The Quebec Film and Television Council has appointed the first members of its administration, effectively launching the council as a functioning organization.

Hans Fraikin, former director of Telefilm Canada’s European office, has been appointed as QFTC film commissioner. Danielle Dansereau, former director of communications for Telefilm and interim president and CEO of the Canadian Television Fund, is its executive director.

‘The extensive experience, demonstrated talent, and the complementarity of these two individuals will serve as key assets for our organization,’ said QFTC chairman Roy Heenan in a statement. The appointments became effective on May 10.

The QFTC was established last year to promote the collective needs of the 35,000 people directly employed in the province’s film and TV business. The QFTC’s mandate is to market Quebec as a destination for foreign film shoots, as well as to take a leadership role on issues impacting the industry.

Quebec has drawn few foreign productions this year or last.

‘Our first order of business will be to attract foreign shoots, to take Quebec back to the level it once was and beyond,’ says Fraikin. ‘There’s a lot more competition now than there once was.’

The QFTC is overseen by a board of directors that represents various areas of the film and TV industry, with funding coming from both private and public coffers.