Bio

Co-Head and Artistic Director of TIFF and the Toronto International Film Festival. Founder of the Festival's Planet Africa section, and former head of Perspective Canada. Served on juries and hosted filmmaker conversations at several international film festivals, including Berlin, Beijing, Doha, Goa and Cannes. Former film critic for Toronto's NOW Magazine, CBC Radio One, TVO and CTV’s Canada AM. Published in The Globe and Mail, The Village Voice and the UK's Screen, as well as in several books, including the Phaedon publication Take 100. Participated in CBC's Canada Reads broadcasts in 2015, successfully championing Kim Thuy's novel, Ru, to victory in the competition. Taught film curation at the University of Toronto, and holds an honorary doctorate from Western University. Chevalier in France's Order of Arts and Letters. For eight consecutive years (2012–2019), named him one of Toronto’s 50 Most Influential People by Toronto Life magazine.