Beth Janson, CEO of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (Canadian Academy), is stepping down to become COO of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

In a news release issued Thursday (April 21), TIFF also announced Anita Lee (pictured middle) has been appointed chief programming officer and Laura Ryan (pictured right) has been promoted to chief of staff at the organization. Both Janson and Lee will report directly to CEO Cameron Bailey.

Lee joins TIFF effective immediately, after serving as the executive producer for the National Film Board of Canada’s (NFB) Ontario Studio, while Janson (pictured left) joins effective May 20. Ryan assumes her newly created role after being TIFF’s VP of operations and event production.

The Canadian Academy said in a release that Louis Calabro, the organization’s VP of programming and awards, will be its interim CEO as the board of directors leads a search for a permanent successor for Janson.

“Beth and Anita are two of Canada’s most accomplished, impressive film executives,” said Bailey in a statement. “Their ideas, leadership and passion for the transformative power of film will fill key roles for the organization and add to an already outstanding TIFF team.”

As COO, Janson will be responsible for developing and implementing operational plans and key enterprise-wide initiatives to ensure the sustainability and long-term success of TIFF, said the organization.

“Cameron has an exciting and compelling vision for what TIFF will be in its next iteration, and I’m honoured to join this team and help make that vision a reality,” said Janson. “TIFF has always played a critical role in curating conversations and connecting audiences to the power of film and to each other — and that is more important now than ever before.”

Lee will oversee TIFF’s Programming and Industry teams and be responsible for devising and delivering “an audience-focused, strategically cohesive, and financially sustainable programming framework in line with TIFF’s mission and strategy,” said the release.

“I am so inspired to join Cameron Bailey and the TIFF leadership team as they embark on a bold vision for the future,” said Lee. “I am thrilled to have this tremendous opportunity to contribute to the creative direction of one of the most significant cultural organizations today.”

Ryan has been with TIFF for eight years. In her new role, she’ll work with Bailey and executive and senior leadership teams to execute TIFF’s annual plan, performance agreements, and strategic plan, as well as new projects across the organization.

TIFF has seen several executive changes in the past couple of years. When former TIFF CEO and director Piers Handling stepped down after the 2018 festival, Bailey was upped from co-director to co-head — a role shared by Joana Vicente. Bailey was appointed CEO last November after Vicente left her post to become CEO of the Sundance Institute last October.

Meanwhile, TIFF saw some board changes in November: Universal Music Canada CEO Jeffrey Remedios became board chair while several new faces joined the board as members and several departed. In February, TIFF announced new programmers and details for a 2022 in-person festival.

Montreal-born Janson took the helm of the Canadian Academy in June 2016, succeeding outgoing CEO Helga Stephenson after being executive director of the Tribeca Film Institute.

Janson steered the Canadian Academy through multiple changes — from trying out a host-free show format in 2019, to shifting to virtual and pre-recorded presentations during the pandemic.

The Canadian Academy has also introduced several initiatives in recent years to ensure that Black, Indigenous, people of colour and under-represented industry professionals have increased visibility, accessibility, and recognition in the industry. Those initiatives include an Equity and Inclusion Fund, anti-racism training sessions, reduced entry fees and membership subsidies.

“Over the last six years, Beth has presided over a period of tremendous growth for the Academy,” said John Young, the Canadian Academy’s board of directors chair. “Her leadership in elevating the brand, expanding our work and pushing our industry to embrace authentic change has been best in class. She has made a lasting impact and we thank her for all of her hard work and dedication. We are delighted to welcome Louis as Interim CEO and are confident in his ability to lead the organization forward during this time of transition.”

Janson has a BFA from York University in Theatre Studies and over two decades of experience in the film, television, and cultural sectors. She began her career in theatre administration followed by the programming department of HBO Documentary Films.

Janson was programming director of the Newport International Film Festival before joining the Tribeca Film Institute in 2003, where she first helped develop its signature programs, including the TFI New Media Fund and Tribeca All Access. She then served as Tribeca’s executive director from 2009 to 2014.

Lee served as an executive producer at the NFB since 2014 and is an award-winning producer and founder of the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. Lee’s producing credits include Sarah Polley’s Canadian Screen Award-winning documentary Stories We Tell.

Calabro has over 14 years of experience with the Canadian Academy and will assume all responsibilities of the CEO role until a search for a permanent successor concludes.

Photo L-R: Beth Janson, chief operating officer (PC: George Pimentel); Anita Lee, chief programming officer (PC: Kevin Kelly); Laura Ryan, chief of staff (PC: Courtesy of TIFF).