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Perlmutter Tom
A fervent advocate of groundbreaking and socially engaging independent cinema, Tom Perlmutter was named the 15th Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the National Film Board (NFB) of Canada on June 11, 2007.
Perlmutter first joined the NFB in December 2001 as Director General of English Program. He has spearheaded a sweeping digital transformation at Canada's public film producer: introducing the NFB's hugely successful online Screening Room and iPhone app, launching arange of interactive digital projects and expanding the NFB's e-cinema network. Under his leadership, the NFB has revitalized its documentary and animation programming, forged critical ties with important partners abroad and provided greater access to up-and-coming filmmakers and those from cultural minorities. The NFB has also garnered a number of prestigious honours and awards during this time, including four Oscar® nominations, two Oscar® wins and a record five nominations at the 2010 Webby Awards, the Internet's highest honour.
Prior to joining the NFB, Perlmutter enjoyed a distinguished career in the Canadian film industry. As the founding head of documentaries at Barna-Alper Productions (now E1 Television), he created and produced award-winning documentary series and one-offs, and initiated the company's first international co-productions. In 1999, he became a partner in Primitive Entertainment, where he created, produced and directed a number of distinctive documentaries.
Perlmutter previously partnered with John Walker, one of Canada's most noted filmmakers, on several award-winning documentaries. Prior to this, he was Director of Creative Development for CineNova Productions, where he worked with many of the world's leading broadcasters. He has also worked as a commissioning editor in publishing and as a writer and reporter in England and Canada.
Perlmutter was born in Sárospatak, Hungary. He was educated at McGill University in Montreal and Magdalen College in Oxford, and holds an MBA from the University of Toronto.
