News from Toronto FF

[Mark Nornes]

Noah Cowan, formerly of Cowboy Pictures, has been appointed co-director 
of the Toronto International Film Festival, starting next year. After a 
few years, he'll be the sole man in charge. This is good news, as he 
has long been a champion of Asian cinema. He is certainly an important 
factor behind Toronto's strong attention to Asian cinema, and Toronto 
in turn has been playing an increasingly important role as a platform 
for foreign distribution of Asian cinema...including (and especially?) 
Japan.

Markus

++++++++++++their press release++++++++++++++++++++

Toronto  - Today Piers Handling, Director & CEO of the Toronto 
International Film Festival Group , and Michèle Maheux, Managing 
Director, announced the appointment of Noah Cowan to the position of 
Co-Director of the Toronto International Film Festival ®.  The 
appointment is effective January 1, 2004.
 
Cowan is jointly responsible for the overall programming and 
administration of the Festival, in close collaboration with Handling 
during a three year transition period.
 
Cowan's first paid summer job as a high school student was in the 
Festival box office. He began programming for TIFF in 1989 when he 
co-founded the Midnight Madness programme; he became an international 
programmer in 1995 and Associate Director of Programming in 1997.  He 
left the Festival in 2001 to increase his involvement in Cowboy 
Pictures, a New York-based art house distributor, which he co-founded 
in 1999.  Most recently, Cowan was the co-creator and Executive 
Director of Global Film Initiative, a not-for-profit foundation devoted 
to the worldwide promotion of cinema from the developing world.
 
"We're delighted to announce this appointment.  Noah's extensive 
programming background as well as his recent experience in film 
distribution and other industry initiatives will serve us well as we 
plan the future of our festival.  He has the vision and the energy to 
help us reach our long-term goals," enthused Handling.
 
"It's an honour to be able to work alongside Piers Handling and Michèle 
Maheux and the incredibly talented staff at the Festival, to ensure the 
continuing vitality of TIFF as the organization passes into a new phase 
of growth.  I'm looking forward to the challenges of adapting the 
Festival to the rapid changes underway in the worlds of film and 
related media," commented Cowan.
 
This move allows Handling to dedicate more time to the recently 
announced Festival Centre and to all the activities of the Group 
including Cinematheque Ontario, Film Circuit, the Film Reference 
Library, Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children, 
and Talk Cinema.  Handling will continue programming for the Festival.

Maheux remains as the organization's number two after Handling, 
overseeing the administrative side of the organization including 
communications, fundraising and sponsorship, marketing, human 
resources, and operations, as well as the capital campaign for Festival 
Centre.  Maheux also programmes international titles and sits on the 
Gala selection committee.
 
Festival Centre is a major initiative to create a unique international 
destination that celebrates the world of film in the most culturally 
diverse city.  New programming will draw yearly audiences of 2,000,000, 
servicing the public and industry 52 weeks a year.  With theatres, 
increased exhibition, archive, and installation space, and with the 
consolidation of Toronto International Film Festival Group programmes 
under one roof, Festival Centre will be a focal point for film lovers 
of all ages from around the world.
 
The Toronto International Film Festival Group generates an annual 
economic impact of $67 million CAD, including $33 million in tourism, 
and operates with an annual budget of $13 million.  Currently, the 
Group employs 75 full-time staff, 500 part-time and seasonal staff, and 
counts upon the largess of 1,700 volunteers year-round.  The Group is a 
registered charitable arts organization that operates the Toronto 
International Film Festival ®, Cinematheque Ontario, Sprockets Toronto 
International Film Festival for Children, The Film Reference Library, 
Film Circuit, Talk Cinema, Canada's Top Ten, and Industry.

For more information, please contact: Gabrielle Free at 416-934-3232 or 
gfree at torfilmfest.ca .
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