Jesse Wente is joining the ranks at TIFF’s Bell Lightbox, and will step up as head of film programs at the festival’s new headquarters on April 12.

The film critic at CBC Radio’s Metro Morning has been a member of the fest’s Canadian feature selection committee for four years. His new position will see Wente responsible for overall film scheduling, limited runs, as well as overseeing series and TIFF Cinematheque programming.

His arrival — along with the recent addition of Shane Smith, former director of the CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival — rounds out the senior programming hires for Lightbox, which is said to be opening this fall.

‘Jesse is among the most trusted voices in cinema for the people of Toronto and brings to TIFF a powerful, future-looking vision for the overall programming slate at TIFF Bell Lightbox,’ said artistic director Noah Cowan in a statement. ‘We couldn’t be more delighted to have Jesse joining us during such an exciting period in the history and evolution of the organization.’