Canadian Film Centre Sets New Chair And Adds Guillermo Del Toro To Exec Board 

The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) has appointed Neishaw Ali, President of SPIN VFX, as its new chair and added Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro to its executive board.

Del Toro will be officially appointed in October. Ali replaces longtime Chair, Christina Jennings, President and Chairman of Shaftesbury. Jennings has worked at the CFC for over 17 years, ten of which she held the role of Chair. She will remain on the board until October 2024. 

Speaking of his appointment today, del Toro said: “As a filmmaker, I have been deeply moved by the work of Norman Jewison, someone who I had the privilege to know. A big part of his immense legacy is the Canadian Film Centre, the manifestation of his never-ending commitment to helping new filmmakers find their voice. I am incredibly happy to be joining the Board of Directors and I look forward to working alongside the other members and the CFC staff to help support the next generation of storytellers.”

Ali is a founding partner, president, and executive producer of SPIN VFX. Her television credits include the Emmy award-winning series Game of Thrones (HBO), Emmy nominated show The Umbrella Academy (Netflix), Midnight Mass (Netflix), and Foundation (Apple TV+). Neishaw’s film credits include the Academy Award-winning biopic Spotlight (First Look), Escape Room 2: Tournament of Champions (Columbia Pictures), and Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Marvel). She was awarded the WIFT-Toronto Crystal Award for Innovation Trailblazer in 2023. 

The CFC’s full current board are Neishaw Ali (Chair), Cheryl Hudson (Co-Vice Chair), Steven DeNure (Co-Vice Chair), David Middleton (Treasurer), David Zitzerman (Secretary), Councillor Shelley Carroll (Ex Officio), Kate Alexander Daniels, Paul Bronfman, Tassie Cameron, Stéphane Cardin, Shirley Cheechoo C.M., Duane Green, Harold Gronenthal, Christina Jennings, Raja Khanna, Anne Loi, John Morayniss, Mark Sakamoto, Hilary Smith, and Clement Virgo. 

The new appointments come as the CFC prepares for its annual fundraising Gala.