Cowan died of glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer he was diagnosed with in December 2021.
He was promoted to Program Administrator in 1992, and co-ran Midnight Madness with Colin Geddes in 1997.
From 2008-14, he was artistic director of TIFF Bell Lightbox.
Noah CowanSteve Jennings/WireImage
The companys client roster included the IFC and the Telluride Film Festival.
Earlier in his career, Cowan co-founded Cowboy Pictures, a New York City-based distributor of arthouse fare.
In 2002, he launched the Global Film Initiative, a nonprofit organization devoted to worldwide understanding through film.
He left the group in 2004.
Cowan also was a contributing editor toFilmmakermagazine from 1994-2004 and worked as a freelance writer and critic.
Donations in Cowans memory can be made to MOMAs Department of Film and TIFF Cinematheque.
