The Future of Film Showcase (FOFS) has appointed Kim Christmas as chief operating officer ahead of its 10th edition.

The annual film festival is dedicated to showcasing the awards of emerging Canadian filmmakers, with the 2023 event running in a hybrid format of in-person events and virtual programming on CBC Gem between May 18 to 21.

FOFS largely programs short films, but included its first feature-length addition to the lineup in 2022 with Haya Waseem’s Quickening. Details on the 2023 program will be announced at a later date.

Christmas (pictured above left) has more than 15 years of experience in change and project management. She takes over the role from former COO Jocelyn Lau, who joined the FOFS leadership team in 2022. She departed the festival last year for another opportunity in the film industry, according to a spokesperson for FOFS.

The festival has also added Samantha Summers (pictured above right), who serves as manager, individual giving at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), to its advisory board.

The FOFS advisory board also includes Paige Murray, executive in charge of development, drama, CBC; Samah Ali, founder of Sisterhood Media; Shant Joshi, president of Toronto prodco Fae Pictures; and Jenn Kuzmyk, executive director of the Banff World Media Festival and VP and publisher of Playback. The festival also noted the “significant contributions and guiding vision” of board member Ravi Srinivasan, a senior programmer for TIFF, who died suddenly in January.

Rounding out the new additions to the festival are associate programmers Winnie Wang, C.J. Prince and Andres Herrera. The three will work with director of programming Zac Goldkind.

FOFS CEO Eric Bizzarri said this year’s festival marks “an exciting time of growth for the organization,” calling it an established “launch pad for emerging Canadian filmmakers.”