Photo credit: Jen Squires
OCAD University’s President and Vice-Chancellor Ana Serrano has joined the National Film Board (NFB) as its newest board member for a three-year term.
“It’s an honour and privilege for me to serve as board member at the National Film Board. I am excited to draw upon my experience in digital media, film and theatre and will continue to foster diverse talent in Canada’s vibrant, innovative and booming creative industry,” says President Serrano, who was appointed to the NFB’s board by the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
Serrano, who joined OCAD U on July 1, 2020, is an award-winning visionary leader with more than 25 years of experience creating award-winning digital media products and cultural experiences, transforming organizations and creating cutting-edge programs to strengthen cultural and creative sectors and industries.
She has produced some of Canada’s critically acclaimed works in digital media, including the award-winning Body/Mind/Change starring David Cronenberg, the first transmedia experience that integrated interactive storytelling, 3D printing and virtual reality; the award-winning transmedia experience, Prison Dancer: The Musical; the award-winning virtual reality experience, Small Wonders, in partnership with the Art Gallery of Ontario; and co-produced Late Fragment with the NFB, which was the board’s first interactive dramatic feature film within North America that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
“It has been my life’s work and mission to nurture creativity and collaborate with artists, creators and directors to help them recognize their creative visions. Stepping into this role, I look forward to working with the dedicated board, committee members and staff at the NFB, its partners and donors to build upon their ambitious and award-winning body of work, while continuing to expand towards an inclusive and bold vision for Canada’s film, television and new media industries.”
The recipient of numerous awards from the digital, media, film and theatre industries in both Canada and United States, Serrano received the Insignia of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the Government of France in 2018.
She is also the recipient of the 2021 Crystal Award for Digital Trailblazer Award from the Women in Film & Television Toronto, the 2015 Digital Media Trailblazer Award from the Academy of Canadian Film & Television and won the 2012 Best Canadian Feature Film Award from the International Reel Asian Film Festival for Prison Dancer: The Musical.
Before coming to OCAD University, Serrano was the Chief Digital Officer of the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and founder of the world-renowned and award-winning CFC Media Lab. At the CFC, she launched several unique and cutting-edge Canadian start-up accelerators, including IDEABOOST, Canada’s first digital entertainment accelerator, with founding partners Corus Entertainment, Google and Shaw Media.
An engaged and active volunteer, Serrano is co-chair of the Open Democracy Project, a former trustee of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and is a member of various boards, including the Toronto Arts Council and Atkinson Foundation.