Cameron Bailey has been named the Executive Director of Toronto’s international film festival.
Bailey will replace Noah Cowan, who will stay on to head the programming and manage the business side of the festival.
The search for Cowan’s replacement was overseen by Industry Sessions and Entertainment Media Experts, as well as the Canadian Film Centre, a partnership with the CFC and Queen’s University.
Cowan has held the role of Executive Director of the festival since 2015. Before joining the festival, he was with Luminato for over four years.
“It has been an honor to be part of this unique organization,” said Cowan in a statement. “I am incredibly excited about the future of TIFF. Cameron’s thorough knowledge of the Canadian film industry, which includes directing the Toronto Film Critics’ Circle Award winning ‘Vice’ and a long history of advocacy for cinema and filmmakers, makes him the ideal candidate to lead the organization into the next phase.”
Bailey comes to TIFF from the New York Festival and will start on Nov. 1.
“It’s an honor to have been asked to lead the organization,” said Bailey. “In a globalizing world, international film festivals are seen as representing the heart of what it means to be Canadian. I am thrilled to continue this mission. It is a beautiful city full of energy and diversity. I’m excited to get the festival going.”
Prior to New York, Bailey served as Executive Director of the Toronto Film Critics Association. He has also directed films for Bell Lightbox and grew the festival’s programming team from one to over twenty positions and The Cinematheque from three programs to over thirty programs.
He began his career as a filmmaker as a cinematographer at the State of the Arts Festival in Vancouver, B.C.