Meet the Team

Melanie Iredale

Director

Melanie (She/her) has been programming and building audiences for international cinema in the UK since 2005, most recently in her role as Deputy Director of Sheffield DocFest since 2014. As Interim Director of DocFest’s 2019 edition, Melanie oversaw its most international and diverse programme up to that point, featuring 50%+ women-directed films in the programme (57% in competition), and spearheaded the organisation achieving charitable status. Melanie also co-curated DocFest’s Rhyme & Rhythm strand and UK Competition.

Prior to DocFest, Melanie served as Director and Curator of Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival on the English -Scottish border from 2009, before that working for cinemas and festivals in Newcastle and Liverpool.

Melanie is regularly invited to speak on issues relating to diversity and ethics in programming, on creating safe spaces, and on curating LGBTQI+ cinema, with talks and panels including Berlinale’s European Film Market, the Independent Cinema Office, and various festivals.

She has served on several juries including Nordisk Panorama, ZagrebDox, Encounters, One World Media, Colombo International Women’s Film Festival in Sri Lanka, and is a BIFA voter. As an active mentor to filmmakers and film exhibitors, Melanie has been part of BFI’s Film Audience Network (FAN)’s Advice scheme since 2017, was a member of the steering committee for BFI FAN’s This Way Up conference in 2019, and came on board in 2020 as an Exec Producer for Harri Shanahan and Siân A.  Williams’ film Rebel Dykes which have since gone on to bring the queer and ally communities together at 50 film festivals around the world.

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Isra Al Kassi

Head of Programmes & Audience Development

Isra (She/her) has a background in events management and community spaces and cinemas. She is the co-founder of  T A P E Collective and has curated for London Short Film Festival, BFI Southbank and Aesthetica Short Film Festival. After her stint as a cinema programmer Isra has more recently worked with BIFA, Inclusive Cinema, Independent Film Trust and London Film Festival, Habibi Collective and Shasha with a focus on audience development and outreach.

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Cristina Garcia

Operations Manager

Cristina (She/her) has worked in film since 2016, first in casting then in film exhibition, working in operations and finance for Cineworld Cinemas and joining the Birds Eye View flock in 2019.

A bit of a late bloomer, Cristina was a typical ’talks too much in class’ dyslexic kid and worked in a jewellery shop for 3 years after leaving school assuming she wasn’t cut out for much more. Fortunately, she stopped listening to what those negative voices were telling her about herself and followed her passion for film, hustled her way into higher education and ended up graduating with a first class degree in Film Studies from Queen Mary University of London, where she was also awarded the Principle’s Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement.

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Simone Glover

Training & Content Manager

Simone (She/her) has worked in the film industry for over 20 years in various roles in story development and training. Prior to joining Birds’ Eye View in 2015, Simone was a story developer at Oscar-Winning production company ‘Missing In Action Films’. Prior to this, Simone worked for Arista Development, the training initiative of the EU’s Media II programme, in which Pan-European writers, producers, directors and development executives gained both the theoretical knowledge and practical techniques vital to develop their stories. Simone is a graduate of the programme.

Following this, Simone has been a freelance story developer, and a reader for most of the regional screen agencies, including Film London’s Microwave and London Calling schemes. Simone is also a screenwriter and has made a number of short films (and TV), one (directed by Adrian Dunbar), a winner of BBC Northern Ireland NIFTC for Northern Lights, and another (starring Ben Whishaw), backed by the BBC, was nominated for Best Short at Danny Boyle’s Shuffle Film Festival. Simone has worked with Hollywood director, Joe Dante on a Tom Holt adaptation, and her co-written original comedy feature, created with actor Adrian Dunbar, is in development with Northern Ireland Screen. When not working at Birds Eye View, Simone is working on the feature that recently got her onto The Writers Lab UK & Ireland as a finalist.

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Yasmin Jenoui

Communications Assistant

Yasmin (She/her) graduated from Goldsmiths with a Media and Communications BA in which she specialised in film and screenwriting. She’s since gained experience working in scripted development, industry research, and film exhibition. Sharing thought-provoking and original stories is what fuels her creative ambition, and she especially prides herself on prioritising fair, accurate, and inclusive representation.

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Charlie Little

Access & Inclusion Consultant

Charlie (She/her) is a deafblind access consultant working in the film exhibition sector. Based in Edinburgh, Charlie works with cinemas, festivals, and organisations on improving access and inclusion for Deaf and Disabled audiences, having worked with organisations such as Filmhouse, Bohemia Media, Sundance London, and Film Hub Scotland. She is also a film curator and writes about disability in cinema, and she recently launched Caption This Cinema, a pop-up dedicated to accessible screenings and diverse representation. Charlie works as an access consultant under Matchbox Cine, an independent film exhibitor and an award-winning subtitler, specialising in access provision for film exhibition & distribution.
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Tom Symmons

Data & Research Manager

Tom Symmons (He/him) has been at Birds’ Eye View since 2017 working on data, research and curation. After a music career in his twenties, Tom decided to enter higher education as an undergraduate later completing his studies with a Film History PhD. He published his thesis (The New Hollywood Historical Film 1967-78) and taught for some years at the University of London before embarking on his present position at Birds’ Eye View.

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Jo Taylor-Hitchinson

Awards Campaign Manager & Communications Consultant

Jo (She/her) has worked in the film industry for over 12 years in various roles with experience across a variety of cinema, film and arts marketing disciplines. She’s worked with organisations including Altitude Film Entertainment, BFI, BIFA, Bulldog Film Distribution, eOne, Modern Films, Fox Searchlight, Curzon Artificial Eye, Curzon Cinemas & Curzon Home Cinema.

Her marketing expertise covers film exhibition and distribution – specifically with a focus on strategy and campaign management as well as grassroots and outreach marketing consultancy.

Project highlights include collaborating with eOne on outreach strategy and campaigns for Queen and Slim, Sorry We Missed You & I, Daniel Blake, with Altitude Film Entertainment on their regional outreach and grassroots campaigns for Loving Vincent, Moonlight, mid90s & Beats and the BFI and Camelot on National Lottery Cinema Day 2019 & 2018 + National Lottery Cinema Weekend 2021.

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Impact Producers

Rui Jin – Brighton / South East

Rui (she/her) is committed to boosting access & participation of the historically excluded in all parts of the film industry chain. Rui works with the BFI FAN’s New Release team as the freelance marketer in the South East and is also founder of Brighton Community Cinematheque.

Robyn Lawrence – Plymouth / Exeter

Robyn (she/her) is an arts worker and avid consumer of films and arts events. Having worked across the country, she has a passion for facilitating peoples enjoyment and interaction with film, events and the wider arts. 

Toni Lee – Leeds / Sheffield

Toni (they/them) is a filmmaker, researcher, organiser, and programmer for Leeds Queer Film Festival, with an interest in community based and collaborative documentary making and cinema grounded in justice, and love.

Xuanlin Tham – Glasgow / Edinburgh

Xuanlin (they/them) is a Singaporean film critic and curator based in Edinburgh, Scotland.  They are passionate about queer, ecofeminist, and more-than-human perspectives in cinema which demand us to forge new solidarities and imagine ways of being in the world differently.

Anne Louise Kershaw – Manchester / North West

Anne Louise Kershaw (she/her) is a curator, producer, writer and sound artist making sound work under the pseudonym Synda Sova. She is director of Instigate Arts CIC. Her feminist queer and holistic practice seeks to bring marginal voices into the mainstream spaces they feel excluded from.

Laura Taylor-Williams – Cardiff

Laura (she/her) is a film and TV distribution consultant who works with production and distribution companies, film making teams and runs distribution seminars. Laura is very passionate about people seeing themselves represented on screen and  greater gender diversity in film making. 

Trustees

Lisa Balderson (she/her)

HR & Wellbeing Consultant providing freelance support to Film and TV Indies. Lisa is a certified Mental Health First Aider, CPD accredited, and has previously worked for BAFTA, BBC and Lion Television, and as part of BFI LFF and Flare programming department.

Tara Brown (they/them)

Film Curator and Creative Evaluator. With a background in community events and art education, Tara is currently Programmer at Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Festival and at London Indian Film Festival, also working as an evaluator within a disability justice framework.

Jaq Chell (she/they)

Cinema Exhibitor, distributor, advocate, and Clore leader. Currently Head of Programme & Business Development at Cinema for All, supporting the 1500+ volunteer-led cinemas in the UK, and a writer for cultural website Our Favourite Places in Sheffield.

Stephen Follows (he/him)

Award-winning writer and producer at Catsnake, who runs one of the most respected research data and statistics blogs in the film industry.

Sophie Glover (she/her)

Head of Publicity at Pathe UK and has worked there since July 2011. She works on all Pathe productions and on all aspects of publicity from production to UK distribution as well as international; including world premieres at the major film festivals around the world

Nidhi Gupta (she/her)

Filmmaker, Entrepreneur & NHS Doctor. Nidhi has transitioned from medicine to a portfolio career, as Founder & Creative Director of Busy Doctor Films and as a mentor to women filmmakers.

Stephanie Hayward (she/her)

Barrister with a decade’s experience practising criminal law. As an organiser, Stephanie leads the Behind the Gown campaign – an organisation founded in 2017 by a group of barristers committed to tackling harassment and abuse of power at the Bar.

Fozia O’Dowd (née Khaliq) (she/her)

 Award-winning Producer, former Production Accountant, and founder of Public Display of Affection Films, an emerging Film and TV production company with projects in development with the BFI and Sky Drama across Film and TV. Fozia is an alumna of Bird’s Eye View’s Filmonomics Programme.

Alison Thompson (she/her)

One of the world’s most respected international sales agents, ran Focus Features International and Pathe International, and now runs Cornerstone Films.

Advisory Group

Sophie Buckle (she/her)

Film Booking Director at ODEON Cinemas with 16 years experience across various roles in exhibition and cinema operations. Sophie is also a champion for inclusivity and responsible for internal and on-screen diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Sharon Budwal (she/her)

Sharon is a finance director with over 15 years experience in the media and entertainment industry, currently on maternity leave from her role as European Head of Finance at AEG Entertainment. Previous positions held include Head of finance at Channel 4 and Warner Brothers.

Lia Devlin (she/her)

Managing Director of Altitude Distribution, a creative and strategic film distribution leader with 20 years experience across both studio and independent distribution. She is an alumna of Birds’ Eye View’s Future Leaders in Distribution programme, with a successful track record in independent, award-winning film releases.

Jessica Edwards (she/her)

 Jessica is currently undertaking a Clore Fellowship in cultural leadership. Until recently, she was the Director of Impact & Partnerships at Doc Society and has worked with documentaries in production & impact, film & television. She is an alumna of Birds’ Eye View’s Filmonomics Plus programme.

Julie La’Bassiere (she/her)

 Julie is an awards, publicity and marketing strategy consultant. Currently she manages the UK Awards campaigns for Apple Worldwide Video and is a Board Member of The Future of Film is Female. Julie is a graduate of Stanford University and BAFTA Film Committee member.

Violette Martin (she/her)

Violette started her career in Paris before moving to the UK to work in the international sales teams at BBC Worldwide, Sony Pictures Television and then at BFI. More recently she has moved to Film Soho/Studio Soho where she is working as Head of Distribution and International Sales.

Bennett McGhee, (he/him)

Bennett McGhee is a BAFTA and BIFA-nominated producer and co-founder of film & TV company Home Team. Producer credits include Bassam Tariq’s BAFTA-nominated FIPRESCI-winner MOGUL MOWGLI, VS. and BOBBY. Other credits include BROOKLYN, AN EDUCATION, QUARTET, and Executive Producer on Dionne Edwards’ PRETTY RED DRESS.

Laura Rothwell (she/her)

Laura is founder of the multi-award-winning cultural communications agency Crystallised. A certified B-Corporation, Crystallised prioritises people, planet, and purpose. Laura is an outspoken advocate of the 4-day work week and for justice and equity in the workplace.

Tolu Stedford (she/her)

Tolu Stedford is Co-founder of Story Compound, a creative film, TV and immersive media production company and consultancy with an emphasis on Global Majority talent and narratives and all marginalised intersections. She is also PEC- INDUSTRY CHAMPION and a British Screen Forum FUTURE LEADER.

Jill Tandy (she/her)

Jill Tandy, a qualified solicitor, has  35 years’ commercial experience in the Creative Industries.  Previously Head of International Production at Universal Pictures. Passionate about talent development and diversity,  she is co-founder of ‘Breaking The Glass Ceiling’, and Inside Pictures leadership programmes.

Rowan Woods (she/her)

Rowan is a programmer for the BFI London Film Festival, a freelance festival strategist and an acquisitions consultant for Shudder/AMC. She has previously led on international festivals at the British Council and worked as a Development Executive at BBC Film.

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