# Piers Handling

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Piers_Handling
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Piers_Handling.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piers_Handling
> Source revision: 1343070887
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

**Piers Handling** (born 1949) is the former CEO and executive director of the [Toronto International Film Festival](/source/Toronto_International_Film_Festival), and former director of the [Canadian Film Institute](/source/Canadian_Film_Institute).

## Early life

Piers was born to Joan Garrod and Douglas Handling, who met during World War II.[1] He was born in Calgary, but raised on army bases throughout Europe.[1]

Handling studied philosophy at [Queen's University](/source/Queen's_University_at_Kingston), and began his film career at the [Canadian Film Institute](/source/Canadian_Film_Institute). He would eventually become director of the CFI.

After leaving the CFI, he taught Canadian cinema at [Carleton University](/source/Carleton_University) in Ottawa and [Queen's University](/source/Queen's_University_at_Kingston) in Kingston.

## TIFF

See also: [Toronto International Film Festival](/source/Toronto_International_Film_Festival)

Handling joined the Toronto International Film Festival in 1982, replaced [Helga Stephenson](/source/Helga_Stephenson) as programmer in 1987, and became CEO and executive director in 1994.[2]

During his tenure, TIFF became one of the biggest [film festivals](/source/Film_festival) in the world, with its own permanent downtown home and film hub in [TIFF Lightbox](/source/TIFF_Lightbox), which screens films and holds various events year-round.[3]

In 2003, Handling was named CEO of the Year by the Canadian Public Relations Society.[4] Handling was succeeded by [Joana Vicente](/source/Joana_Vicente) in November 2018.[5]

## Recognition

- [Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres](/source/Chevalier_des_Arts_et_des_Lettres), 1997[4]
- Honorary degrees from [Ryerson University](/source/Ryerson_University), [York University](/source/York_University), [OCAD University](/source/OCAD_University),[6] [University of Toronto](/source/University_of_Toronto), and [Queen's University](/source/Queen's_University_at_Kingston)
- [Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal](/source/Queen_Elizabeth_II_Diamond_Jubilee_Medal), 2012[4]
- [Clyde Gilmour Award](/source/Clyde_Gilmour_Award), 2014[7]
- [Order of Ontario](/source/Order_of_Ontario), 2014
- [Order of Canada](/source/Order_of_Canada), 2017
- [Business for the Art's Peter Herrndorf Award](/source/Business_for_the_Art's_Peter_Herrndorf_Award), 2017
- [Officier des Arts et des Lettres](/source/Officier_des_Arts_et_des_Lettres), 2018[4]

## References

1. ["TIFF boss's other life as a mountain climber"](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/management/there-are-always-mountains-for-piers-handling-to-climb/article24459975/). *Globe and Mail*. 19 May 2015.

1. ["As TIFF CEO Piers Handling prepares to leave, industry talent reflect on his legacy"](https://www.screendaily.com/news/tiff-director-ceo-piers-handling-bows-out-after-36-years-of-so-much-fun/5132691.article). CBC.

1. ["TIFF 2018: Piers Handling on 24 years at the top of the biggest film festival in the world, and what's next"](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/article-tiff-2018-piers-handling-on-24-years-at-the-top-of-the-biggest-film/). Retrieved 2018-09-17.

1. ["PIERS HANDLING Board Member, Ex-Officio"](http://cfccreates.com/staff_members/45). CFC.

1. ["Everything you need to know about Joana Vicente, TIFF's new executive director"](https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/everything-you-need-to-know-about-joana-vicente-tiffs-new-executive-director). *National Post*. 2018-08-28. Retrieved 2018-09-17.[dead link]

1. ["OCAD Honorary Doctorates"](https://www2.ocadu.ca/keyword/honorary-doctorate). OCAD.

1. ["TECHNICOLOR CLYDE GILMOUR AWARD"](http://torontofilmcritics.com/awards/signature-award-2/). TFCA. 9 May 2014.

## External links

- [Piers Handling](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0359632/) at IMDb

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Piers Handling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piers_Handling) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piers_Handling?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.