Chris Hastings – Artistic Director

CHRIS HASTINGS is a multi-award winning writer, director and producer.

Chris began his career as a writer, journalist and film critic within the radio broadcasting industry, before assuming the mantle of Artistic Director at a London fringe theatre.

Since setting up his own production company, 1066 Productions, Chris has gone on to become a familiar figure at festivals around the world and a regular industry panelist, from the Film Financing Forum at TIFF to the London Screenwriter’s Festival.

Chris is writer on multi-million selling, BAFTA award winning game Prison Architect for Introversion Software (with whom he worked on the Channel 4 project Chronometer) and the follow-up Order of Magnitude and has worked with numerous high profile names both in front of and behind the camera, from Stanley Tucci to Vilmos Zsigmond.

Ada Vaughan – Artistic Director

ADA VAUGHAN, a passionate advocate of women filmmakers, established her own company, SableFilms International, in 2007 and currently works providing Oscars and awards advisory with All Lights Film Services (a subsidiary of Aries Group Global) helping exceptional talent with high level awards PR and marketing; and this year launched SableFilms Select (SFS) offering awards advisory to outstanding indie filmmakers.

Ada was named as one of the Emerging 20 Filmmakers at ReelWorld Film Festival and was one of the eight select director participants chosen for the Women in the Director’s Chair at Banff.

INDUSTRY JUDGES

Endre Hules

ENDRE HULES is a hugely experienced actor, producer and director having appeared in over 100 Hollywood productions, including Apollo 13, Seven, Angels and Demons, Zoolander, 24, Frasier, Monk, Castle, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, and many more and has worked extensively as a script doctor and translator of scripts for every studio in Hollywood and many in Europe.  Endre’s films have been released around the world and he is the recipient of 3 Media Awards, 2 Golden Eagles and a Screen Actors Guild Award among many others. 

Mike Sharland

MIKE SHARLAND founded the Sharland Literary Agency in 1988.  He specialises in film, TV, stage, and radio rights throughout the world and works in conjunction with overseas agents.

Jane Frisby

JANE FISBY is a highly experienced casting director who first began in the industry in 1983, working with the likes of Hubbard Casting. Jane set out on her own in 1986, initially working on TV commercials (her first ever casting was for the late, great Mel Smith).

Moving into feature films, including Hear my Song, and Shopping, Jane discovered the likes of Jude Law and has worked with names ranging from Sean Bean to Andrew Lincoln. With a particular focus on discovering new young actors, Jane regularly works with the National School of Film and Television.

Martin Kiszko

Dr MARTIN KISZKO has 220 film/TV credits and has released nine albums with Europe’s best orchestras. Award winning scores include BBC’s Realms of the Russian Bear, Dreamworks commissioned by BBC and Steven Spielberg, and a BASCA Composer of the Year Award. He composed and conducted for the BAFTA-nominated movie The Killing of John Lennon and has received an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Bristol.

Brian Freeston

BRIAN FREESTON began as a journalist in Fleet Street and became the Daily Mail Northern European Correspondent before stepping into television documentaries.

His work as a TV director and producer led to work with the BBC and ITV.  He financed the first fully digital feature film, €6 million dystopian thriller ‘Silence Becomes You’ starring Alicia Silverstone before moving onto projects including ‘Don’t Call Back’ for the Prince’s Trust (giving opportunity to young, disadvantaged children in London) and the French film ‘Le Faucon Noir’.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Pictured are a few members of SEIFF’s brilliant production team.

From left: Natasha Armstrong, Lorna Hastings, Jamie Reeves, Kalli Pasqualucci and Ellen Cummings.

EVERYONE ELSE

The planning and production of SEIFF relies on the help of countless volunteers! We are grateful to our brilliant and dedicated existing team members and are always on the look-out for enthusiastic people to join the fun! If you are interested in getting involved, head to Volunteer.