Helen du Toit will serve as director of programming at the 2009 Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF), set to run from January 8-19.

Du Toit recently served as co-director with Carl Spence, who has segued into the role of lead programmer.

She served in the festival's programming department in 1991 for three years and returned in 2004. Du Toit most recently served as programme director of the Vancouver Film and Television Forum and also programmed for various film festivals including Toronto and Seattle.

In her new role she will oversee programming operations, including the selection and scheduling of films as well as developing ties with distributors and other media sources.