Co-founder of Toronto International Film Festival dies at 77

The news of his death was made known by a family statement released through TIFF's press office on Sunday.

The statement described Marshall as 'a pioneer in the Canadian film industry'.

“In a very real way Bill was in the business of making dreams become reality," read the statement. "Now, as the house lights dim, friends and family will remember and honour Bill as a first rate raconteur, famous for his honesty, keen mind and wry humour,” Global News quoted from the statement.

Marshall immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1955 and founded the Toronto International Film Festival along with Henk Van der Kolk and Dusty Cohl in 1976.

Initially TIFF was launched in a small scale but soon became one of North America's biggest film festivals.

It was from this film festival that many aspiring filmmakers are known to have launched their careers.

He was a recipient of the Order of Canada in 2006 for his many contributions to the arts.

“As much as Bill loved and cherished the arts, he also played a significant role in shaping the political landscape of Toronto,” the statement read, adding Marshall served as campaign manager and chief of staff to three different Toronto mayors.

Bill had been a adviser to many senior politicians in Canada and the United States.

Recently he had supported the current Toronto Mayor, John Tory.

Tory released a statement on Marshall’s death and said he was “an artist, a dedicated Torontonian by choice, a TIFF founder and most of all a friend.”

“He always thought big and we were the winners thanks to his creativity and determination,” he said.

“More so than any of that he was wise and just plain fun to be with. He will be sadly missed and my heartfelt condolences go out to his wife Sari and the Marshall family.”

Marshall is well-known for producing the 1977 award winning Canadian film ‘Outrageous’ and several live theatre productions, including the Toronto version of the musical ‘Hair’.

He also helped establish the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television and the Toronto Film and Television Office and had been former president of the Canadian Association of Motion Picture Producers.

Piers Handling, director and CEO of TIFF, said in a statement he was deeply saddened by the loss of Marshall.

“He was a pioneer in the Canadian film industry and his vision of creating a public festival that would bring the world to Toronto through the transformative power of cinema stands today as one of his most significant legacies,” Handling said.

“Without his tenacity and dedication, [TIFF] would not be among the most influential public cultural festivals today. We were so fortunate to have Bill serve as one of our greatest champions for 41 years.”

At the news of his death, social media was flooded with tributes for Marshall from from Toronto, which is considered the heart of the festival as well as from the Canadian and U.S. film industries.

Funeral details had not yet been finalized but will be announced at a later date.

Marshall leaves behind his wife Sari Ruda and children Lee, Stephen and Shelagh, as well as six grandchildren.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)

Image: Wikipedia