The National Film Board of Canada has begun the new year with a significant change in its senior leadership, appointing Magalie Boutin as Director of Communications and Public Affairs effective January 1. The move places a longtime NFB executive with extensive experience in cultural communications at the centre of the organization’s public-facing strategy.

Boutin takes over from Lily Robert, who recently announced her retirement after 18 years with the NFB. Robert’s departure marks the end of a lengthy period of continuity in communications leadership at the public producer and distributor, which operates across film, animation, and digital media.

Before assuming her new role, Boutin held several senior positions within the NFB. She joined the organization in 2018 as Head of Media Relations and later served as Co-Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion from 2022 to 2024. In those roles, she worked closely with internal teams to broaden the visibility of NFB productions and to align communications practices with institutional priorities.

Government Film Commissioner and NFB Chairperson Suzanne Guèvremont welcomed the appointment, highlighting Boutin’s experience and leadership. “With her deep knowledge of cultural industries and communications, Magalie has the vision and energy to promote the NFB,” Guèvremont said, adding that her leadership helps showcase filmmakers and their work across a wide range of voices and perspectives.

During her tenure at the NFB, Boutin played a central role in strengthening the profile of the organization’s films across traditional and digital media. Her work contributed to the continued growth of the nfb.ca streaming platform and supported promotional campaigns for documentaries and animated films at major festivals in Canada and internationally. These included events such as the Oscars, Cannes, the Montreal International Documentary Festival RIDM, and the Toronto International Film Festival.

Boutin also helped build strategic partnerships with industry organizations, leading to collaborative initiatives such as {RE}DEFINED, developed with TIFF and still underway. Her work extended to forging relationships with groups including the Black Screen Office, Women in Film and Television, OYA Black Art Coalition, Coalition M•É•D•I•A•, and the Animation Festival of Halifax.

With more than 25 years of experience in communications, Boutin has previously worked with Tourism Québec and Quebec’s Ministry of the Economy, Science and Innovation. Her broader engagement in cultural industries includes involvement with Fondation Dynastie. She is a member of the Quebec Association of Public Relations Professionals and participated in Concertation Montréal’s Groupe des Trente cohort for 2024–2025. In 2023, she was among 300 emerging leaders worldwide selected for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conference.

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