film Office is responsible for attracting feature films, TV shows, commercials and more to film in Chicago. The office is also the hub for permitting and logistical support for production crews while they are in town.

In 2022, it was estimated that the Chicago Film Office generated about $575,000 in permit revenue, according to the state.

Be sure to check back here at SCREEN Magazine for updates in the new year as the search for new leadership at the Chicago Film Office continues. You can also click right here to subscribe to our weekly email newsletter.