May 15, 2018 – HALIFAX, NS
For immediate release: Screen Nova Scotia is pleased to announce that Laura Mackenzie has been selected as the new Executive Director of the organization by its board of directors. Mackenzie joined Screen Nova Scotia as Interim Executive Director in March, 2018.
“Laura’s depth of national and international marketing and programming experience fits perfectly with what we are looking for to take that next step as an organization,” said Mike Volpe, Chair of Screen Nova Scotia. “The addition of Laura as Executive Director will help us get the word out to the larger film and television world that Nova Scotia is a great place to do business.”
Mackenzie brings a diverse breadth of industry experience to the role. An experienced programming consultant and industry market director with a demonstrated history of activating growth for non-profit organizations across Canada, Mackenzie has developed numerous industry programs and initiatives. This includes executing the Atlantic International Film Festival’s Strategic Partners event, an international film and television co-production/co-financing market, since 2013. For the past three years she has served as the Programming Consultant for the Canadian Media Producers Association’s annual conference, Prime Time in Ottawa. Mackenzie is also a member of the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council, a partnership between the cultural sector and the government of Nova Scotia designed to foster better understanding and decision-making.
“I couldn’t be more excited, but inspired is the most accurate word to use to describe my response to being offered the position of Screen Nova Scotia’s Executive Director,” said Mackenzie. “This industry has been developed and sustained by a long line of truly creative, passionate, hard-working professionals, and together we’ll take the next steps towards exceeding #NSFILMJOBS greatest capacity.”
Mackenzie holds a Bachelor of Business with a specialization in Tourism Development, Management from Mount St. Vincent University. She has also produced three short films in her home province of Nova Scotia, and worked in production on local and national films and television shows before stepping into her first role with the Atlantic Film Festival in 2009.