Dr. Russ Hunter

Dr. Russ Hunter

Russ is a Senior Lecturer in Film & Television Studies at Northumbria University and works with a number ofEuropean Film Festivals. Russ specialises in Film Festivals and Genre Film and is a recognised expert in these areas. He organises a variety of educational initiatives and his scholarship has appeared in various journals.

Jake West

Jake West

Jake is a British Film Director, Editor and Interviewer. Jake specialises in Horror, Documentary and film censorship. He has a B.A Honours Degree in Film and Video.

James Luxford

James Luxford

James is a member of the prestigious UK Film Critics Circle. They are a Writer and Broadcaster for The Guardian, BBC World News, Radio Times, The Hollywood Reporter and more. James is also a Film Critic for City AM, BBC Radio and Metro UK. James has experience as a Jury Member for the Oxford International Film Festival and The Midland Movie Awards.

Kamil Lemiezewski

Kamil Lemiezewski

Kamil is an Actor, Stuntman, Producer, Model, Journalist, Surgeon, Circus Teacher and winner of Big Brother Poland 2019. Kamil is often referred to as a renaissance man by mass media. He is also the CEO of International Festivals in Poland and Incubator of Art, member of International Charity Organisations, Founder of House of Art in Lodz for artists and children.

Mark Mitchell

Mark Mitchell

Mark is the Creative Director at No Worries Marketing Solutions, with over 18 years in the design and creative industry, and is a keen film enthusiast.

Orla Smith

Orla Smith

Orla Smith is the Executive Editor of Seventh Row, a regular contributor at The Film Stage, and a freelance writer with bylines at JumpCut Online, Cinema Year Zero, and Girls on Tops. At Seventh Row, she has co-written and co-edited several books about film, including the first books ever published about Joanna Hogg and Céline Sciamma. In her free time she makes movies.

Rosie Gaunt-Mathieson

Rosie Gaunt-Mathieson

Rosie is an award winning TV, film and commercials director and writer. Her work has won Broadcast and RTS awards and been nominated for a Rose D’Or. Her latest comedy projects include directing 24 sketches for Merman and Channel 4 in their Sparks strand and Tesco’s comedy Christmas campaigns in 2019 and 2020 starring Jamie Redknapp, Alex Brooker and some of the cast of I’m a celebrity. She has worked with UK comics including Vic and Bob, Alan Partridge, Aisling Bea, Sally Phillips and Romesh Ranganathan on projects ranging from prime time series to short form sketches. She has worked with companies and broadcasters including Baby Cow, Me and You Productions, Tiger Aspect, Pett, Zeppotron, BBC Comedy, Sky, Channel 4 and ITV.

Vibha Chopra

Vibha Chopra

Vibha Chopra is Head of Global Syndication & International Film Distribution at Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited.
Vibha has successfully managed various responsibilities in marketing, digital & international film distribution both in India & USA. As Head of acquisitions and distribution, she has successfully distributed various films & content across languages in the global markets. She has also successfully developed & opened new territories for ZEE like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Netherlands, Russia and Poland amongst others.

The North East International Film Festival

A celebration of filmmaking inviting the world to head North East

18th – 24th November 2024

VIP Networking Events

A VIP network gathering which will be attended by industry professionals, to include canapes and a welcome drink for which tickets will be made available through the website and Eventbrite.

Workshops

Free, educational workshops will also take place throughout the city for people wanting to hone their craft, learn and develop new skills or just generalised info.

Special screenings

There will be special one off screenings of award winning films followed by question and answer sessions and interviews with leading Actors, Directors, Writers and Producers. Information on the special screenings shall be released in 2021.

THE FESTIVAL PARTNERS