Bill Marshall, CM, (1939 – January 1, 2017) was a Scottish-born Canadian filmmaker, film producer and

theater producer A theatrical producer is a person who oversees all aspects of mounting a theatre production. The producer is responsible for the overall financial and managerial functions of a production or venue, raises or provides financial backing, and hire ...

. In 1976, Marshall co-founded the Toronto Festival of Festivals, now known as the

Toronto International Film Festival The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF, often stylized as tiff) is one of the largest publicly attended film festivals in the world, attracting over 480,000 people annually. Since its founding in 1976, TIFF has grown to become a perman ...

(TIFF), with Dusty Cohl and Henk Van der Kolk. The first Festival of Festivals drew just 5,000 attendees to view 127 films in October 1976. The Toronto Film Festival is now one of the largest

film festival A film festival is an organized, extended presentation of films in one or more cinemas or screening venues, usually in a single city or region. Increasingly, film festivals show some films outdoors. Films may be of recent date and, depending upo ...

s in the world and established

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...

as a major hub for film and cinema. Marshall has been called "a pioneer in the Canadian film industry" for his role in both establishing the festival, as well as expanding the Canadian film-making into a major, nationwide artistic and business sector.

Biography

Marshall was born in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

, Scotland, in 1939. His father was a railway worker and socialist, and also a fan of drama, regularly visiting the left-wing

Citizens Theatre The Citizens Theatre, in what was the Royal Princess's Theatre, is the creation of James Bridie and is based in Glasgow, Scotland as a principal producing theatre. The theatre includes a 500-seat Main Auditorium, and has also included various ...

in the city. In 1955, when Bill was just 15, the whole family emigrated to Canada, and Bill later became a Canadian citizen. During his professional career, Marshall produced thirteen feature films, as well as several theater productions, including the Toronto run of the musical, '' Hair''. Marshall and Henk Van der Kolk had a professional and personal relationship spanning more than 49 years. The duo first met while both were working on the set of ''Frankenstein on Campus'' in 1969. In 1976, Marshall teamed with Henk Van der Kolk and Dusty Cohl to co-found the Festival of Festivals, now known as the Toronto Film Festival. Marshall served as the film festival's director from 1976 to 1979 and retained the title of Toronto International Film Festival chairman emeritus. In addition to his role in co-founding the Toronto Film Festival, Marshall spearheaded the creation of both the

Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is a Canadian non-profit organization created in 1979 to recognize the achievements of the over 4,000 Canadian film industry and television industry professionals, most notably through the Canadian Scre ...

and The Toronto Film and Television Office. He also served as a past president of the Canadian Association of Motion Picture Producers. In 2002, Marshall was appointed as a Member of the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the cen ...

in recognition of his "major role in developing Canada's film industry and culture." Most recently, Marshall and Van der Kolk proposed a possible film festival in

Trenton, Ontario Trenton (2001 population 16,770) is a large unincorporated community in Central Ontario in the municipality of Quinte West, Ontario, Canada. Located on the Bay of Quinte, it is the starting point for the Trent-Severn Waterway, which continues n ...

, the location of one of Canada's first film studios, for Canada's 150th sesquicentennial in 2017. Bill Marshall died of

cardiac arrest Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. It is a medical emergency that, without immediate medical intervention, will result in sudden cardiac death within minutes. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and poss ...

during the morning of January 1, 2017, at the age of 77. He was survived by his wife, Sari Ruda Marshall, three children, and six grandchildren. Marshall's passing leaves Henk Van der Kolk as the last surviving co-founder of the Toronto Film Festival; Dusty Cohl died in January 2008.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marshall, Bill 1939 births 2017 deaths Film festival founders Canadian film producers Canadian theatre managers and producers Place of death missing Members of the Order of Canada Toronto International Film Festival people Scottish emigrants to Canada People from Toronto Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television people