Karen Black has been named director of Canadian initiatives at the Toronto International Film Festival Group, following a year as acting director. Previously, she was senior manager of TIFFG’s traveling film festival, The Film Circuit.

In her new position she will oversee the Canadian programming component of TIFFG’s ongoing activities, including Film Circuit, Canada’s Top Ten and the Student Film Showcase. While Black will not program films for the September film festival — Steve Gravestock, who will report to Black, remains lead programmer for that event — she will be responsible for the considerable variety of industry programming during TIFF: Talent Lab, Telefilm Canada’s Pitch This! and Match Club, as well as Doc Corner and Doc Roundtables, the CFTPA Producer’s Award and the Meet With… sessions.

‘Over the last year, Karen has done an outstanding job in leading the Canadian Initiatives team,’ said TIFFG director and CEO Piers Handling in a statement. ‘As director, she will continue to instill Canadian content in TIFFG programming and further expand Film Circuit and Industry Programming. Her knowledge and expertise will ensure our initiatives receive the continuous attention necessary to achieve our goals.’

Black added, ‘I am excited to continue the exploration and promotion of Canadian film to sustain our current audience members and engage a new and broader public.’