Latest news with #AdnaanWasey
Calgary Herald
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Adnaan Wasey appointed as Calgary's new film commissioner
Adnaan Wasey has been appointed as Calgary's new film commissioner. Article content A media innovator with an Emmy award and several Emmy Webby nominations under his belt, Wasey will be returning to Canada this July and begin his new role on August 1, a media release shared on Wednesday stated. Article content Article content Born in Toronto but currently in New York City, Wasey holds over two decades of experience in media and non-profit sector with elusive roles in PBS, Disney, The New York Times and the Gotham. Article content Article content Previously, he served as the executive director of Rooftop Films, a Brooklyn-based non-profit film organization best known for the Rooftop Films Summer Series, a film festival that showcases independent short and feature-length films. Article content Article content 'Calgary is at a creative inflection point,' Wasey said, as quoted by the release. 'The city offers everything today's content creators and production houses need, with skilled local talent and crews, tools, landscapes, incentives, educational programs and an enviable quality of life. Beyond the practical, Calgary has something special – an entrepreneurial spirit and film-friendly approach that turns productions into partnerships.' Article content Wasey is also know for launching the Kingston Canadian Film Festival and advising the MacArthur Foundation's Journalism and Media Program. Article content His appointment comes as Calgary's film industry gains notoriety on the international stage, recently ranked as the fifth-best city in North America to live and work as a filmmaker by MovieMaker Magazine and recognized as Location of the Year by the Cannes Film Festival in 2023. Article content 'Adnaan's leadership and industry connections will continue to elevate Calgary on the international stage, scale our creative economy and position the city as a powerhouse for content creation, production and storytelling,' said Brad Parry, president and CEO, Calgary Economic Development. Article content Article content
CTV News
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Adnaan Wasey named as Calgary's new film commissioner
Adnaan Wasey was appointed as Calgary's new film commissioner Thursday by Calgary Economic Development. Calgary Economic Development appointed Adnaan Wasey as its new film commissioner Thursday by Calgary, as the city seeks to solidify its status as a global production centre. Wasey was born in Toronto and lives in New York, where he has been the Executive Director of Rooftop Films since 2024. He has worked in film and media for over two decades, including stints at PBS, The New York Times and The Gotham. His background in ecosystem building fits Calgary's goal to attract more film and television productions to the city. Wasey launched the Kingston Canadian Film Festival, advised the MacArthur Foundation's Journalism and Media Program and has worked on numerous Emmy-and-Webby nominated projects over the years. 'Adnaan's leadership and industry connections will continue to elevate Calgary on the international stage, scale our creative economy and position the city as a powerhouse for content creation, production and storytelling,' said Brad Parry, President and CEO, Calgary Economic Development, in a media release. Meet Adnaan Wasey, Calgary's new Film Commissioner — a media innovator with credits and awards spanning PBS, Disney, The New York Times and The Gotham. His leadership will help scale and amplify Calgary's film industry. Read more ➤ #BlueSkyCity — Calgary Economic Dev (@calgaryeconomic) July 2, 2025 Wasey said he was excited to come to Calgary, which was recently ranked the fifth-best city in North America to live and work as a filmmaker by MovieMaker Magazine. 'Calgary is at a creative inflection point,' said Wasey. 'The city offers everything today's content creators and production houses need, with skilled local talent and crews, tools, landscapes, incentives, educational programs and an enviable quality of life. 'Beyond the practical, Calgary has something special,' he added, 'an entrepreneurial spirit and film-friendly approach that turns productions into partnerships. 'I see an opportunity to help scale Calgary's trajectory — building a sustainable, inclusive ecosystem that makes Calgary synonymous with creative excellence." Wasey starts Aug. 1 but will be in town for the Calgary Stampede to begin engaging with the community.
