Thom Powers

About Thom Powers

Over 30 years of experience in film curation, production and start-ups. Focusing on new…

Experience

1. Documentary Programmer

   Toronto International Film Festival

   Jan 2006 — Present · CA

   Selecting ~20 titles from 700+ submissions, managing team of pre-screeners. Each year’s lineup combines veteran filmmakers with newcomers, representing a global spectrum of subject matter spanning investigations, activism, character studies, history, pop culture and more. Work with staff of 200+, closely interacting with departments of publications, marketing, communications, and sponsorship- Secured world or North American premieres by filmmakers such as Werner Herzog, Errol Morris, Michael Moore, Lucy Walker, Shola Lynch, Jehane Noujaim, Cameron Crowe, Jonathan Demme, Davis Guggenheim, Alex Gibney, Barbara Kopple and Frederick Wiseman- Curated selections that became Oscar winners: Free Solo, Undefeated and Inside Job; and films that became nominees including Attica, Flee, Collective, The Cave, Abacus, Winter on Fire, The Look of Silence, Finding Vivian Maier, The Square, The Act of Killing, Paradise Lost 3, Food Inc, The Most Dangerous Man in America and Encounters at the End of the World- Programmed world premieres of music films with renowned talent in person: From the Sky Down (with U2), The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town (with Bruce Springsteen), It Might Get Loud (with Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White), Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love (with Youssou Ndour), Pearl Jam Twenty (with Eddie Vedder), and Shut Up and Sing!(with the Dixie Chicks).• Mavericks discussion series programmer and host, conducting on-stage conversations with David Geffen, Bill Gates, Johnny Depp, Neil Young, Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed, Chris Rock, Bill Maher, Don Cheadle, Howard Zinn, Matt Damon, Viggo Mortensen, and Marisa Tomei.

Skills

• Film Curation
• University Teaching
• Documentary Production