Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos has been appointed Ottawa’s new film commissioner, effective April 27.

Pechels de Saint Sardos (pictured) replaces Bruce Harvey, who served seven years as film commissioner before departing at the start of the year to work in production and be closer to family in Vancouver.

The Ottawa Film Office (OFO) says Pechels de Saint Sardos — who has over 20 years’ experience in creative development, production, and distribution — will be responsible for positioning the city as an attractive and film-friendly production centre to production companies both locally and internationally.

She’ll also support the development of the planned soundstage campus and creative hub, help grow local talent and crew alongside post-secondary partners and private sector entities, and represent Ottawa when working with regulatory bodies.

The OFO says Pechels de Saint Sardos brings “impressive global relationships” and deep experience in deals and negotiations in children’s and family programming to the role. Most recently, she worked in sales and distribution at CBC/Radio-Canada, growing their kids catalogue offering.

Her other experience includes creating kids content from published book properties and distributing content domestically and internationally at Rocket Launch Media and Sanden Media.

From 2016 to 2019, Pechels de Saint Sardos worked at Franco-Canadian public broadcaster TFO as director, acquisition and coproduction. Prior to that, she spent nine years with Bejuba! Entertainment as EVP of sales and acquisitions, and worked in New York for companies including Sunbow Entertainment, Sony Wonder/Sony Music, TV-Loonland, Hallmark and Classic Media/DreamWorks.

“In Sandrine, we have a film commissioner who is excited and inspired by what Ottawa’s film, television, and animation industry has already accomplished, and where it is headed. She comes to us with an international background, having studied and worked in Paris, New York, Toronto, and Montréal, and has a vision that draws inspiration from all these places,” said Catherine Callary, chair of the OFO’s board of directors, in a statement.

“Sandrine is bilingual, and brings a depth of contacts and energy to the role. I think I can speak for the whole Ottawa Film Office board of directors when I say that we are inspired by the path forward that she charts for the organization.”

Pechels de Saint Sardos said she’s inspired by the potential Ottawa has in the industry.

“As a producer, you can find it all in Ottawa and it can only improve, especially with the development of the Soundstage Campus and Creative Hub,” she said. “I can’t wait to work with our local producers, crew, and talents and help them shine even more. I also look forward to bringing international opportunities to position Ottawa as a bigger staple for the film and TV industry.”