Biography

Bill Niven began his film career in 1984 at Telefilm Canada in Halifax, NS and went on to work in Vancouver, Toronto, Paris, London and Los Angeles. In 1995, Niven produced the Gotham Awards in New York for the IFP. In 1996 he joined Salter Street films as VP Development. He opened his own production company, Idlewild Films, in 1999 (named after New York's Idlewild International airport which became JFK). Niven's producer credits include The Book of Negroes for CBC/BET (winner of 17 awards, including nine Canadian Screen Awards); 18 seasons of CBC Short Film Face Off; the comedy series Picnicface for CTV's Comedy Network; and eleven feature films including Marion Bridge with Molly Parker and Elliot Page; Just Buried with Rose Byrne and Jay Baruchel; and Spinster with Chelsea Peretti.

Originally from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Bill is Past-Chair of the Nova Scotia Motion Picture Industry Association; a member of the CMPA; Lifetime ex-officio member of the board of the Atlantic International Film Festival; and served for three terms as Vice-chair, Eastern Canada of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.
- IMDb mini biography by: Bill Niven