Merridee Book

CEO and Artistic Director of the Coronado Island Film Festival

Merridee Book is the CEO and Artistic Director of the Coronado Island Film Festival (CIFF), where she has played a pivotal role in elevating the festival to a significant cultural event in Southern California. A lifelong supporter of the arts, Merridee has more than doubled CIFF’s attendance since the global pandemic and continues to build strong partnerships to achieve the festival's goals. Under her leadership, CIFF screens Oscar-winning films, brings studio, international, and independent film premieres and debuts, honors industry luminaries, and promotes the art and science of filmmaking.

Prior to her work with CIFF, Merridee served as the Vice President of Development for the San Diego International Film Festival, driving revenue growth through strategic donor partnerships, managing the donor experience, and amplifying awareness of the festival's nonprofit mission. She also contributed to marketing efforts by engaging with targeted groups to boost attendance at the annual festival.

Merridee was  a Co-Founder of DeeperCalling Media, a diversified media company that spanned music, digital programming, and publishing in the early days of digital programming. She was the producer and host of the television program DeeperLiving, a 30-minute show that highlighted the stories of creators, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, authors, musicians, and artists within the inspirational marketplace. DeeperCalling Media also provided backend distribution fulfillment for over 500 independent online bookstores/sellers in the early days of the online marketplace.

She has been a member of Women in the Media, served as a panelist for conferences and roundtables, and has mentored Communication students at her alma mater, UCSB. In addition to her professional achievements, Merridee has served on the Board of the Coronado School of the Arts and currently on Patrons of the Prado, furthering her commitment to arts education and cultural enrichment.