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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