Veteran industry director Suzanne Guèvremont has been named the new government film commissioner and chairperson of the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) for a five-year term.

She succeeds Claude Joli-Coeur, who led the NFB for nearly nine years and was the federal agency’s longest-serving commissioner. His term came to an end on Friday (Nov. 25), when the Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez announced Guèvremont’s Governor in Council appointment.

Guèvremont begins her NFB term on Monday (Nov. 28) after serving as the executive director of major institutions for 25 years, including SYNTHÈSE – Pôle Image Québec, an initiative she founded. Since 1999, she’s been at the helm of Montreal’s NAD-UQAC, the college of digital arts, animation and design.

A certified Corporate Director, she’s worked internationally and managed in the fields of culture, education and digital media, where she’s carved out an esteemed reputation for contributing to the development of the 3D animation, video game and visual effects industries in Quebec, specifically Montreal.

Guèvremont has been chair of the boards for the Bell Fund and Collège Notre-Dame, and served on a number of other boards, including those of CBC/Radio-Canada and the Alliance numérique. Until her NFB appointment, she also served as vice-chair on the board of the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles.

She has a graduate diploma in business administration from HÉC Montréal, is a past member of the Barreau du Québec, and holds a bachelor’s degree in legal science from Université du Québec à Montréal.

Guèvremont said in a statement that she takes on the mandate “with great pride, enthusiasm and humility.”

“The Canadian landscape is changing, the means at our disposal for creating content are constantly evolving, and so are audience behaviours. I’m very much looking forward to meeting all the teams across Canada, and to working with them in pursuit of our goals.”

Joli-Coeur joined the NFB in 2003 and was first appointed government film commissioner and chair in November 2014, taking over from Tom Perlmutter. He was reappointed to his position in June 2019.

In August, a collective of artists and filmmakers known as NFB/ONF Creation had raised concerns about the appointment process for Joli-Coeur’s replacement, alleging he was on the hiring committee. In an interview with Playback Daily this week, Joli-Coeur said he had an “obligation” as chairperson to be part of the committee.

In recent years, NFB/ONF Creation has also raised concerns about the positions of commissioner and chairperson of board being held by one person, stating they should be divided. Joli-Coeur had said he agrees but it appears that has not happened with the appointment of Guèvremont, which was the responsibility of the Government of Canada.

The NFB “will be in capable hands with Ms. Guèvremont,” said Minister Rodriguez in a statement, which also thanked Joli-Coeur “for his exemplary service to the Canadian film industry.”

Photo credit: Julie Artacho