News from Toronto FF

[Colin Geddes]

Hi Markus and the rest of the list!

Please keep in mind that Noah has not been with the Festival for the 
past two years. Granted he has done a great deal in the past with the 
Festival and the promotion of Asian cinema, but part of the credit is 
also due to the efforts of both myself, programmer of Midnight Madness 
(first Fest that Miike attended) and our Asian programmer Giovanna 
Fulvi. We're glad to have Noah back in the Festival fold!

Colin Geddes



> 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 .




--------------------------------
Colin Geddes
Programmer, Midnight Madness
Toronto International Film Festival Group
2 Carlton Street, Suite 1600
Toronto, ON M5B 1J3
Phone:  (416) 967-7371 extension 3261
Fax: (416) 967-9477
Email: cgeddes at torfilmfest.ca
http://www.bell.ca/filmfest

The Toronto International Film Festival Group is a charitable, cultural 
and educational organization devoted to celebrating excellence in film 
and the moving image.