Canadian Heritage Min. Pablo Rodriguez has appointed filmmaker and National Film Board (NFB) veteran Julie Roy as Executive Director of Telefilm Canada for a five-year term, effective April 3.
Roy has nearly 30 years of experience in the Canadian film industry, including holding several senior leadership positions during a 20-year run with the NFB, most recently serving as Director General and Head of Programming.
In her most recent role, Roy oversaw production studios across the country, as well as NFB’s distribution, marketing and merchandising units. Canadian Heritage credits Roy, in a release, with helping establish the NFB’s vision and programming goals to reach a wider audience nationally and internationally.
“While directing the NFB’s production studios, Ms. Roy gained a national perspective on the documentary, animation and interactive creation sectors, as well as regional, linguistic and cultural realities. She is an advocate for diversity and inclusion both on-screen and behind it, to ensure a plurality of voices leads to authentic storytelling,” stated Canadian Heritage in the announcement.
Prior to her appointment last September, Roy led the NFB’s Creative and Innovation division, and held the role of Executive Producer of the NFB’s French Animation Studio, where she also served as a producer for 13 years. Roy won a Canadian Screen Award in 2013 for Best Animated Short for the film, Paula. Montreal-born Roy holds a Master’s degree in Film Studies from l’Université de Montréal and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
She succeeds Christa Dickenson in the Executive Director role, who moved on from the crown agency last September to join Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) as President and Chief Executive Officer.
“With Julie Roy’s appointment as Executive Director, I am confident that Telefilm Canada’s important national goals will be strongly supported,” said Rodriguez, in the release. “Her extensive knowledge of the industry and her unifying and mobilizing leadership will help guide this organization well into the future. I would also like to thank Francesca Accinelli for serving as Interim Executive Director since September 2022.”
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