|
| |
::FILM NEWS::
LE Newsletter - March 11, 2010
|
| |
Telefilm Names New Executive Director
Source: www.globeandmail.com -
James Adams and James Bradshaw
(March 10, 2010) A
Telefilm Canada
veteran with a strong background in accounting has been named
the
new executive director of the Crown corporation by Canadian
Heritage Minister James Moore. The announcement was made Tuesday
in Ottawa.
Carolle Brabant,
a Montrealer, succeeds Torontonian Wayne Clarkson as the
day-to-day head of Telefilm which, with an annual budget of
about $107-million, is a major investor in Canada’s film,
television and new media industries. Brabant is the first female
executive director of Telefilm, established by the Liberal
government of Lester Pearson under the then-moniker the Canadian
Film Development Corp..
In a brief interview yesterday, Brabant said she “couldn’t be
more happy” about her new job. “I have a lot of faith in this
industry and its creators and I will be working to gain more
visibility on the national and international stage for this
industry, with Telefilm support. That’s really the goal I will
be aiming at.”
“Of course,” she added, “I have a lot of ideas, but you’ll allow
me the time to share those ideas with our stakeholders, the
Department [of Canadian Heritage], the board, our clients and,
of course, the team I’ll be working with.”
It was known that the Harper government was looking for a
francophone with strong business experience to succeed Clarkson,
who before coming to Telefilm in January 2005, had been
executive director of the Canadian Film Centre as well as
chairman of the former Ontario Film Development Corp. and
executive director of what is now the Toronto International Film
Festival.
Prior to Brabant’s appointment yesterday, there had been intense
speculation that another Montrealer, Michel Roy, would be named
executive director. Roy, a former provincial deputy minister of
tourism and communications, was named chairman of Telefilm’s
board in the fall of 2007, a position he still holds. Two
candidates were put before the Heritage minister for approval by
a search committee but it’s not known if Roy’s was one of the
two.
Brabant has been associated with Telefilm for 20 years, mostly
in senior management positions. Most recently she was director
of administration and corporate services for the Crown
corporation. She holds an accounting degree from University of
Quebec, Chicoutimi as well as an M.B.A. from the École des
hautes études commerciales in Montreal. She served as Telefilm’s
acting executive director for almost seven months, starting in
July 2004.
Initial response from the film and television community was
cautious. “It is a smart and safe choice,” said Hussain Amarshi,
head of Mongrel Media distribution in Toronto. “Telefilm has, in
the last few years, relied considerably on industry
consultations to guide its policy and Carolle’s role will be to
continue this process and let the industry determine the
direction of Telefilm.”
However, another film insider, requesting anonymity, said he
didn’t know what to think. “It all depends on Michel Roy’s role,
what public policy initiatives are involved. If it’s strictly a
fiscal management initiative, she’s a good choice. But for the
film industry as an industry, it seems unclear.”
Serendipity Point Films head Robert Lantos, whose credits
include Barney’s Version and Fugitive Pieces, said
he doesn’t know Ms. Brabant, “but I wish her well in her new
job.” |
|
| |
|
::LANGFIELD
ENTERTAINMENT:: ENTERTAINMENT NEWS WITH A CANADIAN TWIST::
