Piers Handling

Piers Handling
Piers Handling at the 2017 CFC Annual Garden Party
Piers Handling at the 2017 CFC Annual Garden Party
Born1949 (1949)
NationalityCanadian
OccupationCEO
Years active1982–2018
Known forToronto International Film Festival

Piers Handling is the former CEO and executive director of the Toronto International Film Festival, and former director of the Canadian Film Institute.

Early life

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Piers was born to Joan Garrod and Douglas Handling, who met during World War II.[1] He was born in Calgary, but raised on army bases throughout Europe.[1]

Handling studied philosophy at Queen's University, and began his film career at the Canadian Film Institute. He would eventually become director of the CFI.

After leaving the CFI, he taught Canadian cinema at Carleton University in Ottawa and Queen's University in Kingston.

TIFF

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Handling joined the Toronto International Film Festival in 1982, replaced Helga Stephenson as programmer in 1987, and became CEO and executive director in 1994.[2]

During his tenure, TIFF became one of the biggest film festivals in the world, with its own permanent downtown home and film hub in TIFF Bell Lightbox, which screens films and holds various events year-round.[3]

In 2003, Handling was named CEO of the Year by the Canadian Public Relations Society.[4] Handling was succeeded by Joana Vicente in November 2018.[5]

Recognition

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References

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  1. ^ a b "TIFF boss's other life as a mountain climber". Globe and Mail. 19 May 2015.
  2. ^ "As TIFF CEO Piers Handling prepares to leave, industry talent reflect on his legacy". CBC.
  3. ^ "TIFF 2018: Piers Handling on 24 years at the top of the biggest film festival in the world, and what's next". Retrieved 2018-09-17.
  4. ^ a b c d "PIERS HANDLING Board Member, Ex-Officio". CFC.
  5. ^ "Everything you need to know about Joana Vicente, TIFF's new executive director". National Post. 2018-08-28. Retrieved 2018-09-17.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "OCAD Honorary Doctorates". OCAD.
  7. ^ "TECHNICOLOR CLYDE GILMOUR AWARD". TFCA. 9 May 2014.
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