At the Beeston Film Festival, we believe in
- A Common Global Humanity - Joy is joy, laughter is laughter, heartbreak is heartbreak, fear is fear, no matter what language is being spoken, and we believe an international short film festival engages our common global humanity
- A Covenant to Filmmakers - We will always review every film submission respectfully and consistently; we will seek to project selected films to the highest possible standard; we will work hard to connect filmmakers to an audience
- Diversity - We celebrate a range of cinematic styles, genres, communities, and topics, and embrace cinematic rebels, truth-tellers, and innovators
- Community - We strive to create a unique cinematic event for our home, for our community
These beliefs and the wonderful films submitted each year, inspire our team to work so hard all year round to create this festival.
John Currie - Festival Director
In 2014 John was inspired to create the Beeston Film Festival. He wanted to establish another dynamic cultural event in the heart of Beeston. Since its inception the festival has developed, expanded and evolved, always seeking to celebrate film and celebrate filmmakers. John has established a passionate local programming team and an international jury comprising of film industry professionals from across the world. With each year the festival’s reputation has grown resulting in place in the Top 100 Best Review Film Festivals on FilmFreeway, and the recent British Independent Film Association (BIFA) accreditation.
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Contact: John.Currie@beestonfilm.com
Simon Pryce - Commercial Director
Simon has been involved with Beeston Film Festival since 2015, as a result of interests and experience in film and broadcast media. His own company Skylight Media has supported the festival for several years and has seen it grow to become a part of Beeston's cultural landscape. Part of the review team since 2015, he plays an active role in supporting the festival's strategic development, communications and technology leadership. Simon is also a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.
"My experience here is built from reviewing the international film submissions to playing an active role in supporting strategic development, communications and technology leadership. International film makers get a voice here, many visit us too and I'm extremely proud of what we've achieved as a coordinated team over the last 8 years."
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Stuart Baird - Communications & Marketing Lead
Stuart has worked in communications for 26 years including stints at No 10 Downing Street and working with the Royal Family. His campaigns include Think! Kill Your Speed and Change4Life. He promoted the visit of Kate Beckinsale to Beeston which attracted global attention.
Stuart is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
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Sam Kurd – Communications Lead
Sam Kurd is an emerging screenwriter and lover of all things horror, sci-fi and fantasy. Based near Glasgow, his most recent project is as a writer on the Grindhouse anthology film Calling Nurse Meow, and a short version of his first feature script Hen Party Massacre is currently in development. Sam is the Beeston Film Festival Communication Lead as well as a member of the Selection Team..
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Contact: Sam.Kurd@beestonfilm.com
Francesca Levi – Social Media Lead
Francesca Levi is a video artist who often incorporates mixed digital mediums in their work. They have recently have started experimenting with installation art, and in 2021, they premiered Yolk and Aliens, which was a multidisciplinary intergenerational piece exploring birth, mother daughter relationships and the aging process.This was a collaboration with UK actress Jane Horrocks, composer Molly Vivian, and set designer Camilla Clarke for the Brighton Festival. Their first feature film was part of Live Cinema’s Unfilmables and was titled The Colour Of Chips- a reimagined and lost version of Parajanov’s The Colour Of Pomegranates, if it was set in Blackpool, a northern seaside town in England. Additionally in 2022 Francesca created an instillation in Klaipėdos Kultūrų Komunikacijų Centreas in Lithuania titled Songs to The Soul that incorporated peoples lost memories and music used in key life rituals. Francesca also runs a short film festival called Everyday Arias which focuses on opera and folk music, celebrating the magic of song in every aspect of life. Francesca brings her potent visual skills to enhance the festival's social media output.
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Contact: Francesca.Levi@beestonfilm.com
Graeme Tyson - Partner Lead
Graeme is deeply fascinated by the art of storytelling and has dedicated his life to listening to and exploring the narratives of others. This passion has led him into the world of cinema, where he now leverages his platform at Arc Cinema Beeston to support local filmmakers and foster connections within the wider community.
Jen Cale - Festival Manager
Jen Cale enjoys the craft of scriptwriting, cinematography, and producing. She has worked on various student films such as "Downer", "The Yankee", "The Skull and the Arm", and “Red Black Green”. She has recently become a first-time director with her student short and continues to expand her projects in filmmaking.
Naphat “Naps” Boonyaprapa - Technical Manager
Naps is a cinema lover, film director and projectionist. He wants to work in the film industry and has been working with the festival since it’s move to the cinema, and wants to grow the festival into an open, award-winning space for creatives to celebrate the art of film. Naps will ensure all films will be projected to the highest standard and act as a liaison with cinema venues.
Annie McDaid - Content Manager
Annie is a film and TV enthusiast who graduated with a BA in English and Film from the University of Birmingham. She is passionate about directing, scriptwriting and editing. She made a video essay about the BBC series “Inside No.9” as well as a dissertation about romantic comedies. She is eager to work in the film industry and is excited to utilise her love of cinema in the production of content for the festival.
Programming Team
Drawn from the local community and passionate festival advocates, this team ensures every entry is reviewed respectfully, works towards selecting and defining the festival programme, and finally shortlists the B’Oscar nominations. Many thanks to Christie Sietos, Sam Kurd, Ilona Mueller, Dan Lawrence, Simon Leydon and many others.
Sam Kurd
Sam is a budding screenwriter and a lifelong lover of film, especially Horror and Scifi.
Ilona Mueller
Ilona studied English at Nottingham University, Loves film - particularly animation - and watching them on the big screen wherever possible.
Dan Lawrence
Dan enjoys watching and discussing films particularly Sci-fi, Horror and Animation.
Wakana Morozumi
Wakana is a Japanese subtitle translator for films and TV dramas. Loves films especially documentaries and dramas.
Simone Wiles
Simone is a young creative, film maker and writer. Simone is Emerging Talents Category Lead, where she enjoys and celebrates the storytelling abilities of filmmakers, early in their careers, across all genres.
Nora Bajcsi
Nóra is a Nottingham based emerging writer with interest for unconventional topics and stories. Her short stories have appeared in the anthologies “Notes to Self” (2023) and “Awe of Sport” (2024) and her graphic novel “Late Notes” was the winner entry at the Új Kisfaludy competition hosted by the Műhely literary magazine in Hungary (2019).
Ciaran Shea
Ciaran Shea is an award winning filmmaker and 1st assistant director working on a wide variety of projects including, 'Gale - Yellow Brick Road' and 'All That Glitters'. With a huge love of cinema, and film exhibition, Ciaran's been involved with film festivals up and down the UK and is now in his third year of working with Beeston Film Festival.
Jury
Our Jury of film industry professionals from around the world will determine who wins our coveted B’Oscar awards. Click here for more information.
