Alex Heffes is a Golden Globe-nominated composer scoring for movies and TV such as The Last King of Scotland, Mandela Long Walk to Freedom, and Black Mirror, working with Mira Nair, Catherine Hardwicke, Tim Burton & JJ Abrams.

Alex Lambert is an award-winning VR and AR practitioner, having worked with brands such as Nike, Google, Samsung, Zaha Hadid Architects, Dezeen and Adidas. He has over 20 years experience as a digital creative, producing for emerging technologies.

Alexander Whitley is a choreographer working at the cutting edge contemporary dance. He has developed a reputation for a bold interdisciplinary approach to dance making, producing innovative and thought provoking works.

Ali Coulson is head of development at Hurricane Films, managing their development slate and seeing projects through into production. Since 2014, she has worked on features Sometimes Always Never, A Quiet Passion & A Prayer Before Dawn.

Amanda Rees is a historian of science whose most recent books Human and Presenting Futures Past, portray the cultural and natural history of our species from prehistory to the far future. She is an academic at the University of York.

Andrea Arnold won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for Wasp in 2005, going on to direct award-winners Red Road, Fish Tank and Wuthering Heights. Her most recent film, American Honey, stars Sasha Lane and Shia LaBeouf.

Andrew Stirk has worked as a re-recording mixer on acclaimed projects such as You Were Never Really Here, A Private War and The Secret Garden. In 2018, he was nominated for the BIFA for Best Sound Design for his work on American Animals.

Anthony Andrews is the Co-founder and Creative Director of We Are Parable, an award winning film exhibition company. They provide UK audiences with opportunities to experience Black Cinema in culturally relevant, memorable ways.

Stop motion director Anthony Farquhar Smith is known for his storytelling and unique animation style. He has directed numerous commercials, as well as working with the likes of renowned filmmakers Wes Anderson and Tim Burton.

Barry Adamson established himself as a solo artist came after working with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. He has worked with some of the film industry’s most intriguing mavericks, including Derek Jarman, David Lynch, Oliver Stone and Danny Boyle.

Berwyn is a producer and the founder of the Iris Prize, a generous production grant awarded annually to a filmmaker as part of the Iris Prize Festival. He has produced content for BBC, ITV and S4C including Llety Piod (UK) starring Bill Nighy.

Carlos Catalan is a Director of Photography and Cinematographer with short and feature credits including Broadchurch, Third Star and The Eichmann Show. Carlos has worked on commercials with major brands such as Volkswagen and Dell.

Carly Whitefield is Assistant Curator, International Art (Film) at Tate Modern. She is co-curator of the current Dóra Maurer exhibition, Anicka Yi’s upcoming 2021 Commission for Turbine Hall, as well as the Tate Film programme and numerous displays.

Catherine is a BAFTA-winning, immersive media specialist and the founder of Limina Immersive. She has been responsible for a range of high profile digital entertainment products and has worked with major brands including Disney and the BBC.

Chinonye Chukwu is one of the most exciting filmmakers today. She wrote and directed Clemency starring Alfre Woodard and Wendell Pierce, receiving the 2019 Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, making her the first black woman to win the accolade.

Chris Dain is a Sound Designer at Dimension, creating realistic soundscapes for virtual reality experiences. He works in Unreal and Unity, with credits including Sky’s Britannia VR: Out of Your Mind and The Viking Planet: The Ambush.

Chris Walker is the founding director of Bright White Ltd, a storytelling design and delivery consultancy based in York. Bright White specialises in design-as-process for digital innovation, interpretation and experiential cross-reality exhibitions.

Corinne Cowgill is a Layout artist for Industrial Light & Magic TV. She has worked on shows such as Aladdin, The Mandalorian and Brave New World. ILM is Lucasfilm’s animation and VFX studio, with the TV division working on episodic and online series.

Cornelius Walker is a director and screenwriter whose first film was the Oscar-Nominated Black Sheep produced by Lightbox and The Guardian. Through his own company, he has worked with leading brands Such as Google and HSBC.

Dame Judi Dench is an Oscar and 10-time BAFTA award-winning actor whose credits include the blockbuster James Bond series, Shakespeare in Love, Notes on a Scandal, Mrs Henderson Presents, Chocolat and Philomena, to name just a few.

Dan Bartlett is Programme Director for Moving Image & Digital Arts at London College of Communication. Dan is an animation visual development artist exploring emergent digital technologies. Dan has developed a number of digital arts programmes.

David has worked as an independent film, TV and theatre producer for over 30 years. His film credits include BAFTA and Oscar-winners including Shakespeare in Love, The Madness of King George, Gangs of New York, Loving Vincent and 2019’s Red Joan.

Dr Mariana Lopez is a Senior Lecturer in Sound Production and Post Production at UoY. Mariana’s research focuses on the potential of film and television sound design to create accessible experiences for visually impaired audiences.

After 23 years in the industry, Eddie has cut over 20 feature films in a variety of genres as well as TV dramas, documentaries and award-winning short films. He is currently editing Top Gun, and is known for Mission: Impossible, Kingsman and X-Men.

Emma develops a wide-ranging slate of British films. Most recently, she was Executive Producer on Military Wives, How to Build a Girl, Summerland, and the forthcoming Six Minutes to Midnight, with Judi Dench. Previous films include Eddie the Eagle.

Gail formed the independent production company Potboiler Productions in 2000. Recent credits include Chiwetel Ejiofor’s acclaimed debut The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. She works with Mike Leigh, producing Mr Turner & Peterloo.

Gemma started her career in sound working on Harry Potter and Batman. As a Post Supervisor, she has worked in all levels of film, TV and for major streaming companies. Gemma has been in the industry for 20 years, founding Post Super in 2019.

Oscar-Winning British Sound Editor and Designer Glenn Freemantle’s credits include Gravity, Annihilation, Slumdog Millionaire and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. He has an on-going collaboration with director Danny Boyle.

Grant is an award winning designer. Notable credits for television include the BAFTA-nominated Peaky Blinders, Birdsong, To Walk Invisible and Death Comes To Pemberley. For film, Grant’s designs include The Secret Garden, Tolkien and Ghost Stories.

The BFI Doc Society Fund aims to develop storytellers from all parts of the UK, backing documentaries with bold cultural and social ambitions. Hannah Bush Bailey works across the funds feature slate and Made of Truth Short Scheme, supporting filmmakers.

With 10 years of casting experience, Hannah has worked across most corners of the casting world. Since 2016, Hannah has worked with Backstage, the largest international casting platform, actor publication and hub, finding the right talent.

Heather Basten is an English casting director based out of London. Casting associate credits include Netflix’s The End of the F**king World, Robert Egger’s The Lighthouse starring Willem Dafoe & Robert Pattinson, and TV series Gomorrah.

Iain Cunningham is a documentary film maker. Iain‘s first feature documentary was the BFI-funded Irene’s Ghost, which was BIFA nominated and named in the Guardian’s list of best films of 2019. He is the founder of Slash Films.

Iain Gardner is an award-winning animator with over 20 years experience, starting with Richard Williams Animation Studio. His short films have won acclaim around the world. His 2010 short THE TANNERY qualified for the Academy Awards.

Ian Bailie’s films have garnered over one hundred awards and nominations including BAFTA and Academy Awards. He is known for Universal’s Pride & Prejudice and Atonement, Spyglass’ Reign of Fire, Tony Gilroy’s Beirut and Lionsgate’s John Wick 3.

Ian handles the festival submissions for the Festival Formula’s huge slate of films as well as arranging deliverables. He is also active in delivering talks on festival strategy at festivals and events across the UK, helping filmmakers to realise their potential.

Cinematographer James Friend ASC, BSC GBCT is known for his work on Rillington Place and Stan Lee’s Lucky Man. Starting out as a lighting technician aged 16, he worked through the ranks, and is now a full voting member of BAFTA.

Jannicke Mikkelsen is an award-winning director & cinematographer specialised in high-tech film production in hazardous environments. She is internationally known for work with David Attenborough, Queen and NASA.

Jason Wood is Artistic Director at Film at HOME, Manchester, a centre for art, theatre and film. He is Professor of Film at both Manchester School of Art and the University of Salford, and an author of books on cinema. He is co-director of Always (crashing).

Jayisha Patel is an award winning British filmmaker working at the intersection of cinema and VR. Her films have shown at festivals such as the Berlinale, Toronto International Film Festival, SXSW, New York Film Festival and BFI London Film Festival.

Jeanie Finlay is an award-winning filmmaker and one of Britain’s most distinctive documentary makers. She tells intimate stories to international audiences, such as the Emmy nominated Game Of Thrones: The Last Watch and BIFA-nominated Seahorse.

Jenn Chubb is a postdoctoral researcher in DC Labs at the University of York. She brings her background in moral philosophy and ethics to study the impact of science and technology, particularly the societal implications of AI over the coming decades.

Jeremy Deller is an English conceptual, video and installation artist, and filmmaker. He won the Turner Prize in 2004, and in 2010 was awarded the Albert Medal of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce (RSA).

Jess oversees the national strategy for the BFI NETWORK working closely with the UK-wide team of Talent Execs and colleagues in the BFI Film Fund, supporting and promoting the next generation of filmmakers wherever they are based in the UK.

Dr Jessica Bugg is Dean of the School of Media and Communication, London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London and was awarded a PhD from the same institution in 2006. Jessica’s work has been screened in venues including the ICA.

Jordan has worked in International Sales and Distribution for over 5 years, beginning at Universal Pictures International. He has worked on films by the likes of Doug Liman, Kevin Macdonald and Asif Kapadia. He now works at Independent.

Joseph Wallace is a BAFTA Cyrmu nominated animation director. He creates internationally acclaimed short films, music videos, commercials and sequences for feature films. He is active as a curator, writer and lecturer.

Jude leads BFI NETWORK Wales talent initiatives, supporting emerging Welsh or Wales-based filmmakers through training, development and production. Prior to Ffilm Cymru, she managed Creative England’s iFeatures development lab.

Julian Foddy is a VFX supervisor at Industrial Light & Magic. He has worked on many exciting film projects including Spielberg’s Ready Player One and Solo: A Star Wars Story. He was Global Supervisor for Spiderman: Far From Home and Artemis Fowl.

Regime is an agency and partnership of two global advertising veterans. Pushing new collaborative ways of working, it streamlines brief, strategy, talent, execution and media. Prior to REGIME, Justin was Head of Global Production for adidas Originals. 

Kate is an award-winning cinematographer working in TV and film. Her credits include Amazon series Hanna, BBC One dramas Press and Call the Midwife, Netflix’s Marcella and additional photography on HBO’s Game of Thrones. 

Kate Rolfe heads up the Digital Orchard Foundation, an organisation which focuses on supporting talent progression for individuals from underrepresented groups in technical on-set and post-production roles in film and television.

Kate Wurzbacher began working in live action VR capture during its earliest days. Kate is also working on custom volumetric camera solutions in documentary. She is passionate about using technology to give viewers access to new places.

Katie is the founder of Festival Formula Ltd, a consultancy company focusing on filmmakers covering festival strategy. With over 13 years’ experience she’s hosted workshops at BFI Flare, Encounters and Glasgow Short Film Festival.

Kavya Pearlman is an award-winning cybersecurity professional with a deep interest in immersive and emerging technologies. Kavya is the founder of non-profit, XR Safety Initiative, the first global effort that promotes privacy, security and ethics.

Kit is a leading innovator in screen-based art and interactive media. He directed the visually experimental feature Macbeth and co-directed The Knife That Killed Me. He is also co-founder of KMA – specialising in environmental installations.

Kristian is a production designer. Credits include The Girl with All the Gifts, Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories and Journey’s End. In 2018, he was nominated for a BAFTA for Killing Eve. He received an Emmy nomination for designing HBO’s Watchmen.

Kristina Hetherington is a BAFTA award-winning editor who has collaborated with some of the industry’s finest directors on acclaimed projects. Credits include MO, Birdsong and The Crown, with recent titles Blackbird and Red Joan. 

Laurie Rose is a BAFTA-winning Director of Photography known for his work with Ben Wheatley, including High Rise and Free Fire. He has worked on BBC’s Peaky Blinders. Recent film credits including Journey’s End, Pet Sematary and Stan and Ollie.

Leen Segers is a Brussels-based software entrepreneur and WebXR expert, focused on the democratisation of media. She started LucidWeb in 2016, and is co-founder of Women in Immersive Tech Europe, with more than 2000 members.

Leslie brings over 30 years of audio engineering experience to her work. She specialises in mixing feature films and documentaries in stereo and 5.1. Recent movies include Rent-a-Pal and Leap of Faith, premiering at BFI, Sundance and and La Biennale. 

Luke has produced brand films and TV commercials for the likes of ASDA. StraZeneca and Gaggenau. From 2015 to 2020 he ran the London branch of Maker Projects, shooting all over the world and winning awards at Cannes, Clios, The Drum and more.

Lyndy Stout edits and curates the online magazine and creative awards 1.4M, which showcases the hottest international short-form filmmaking talent. She previously edited shots magazine for over a decade and was deputy editor of Creative Review.

Mandy is the Commissioning Editor of Storyville – BBC’s global feature documentary strand. Mandy is from a filmmaking background and has brought award-winning films to public television viewers, both as a commissioner and filmmaker.

MarBelle is the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of independent film curation and interview site Directors Notes, a destination for the most cutting edge films. He has previously worked as Editor of Shooting People’s Filmmakers Bulletin.

Marco Magnano is a multimedia journalist with 10 years’ experience and working knowledge of advanced media technologies. He is a board member and Executive Director of Communications for XR Safety Initiative, a global security effort.

Margo Mars is the award-winning founder of Lief, a London based creative content studio, and one of the most respected producers across the UK. Her clients include CHANEL, Pernod Ricard, NOWNESS, Vogue, Selfridges & BVLGARI.

Black Dog Films specialises in the production of music videos, documentary, and branded content. As part of the Ridley Scott Creative Group, they have worked Beyoncé, Sigur Rós and The Chemical Brothers, and brands including Adidas and Nike.

Maryam Mohajer is a British-Iranian, BAFTA-winning animator / director who was born in Tehran, Iran, living through the revolution and war. With a background in painting, she discovered animation and short film after moving to UK in 2000.

Mitch Turnbull is a multi nominated and award-winning filmmaker and digital content creator working in 16:9, traditional moving images and 360°, immersive and interactive environments. She has created content for global organisations.

Naeem Mohaiemen is a Turner Prize-nominated artist, filmmaker and author. Mohaiemen uses film, installations and essays to reflect on the legacy of decolonisation. His work has exhibited globally, and he is a member of the film council of ICA.

Olivia Belton is a postdoctoral researcher in public perceptions of AI and technology. She uses collaborative storytelling to understand these perceptions. Her opinion has been sought by UNESCO, CogX & the Cabinet Office.

Omari is a screendance practitioner and lecturer who has choreographed and performed for music videos, film, television and theatre. He is the founder and creative director of award-winning production company, The Motion Dance Collective.

Opal H. Bennett is a curator & programmer working with Athena Film Festival, and is Consultant for The March on Washington Festival. Opal is the Shorts Producer for POV, and Director of Filmmaker Development at DOC NYC.

Paul Franklin is a double Oscar- winning VFX Supervisor (Interstellar, Inception). At DNEG he works to lead the way in virtual production, delivering cutting-edge technology that allows creatives to completely rethink the way they make films.

Peter Cowling is a Professor of AI at Queen Mary University of London. He leads the large IGGI and DC Labs research centres that have brought AI research, games and creative industries closer together. He is fascinated by the future of AI.

Award-winning film and television director Philippa Lowthorpe became the first woman to win a BAFTA for Best Director at the BAFTA Television Craft Awards in 2013. She is best known for Three Girls,The Crown (2017) and Cider with Rosie (2015).

Rebecca Mark-Lawson runs award-winning Tyke Films, producing work with original voices, exploring the intersection between documentary and fiction. Tyke Films’ documentary Irene’s Ghost was listed as one of The Guardian’s “Best Films of 2019.”

In 2003, Richard Knight worked as a location manager working on Shane Meadows’ Dead Man’s Shoes. Since then, he’s worked on the BAFTA-winning This is England film and TV series, plus 2019’s The Virtues. He delivers sessions for Screen Yorkshire.

Rob joined the Short of the Week team in 2009 and has been championing short film on the platform ever since. Looking to help a new generation of filmmakers share their stories on a larger stage, Rob is passionate about emerging talent from UK and Europe.

Rob Wilmot is a Tech Entrepreneur and angel investor. Having been the youngest executive officer of an FTSE 100 company, he is also an award-winning digital artist and an advisor to governments and NGOs on collective intelligence based innovation.

Robin Shaw is an award-winning animator and illustrator best known for distinct and beautiful hand-drawn work. As a director, he has worked with Lupus Films on animated feature adaptations such as The Tiger Who Came to Tea.

Russell Tovey has an extensive background in film, TV and theatre. He was recently nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award for Years and Years. Previous credits include Being Human, Doctor Who, Gavin & Stacy, The Good Liar and Sherlock.

Ruth Hogben is a renowned fashion filmmaker who has worked with high end brands such as Fendi, Dior and Louis Vuitton, created content for Fashion Designer Gareth Pugh as well as nurturing a decade long creative partnership with Lady Gaga.

Sam is an award-winning filmmaker, Director of the Netflix Original DISCLOSURE. Sam’s work explores the power dynamics and politics of media-driven identity connecting urgent issues in the trans community to the struggles of the past.

Sammy Wong is a Commissioning Coordinator for BBC Films, one of the UK’s most respected producers of works for the big screen. Prior to joining the BBC, Sammy worked for revolution films with Director Michael Winterbottom.

Sara sits on the BAFTA Board, The BAFTA TV Committee and chairs the BAFTA Learning and New Talent Committee. She is also Deputy Chair of Women in Film and runs Sara Putt Associates, an agency for freelance production personnel.

Sarah Gavron is an BAFTA-winning filmmaker whose credits include This Little Life, Brick Lane and Suffragette. Gavron’s latest project Rocks was written by Theresa Ikoko and Claire Wilson and made collaboratively with cast and crew.

Sarah Ticho is a producer, researcher and curator with a rich experience working across immersive technology, healthcare and the arts. She has worked with leading organisations including Stanford University, Nesta and TEDxSydney.

Shobana Jeyasingh is an internationally recognised choreographer and the founder of Shobana Jeyasingh Dance. She has created over 60 critically acclaimed works for stage, screen and unconventional public spaces.

Simon Nelson is the Development Executive for BBC Writersroom. He leads the development of new writers and writing for BBC drama, comedy and children’s drama, covering television, radio and online content. He has also worked for BBC and ITV.

London-based Simran Hans is a journalist and film critic for The Observer and a culture writer whose work has appeared in, amongst others, BuzzFeed, Dazed, The Fader and Sight & Sound. She is also a member of the London Critics Circle.

Sonja Klaus is a Production Designer (Gladiator, Taboo, Mr Selfridge, Terminator Dark Fate) for film and television. As Set Decorator for Sir Ridley Scott’s Gladiator she then began a lasting collaboration with the director on award-winning films.

French Production Designer Stéphane Collonge (God’s Own Country) is based in London. Throughout his career he has collaborated with director Joanna Hogg on a number of her features, including The Souvenir, which won the a World Cinema award at Sundance.

Steve Jelley is an award-winning producer and creative entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in content production, distribution and technology innovation. He is co-founder and joint managing director of Hammerhead VR.

Originally a research physicist, Stuart Penn’s experience and expertise has led him to work on numerous award-winning and groundbreaking projects such as Gravity, The Dark Knight and Avengers: Endgame, at Framestore and alongside Ridley Scott.

Tim Allen is an animator whose credits include Wes Anderson’s Oscar-nominated Isle of Dogs and Fantastic Mr Fox, Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride & Frankenweenie, the Oscar-winning Peter & the Wolf and Oscar-nominated My Life as a Courgette.

Tom Burton is an Interactive Director and Commissioner; he is Head of Interactive for BBC Studios where he has been Executive Producer and Director on many of the most innovative and ambitious pieces of immersive content at the BBC.

Tom Ffiske is the Editor of Virtual Perceptions and runs the Immersive Wire newsletter. Virtual Perceptions is a leading UK-based website highlighting the news that matters surrounding trends and analyses in immersive reality (VR, AR, MR).

Tristan Oliver specialises in cinematography for stop-motion animations, with credits that include Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox and Isle of Dogs, Aardman’s groundbreaking Chicken Run and Laika’s ParaNorman.

Multi-award-winning editor Úna Ní Dhonghaíle is best known for her work on The Crown, Three Girls and Stan and Ollie. She attended the National Film and Television School, and is currently editing Death On The Nile with Sir Kenneth Branagh.

Victoria Emslie is an actress known for The Theory of Everything & Downtown Abbey. She is the Founder of Primetime – a platform for women working above and below the line behind the camera, helping the industry to hire balanced teams.

Commissioning Editor Will Rowson works in Channel 4’s factual division which commissions and produces specialist documentaries that challenge perceptions and push boundaries such as My Grandparents’ War, Jade and Outback Murders.

Yasmin is a writer, activist and creative based in Cardiff. She works as a BFI Youth Fan Consultant and has worked with Ffilm Cymru Wales, Inclusive Cinema and Hansh. Yasmin is passionate about engagement, equality, evaluation and diversity.