Joana Vicente is the Executive Director and the Co-Head of the Toronto International Film Festival.

She previously served as the Executive Director of the Independent Filmmaker Project and the Made in NY Media Center by IFP. IFP is the oldest and largest nonprofit organization for independent storytellers in the U.S.

Vicente is an Academy Award®-nominated producer of over 40 feature films by such acclaimed directors as Jim Jarmusch, Brian De Palma, Steven Soderbergh, Miguel Arteta, Hal Hartley, Nicole Holofcener, Alex Gibney, and Todd Solondz. Throughout her career, she has produced innovative works by first-time filmmakers while championing the distinctive visions of established directors, ranging from auteur-driven projects to successful commercial box-office hits as well as award-winning theatrical documentaries.

Vicente’s films have been selected to and won awards at the Sundance Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival, The Cannes International Film Festival, and the Venice International Film festival, including two Sundance Grand Jury Prizes and Venice’s Silver Lion for Best Director. Her films have also been nominated for over 25 Independent Spirit awards.

Joana Vicente is also recognized as a leading figure of the digital film revolution. Her pioneering digital production companies Blow Up Pictures and HDNetFilms, which she launched with partners Jason Kliot, Mark Cuban, and Todd Wagner, ushered in a new era of digital filmmaking that radically transformed the landscape of American independent film production and distribution.

Before turning her attention to film, Vicente served as a press attaché for the Portuguese delegate to the European Parliament and a radio news producer for the United Nations.