Experience

giyst
• Ireland
• Technology, Information and Internet
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Business Development Representative

  • Sep 2023 - Present


Freelance

• Egypt
• Human Resources
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Film, Arts and Festivals Consultant

  • Jan 2003 - Present

  I directed and/or produced the following film Festivals: [] Cork Film Festival (Creative Director - 2013-2016); [] Edinburgh International Film Festival (Producer / Director - 2011). [] REFEST (UK, Irish and Australian Producer - 2003-2006). I have consulted for, advised or spoke at the following: Sheffield Doc|Fest (Advisory), BAFTA (London and Wales- Short Sighted Course Leader); the British Film Institute (London, UK – Panelist); HBO Europe (Awards and Festivals Strategist); Encounters Festivals (Bristol, UK - Board); Abandon Normal Devices (Liverpool and Manchester, UK - Advisory); Glasgow Film Festival (Panelist), New Horizons Film Festival (Wrocław, Poland – Studio Course Leader); International Festival of Cinema, Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco, Mexico – Programme Consultant); Valetta International Film Festival (Malta – Juror, and Programme Consultant); London Short Film Festival (Advisory), Rushes Soho Shorts Festival (London - Consultant), Branchage Film Festival (Jersey, UK - Co-founder); XPO North (Inverness, Scotland – Panelist); Queen’s Film Theatre (Belfast, UK – Panelist); Rich Pickings (Co-founder); East End Film Festival (London - Industry Contributor); the Frontline Club (UK) (Host), Babelgum Online Film Festival (global) (Contributor); Cinovate (Newport , Wales - Course Leader); Developing Your Film Festival (Independent Cinema Office, UK – Course leader), Creative Skillset Media Academy Wales (Industry Consultant), and Film Agency Wales. I have taught film festival strategy, sales, marketing and distribution at over 50 UK Universities and Colleges (Met Film School, York St Johns, Aberystwyth University, Southampton Solent, Bath Spa, London Film Academy, et al.). I produce the marketing and distribution of cross platform projects, including the Sleep Paralysis Project (thesleepparalysisproject.org). Show less


Artinii.Pro
• Czechia
• Entertainment
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Business Development consultant, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand

  • Jun 2021 - Present

Fat Rat Films
• United Kingdom
• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Director Of Business Development

  • Feb 2020 - Aug 2023

Sheffield Doc/Fest
• United Kingdom
• Movies, Videos, and Sound
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Industry and Partnerships Executive

  • Oct 2019 - May 2022


Together Films

• United Kingdom
• Entertainment Providers
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Development Director

  • Jul 2018 - Jan 2019

  A film doesn't exist until an audience has seen it... That is why we focus on 3 core areas: Reach, Revenue & Reaction. We work with partners across the world to devise Impact Distribution Strategies to achieve strategic goals; whether the release of a feature film, engagement across a film festival or a brand activation involving moving image. We are obsessed with data, which is why we are also building our own data products to transform the film industry. Our vision is a creative sector driven by collaboration, transparency and insight to ensure that great work gets seen. Show less


CognitionX - Producer of CogX 2018 Festival of AI
• Producer

  • Mar 2018 - Jun 2018


Cork Film Festival

• Ireland
• Movies and Sound Recording
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Creative Director

  • May 2013 - Dec 2016

  The Cork Film Festival is Ireland’s oldest, and Cork City’s premier cultural event. Its 61st Edition took place 11 - 20 November 2016. The Creative Director is responsible for all aspects of delivery of the Festival, as well as reshaping its structure and purpose for the future. Both the previous three events were successful, seeing increases in state and corporate funding, audiences, PR and partnerships. corkfilmfest.org. The Cork Film Festival is Ireland’s oldest, and Cork City’s premier cultural event. Its 61st Edition took place 11 - 20 November 2016. The Creative Director is responsible for all aspects of delivery of the Festival, as well as reshaping its structure and purpose for the future. Both the previous three events were successful, seeing increases in state and corporate funding, audiences, PR and partnerships. corkfilmfest.org.



VODO

• Fiji
• Technology, Information and Internet

• Contributing Editor

  • Feb 2013 - Dec 2014

  VODO helps promote and distribute new creative works all over the world & enables those enjoying shared media to make donations to creators. http://vodo.net/ VODO helps promote and distribute new creative works all over the world & enables those enjoying shared media to make donations to creators. http://vodo.net/



The Sleep Paralysis Project

• Producer of Marketing and Distribution

  • Oct 2012 - Dec 2013

  The Project was a Wellcome Trust Arts Award supported multi medium platform which explored the phenomenon, and which garnered over 100k views for the short experimental animated horror documentary 'Devil In The Room', Director Carla MacKinnon’s Animation Masters graduation project at Royal College of Art. http://www.thesleepparalysisproject.org. The Project was a Wellcome Trust Arts Award supported multi medium platform which explored the phenomenon, and which garnered over 100k views for the short experimental animated horror documentary 'Devil In The Room', Director Carla MacKinnon’s Animation Masters graduation project at Royal College of Art. http://www.thesleepparalysisproject.org.



Cinovate

• Contributing Editor

  • Nov 2011 - Dec 2013

  Cinovate is a personal and professionl development programme for film exhibition managers, delivered by Skillset Media Academy Wales. http://www.cinovate.org/ Cinovate is a personal and professionl development programme for film exhibition managers, delivered by Skillset Media Academy Wales. http://www.cinovate.org/



HBO Europe

• Entertainment Providers
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Festivals and Awards Strategist

  • Jun 2012 - May 2013

  http://www.hbo-europe.com/ http://www.hbo-europe.com/



Cinelan

• United States
• Movies, Videos, and Sound

• UK and Australia Festival Liaison

  • Aug 2011 - Feb 2013

  Focus Forward was a series of 30 three-minute stories about innovative people who reshaped the world through act or invention, directed by the world's most celebrated documentary filmmakers, entirely funded by General Electric. The stories were exhibited primarily through major international film festivals (TIFF, IDFA, Sundance, Berlinale, Tribeca, Sheffield, Melbourne IFF, Busan, etc.), and my role was to create, oversee and deliver those strategic festival partnerships. Focusforwardfilms.com. Show less



Edinburgh International Film Festival

• United Kingdom
• Movies, Videos, and Sound
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director

  • Jan 2011 - Aug 2011

  A short-term emergency contract delivering the 65th edition of the world’s longest continuously running film festival, which was undergoing major restructure after departure of Board and senior executive. In four months I built a 200 event programme that achieved 87% of previous year’s ticket revenue on a 45% smaller budget, and delivered five new corporate and dozens of curatorial partners. edfilmfest.org.uk A short-term emergency contract delivering the 65th edition of the world’s longest continuously running film festival, which was undergoing major restructure after departure of Board and senior executive. In four months I built a 200 event programme that achieved 87% of previous year’s ticket revenue on a 45% smaller budget, and delivered five new corporate and dozens of curatorial partners. edfilmfest.org.uk



Shooting People

• United Kingdom
• Movies, Videos, and Sound
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Creative Director

  • Jan 2007 - May 2011

  I trebled the staff and turnover of the world’s largest community of independent filmmakers. The 40k+ members are directors, producers, writers, actors and crew, mostly in the UK and US. I was responsible for all aspects of the business: sales, marketing, production, human resources, web product development, and business development. shootingpeople.org I trebled the staff and turnover of the world’s largest community of independent filmmakers. The 40k+ members are directors, producers, writers, actors and crew, mostly in the UK and US. I was responsible for all aspects of the business: sales, marketing, production, human resources, web product development, and business development. shootingpeople.org



Resfest UK & Ireland

• Producer

  • Jul 2003 - Dec 2006

  Owned by Palm Pictures, RESFEST was a global traveling festival of cutting edge short film and music videos, which played 42 cities on all continents. I grew the UK operation from a two-day festival in London in 2003 to a major autumn touring event which launched at London’s BFI Southbank and visited Bristol, Nottingham, Sheffield, Glasgow, Belfast, Dublin, Melbourne and Sydney. Owned by Palm Pictures, RESFEST was a global traveling festival of cutting edge short film and music videos, which played 42 cities on all continents. I grew the UK operation from a two-day festival in London in 2003 to a major autumn touring event which launched at London’s BFI Southbank and visited Bristol, Nottingham, Sheffield, Glasgow, Belfast, Dublin, Melbourne and Sydney.