New Director General for NFB English Program

MONTREAL, January 25: Cindy Witten has been appointed
director general of the National Film Board of Canada’s English program,
effective February 25.

Canada’s public producer-distributor plucked Witten from
History Television, where she has served as the VP of content since 2005.
Witten has also served in various factual-related roles for companies such as
BBC Canada, National Geographic Channel Canada, HGTV Canada and Life Network. She
began her career as a current affairs director/news producer for CBC Toronto in
1987.

“What impressed me about Cindy’s career has been her
willingness to recognize talent and take creative risks,” said Tom Perlmutter,
the government film commissioner and chairperson of the NFB. “We’re at a point
of great creative renewal for the institution—crowned this week with our
fifth Oscar nomination in five years—both in traditional and digital
media. Cindy brings the right skill set of energy, drive and risk-taking to
keep the NFB at the cutting edge of innovative media making.”

“I’m excited by current directions at the NFB,” said Witten.
“It’s an incredible opportunity to work in one of the world’s great cultural
institutions at a moment when it is clearly setting the pace for innovation in
socially relevant documentary, animation and digital content.”

—By Ned Berke