Telefilm names new executive director

(From the Globe and Mail)

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."