President of the TFCA from 2009-2016, Brian D. Johnson was on staff as a Senior Writer at Maclean’s, Canada’s weekly newsmagazine, from 1985 to 2013, and continues to write for the magazine as Contributing Editor and online film critic. He has also worked as an author, filmmaker, musician and broadcaster. Born in England and raised in Toronto, Johnson has written for publications ranging from The Globe and Mail to Rolling Stone, and has won three National Magazine Awards. He has hosted onstage interviews with authors, actors and filmmakers, most recently, in 2013, an evening of conversation with Al Pacino at Massey Hall in 2013. His books include a 1974 volume of poetry, Marzipan Lies (the first work published by the Porcupine’s Quill), the 1994 novel Volcano Days, and a written history of TIFF, Brave Films, Wild Nights: 25 Years of Festival Fever (2000). Johnson has produced and directed two BravoFACT short films, both premiering at TIFF: Tell Me Everything (2006), a poetic montage of hands at work, featured original music by Leonard Cohen; Yesno (2010), a mix of animation and live action, adapted a book of poetry by Dennis Lee, with readings from Cohen, Margaret Atwood and Michael Ondaatje. Johnson is currently developing The Purdy Project, a feature documentary for the CBC about the movement to restore Al Purdy’s A-frame house as a writing retreat, in tandem with The Al Purdy Songbook, an album of music inspired by the poet. Johnson lives in Toronto with his wife, author Marni Jackson, and they have a son, Casey.