The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) announced Wednesday the appointment of Magalie Boutin as its new director of communications and public affairs, effective Jan. 1.
She succeeds Lily Robert, who recently announced her retirement after an 18-year career with the NFB.
Boutin previously served as the organization’s head of media relations, starting in 2018, and as co-director of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), from 2022 to 2024.
“I’m very pleased to welcome Magalie Boutin to this leadership role,” said Suzanne Guèvremont, government film commissioner and chairperson of the NFB, in a press release announcing Boutin’s appointment.
“With her deep knowledge of cultural industries and communications, Magalie has the vision and energy to promote the NFB. She is a dynamic personality who brings a fresh sense of vitality to the organization and to her teams. Her leadership rallies the talents of those teams, showcasing filmmakers and their works in all their diversity,” Guèvremont said.
During her time at the NFB, Boutin’s achievements have included the critical work she led, working closely with internal teams, to highlight the NFB’s film offerings in a diverse array of media, contributing to the success of the nfb.ca streaming platform, the NFB said in its press release.
In addition, Boutin developed winning strategies to promote the NFB’s documentaries and animated films at Canadian and international festivals, from the Oscars to Cannes and from the Montreal International Documentary Festival to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the NFB said, adding she also developed numerous alliances with key industry partners, leading to initiatives such as {RE}DEFINED, which was created in collaboration with TIFF and is currently ongoing.
“Magalie is deeply committed and has developed many fruitful partnerships between the NFB and other organizations, including the Black Screen Office (BSO), Women in Film & Television (WIFT), OYA Black Art Coalition, Coalition M•É•D•I•A•, the Animation Festival of Halifax (AFX), and more,” the NFB said. “She has also contributed to and supported a number of initiatives aimed at promoting best practices and organizational priorities in the area of EDI at the NFB — including the implementation of the self-declaration form for artists working with the NFB.”
Boutin has more than 25 years of experience in communications, having worked previously with Tourism Québec and Quebec’s Ministry of the Economy, Science and Innovation. She has also been active in cultural industries with organizations such as Fondation Dynastie. She is a member of the Quebec Association of Public Relations Professionals and was part of Concertation Montréal’s Groupe des Trente cohort for 2024-2025. In 2023, Boutin was one of 300 emerging leaders from around the world invited to participate in the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conference.
Photo of Magalie Boutin courtesy of the NFB. Photo credit: Adil Boukind.
