TORONTO – The CBC announced today it hired Fred Fuchs as executive director, arts and entertainment programming. 
Fuchs (right) is a 25-year veteran of the entertainment industry and has many successful film and television productions to his credit, including the classic children’s series Faerie Tale Theatre, the feature films Bram Stoker’s Dracula and The Virgin Suicides, the Emmy-nominated mini-series The Odyssey and Moby Dick, and the CBC-TV animated series What It’s Like Being Alone.
Over the past five years, Fuchs established himself in the Canadian independent production community and his recent projects north of the border include the feature films The End of Silence and Graduation, and an international co-production drama series titled The Tudors.
"Fred’s passion for powerful, engaging, meaningful stories is clear throughout the many successful projects that he has brought to fruition," said Richard Stursberg, executive vice-president, CBC Television, in a release. "His broad range of experience, his commitment to exceptional storytelling and his familiarity with and understanding of Canada’s film and television production community make him the ideal choice for one of CBC Television’s most important senior positions."
As executive director, arts and entertainment programming, Fuchs will work closely with the A&E creative heads, with executive director of network programming Kirstine Layfield and with executive vice-president Richard Stursberg to select, develop and produce Canadian entertainment programming of the highest quality in all genres, outlines the release.
"What I have observed in my relationship with CBC," said Fuchs, in the release. "is the challenge of both producing great Canadian programming for Canadians and bringing more Canadian viewers to it – quality programming that captures their attention and their imagination. This country has a remarkable array of talent here – exceptional actors, accomplished producers – all committed to creating excellence in their chosen fields. As a public broadcaster, CBC provides a tremendous service to the country and to Canadians everywhere. Frankly, I’m honoured to be part of upholding its mandate."
While Fuchs has been a significant contributor to the Canadian production scene in recent years, he began his career producing film and television projects in the United States, such as the award-winning Showtime television series Faerie Tale Theatre. Fuchs also worked with George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola producing the feature film Tucker: The Man and the Dream, then returned to television as executive producer of the award-winning HBO series Vietnam War Stories.
Coppola subsequently hired Fuchs as president of American Zoetrope studios. In that role, Fuchs was producer or executive producer responsible for developing and financing 15 feature films, including The Godfather Part III, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, The Secret Garden, Don Juan DeMarco, The Virgin Suicides, The Third Miracle and John Grisham’s The Rainmaker.
While at Zoetrope, Fuchs also started a successful television division, which produced four mini-series (Emmy-nominated Moby Dick and The Odyssey, as well as Titanic and Kidnapped) and four TV movies Outrage, Dark Angel, White Dwarf and Riot. Fuchs followed his eight years at American Zoetrope with several more years in San Francisco’s new media and interactive digital technology community.
"With extensive experience in film and television on both sides of the border, and a clear commitment to public service values and programming of the highest quality, Fred Fuchs is a tremendous asset to CBC Television," added Stursberg. "As a person who chose to become a Canadian citizen and to make Canada his home, his commitment to promoting Canadian values and culture is clear. As part of our new senior team, Fred’s experience, energy and enthusiasm will be integral to our efforts to make CBC Television the place that Canadians everywhere turn to for the very best in homegrown drama, comedy, performance and entertainment programming."
