MUMBAI: Executive director of the San Francisco Film Society (SFFS), Graham Leggat expired yesterday after waging a 18-month battle with Cancer. He was 51.

Under his almost six-year watch at the SFFS, the operating budget grew from $2 million to $6 million; membership rose 98 per cent; ticket sales rose 62 per cent and the board of directors almost doubled from 12 to 22. He stepped down from his role at SFFS on 4 July.
 
During his tenure with the SFFS, Leggat also oversaw the publishing of the nation‘s only regional online film magazine, SF360.org, founded in 2006 in partnership with indieWIRE. The publication now boasts over 1,000 pieces of original arts journalism.

"Graham was fiercely proud and appreciative of his years at the Film Society and frequently referred to them as the best years of his life," said Film Society‘s board of directors‘ president Pat McBaine.

"It‘s no accident or coincidence that those years have also been the best years in the life of the Film Society. Our board and staff are deeply saddened by the loss of our leader, colleague and friend but inspired by his example and memory to carry on his work and build on his accomplishments and vision," he added.

He is the recipient of the 2009 International Film Festival Summit‘s Director Excellence Award. In 2001, the French consul general in San Francisco made him a Chevalier de l‘Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, in recognition of his support to cinema.