David Oppenheim joins Sheridan as Director of SIRT

After an extensive search, Sheridan is pleased to welcome David Oppenheim as Director of Screen Industries Research and Training (SIRT) Centre— an integral part of Generator at Sheridan and one of Canada’s leading applied research and innovation centres located at Pinewood Toronto Studios.

In this new role, Oppenheim will bring his extensive experience in research, development and the application of new technologies within diverse media formats.

His track record building partnerships and collaborating across disciplines will provide a foundation for SIRT’s next stage of development, which includes supporting the application of screen-based technologies within other sectors such as the performing arts.

In addition, Oppenheim will work collaboratively with the leadership of Sheridan’s Faculty of Animation, Arts and Design, to lead the establishment of a new SIRT satellite hub at Sheridan’s Trafalgar Road Campus in Oakville. This facility will further enable Sheridan to meet industry and community innovation needs through fostering interdisciplinary research, training and workforce development at the intersection of media, the arts and applied computing.

“I am excited about bringing David’s strategic and innovative leadership to the team at SIRT,” said John Helliker, Dean of Innovation at Sheridan. “His experience makes him uniquely suited to propel SIRT’s evolution and continue to build our reputation as leaders in global innovation in film, television, animation, gaming and interactive media.”

Oppenheim has more than 20 years of leadership, creative and production experience in film, television and interactive media. His experience across an expanse of mediums includes non-fiction films and interactive and immersive experiences that explore creative and technical innovation to tell stories that matter. Most recently, he served as producer/creative producer for the National Film Board (NFB), where his credits include the non-fiction feature To Kill a Tiger, the hybrid live theatre, mixed reality experience Draw Me Close, the animated interactive virtual reality narrative The Book of Distance, and Agence — a film that merges cinematic storytelling, artificial intelligence and user interactivity. His productions have won multiple Webby awards, Canadian Screen Awards and a Peabody-Facebook Futures of Media Award, and premiered at major festivals including Venice, Tribeca, Sundance and TIFF.

Before producing with the NFB, Oppenheim was Head of Documentary Development and Interactive Producer at Toronto-based production company Kensington Communications. He has produced and directed for Discovery Health, CBC Newsworld and TVOntario.

David is a past resident at the Canadian Film Centre’s Media Lab. He is currently completing his Masters of Design at OCAD University in Toronto.

About Sheridan’s Screen Industries Research Training (SIRT) Centre

The Screen Industries Research and Training Centre is an integral part of Generator at Sheridan. Through applied research, innovation and training, using a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach, we combine technology and industry knowledge with student talent, staff and faculty expertise, to evolve the screen-based industry and inspire the world.