Meet the UK Festivals

UK film festival directors share their views on cinema, creativity and the international circulation of independent films. Join the directors from BFI London Film Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Glasgow Film Festival and Leeds International Film Festival for an insightful conversation around films, talent and audiences.

Moderator:

ZAC NTIM | International Film Reporter
Deadline

Speakers:

CHRIS FELL | Director
Leeds International Film Festival

Chris is Director of Leeds International Film Festival (LIFF) which runs for 18 days every November and celebrates its 40th edition in 2026. A qualifying festival for the Academy Awards, BAFTAs and BIFAs, LIFF is part of Leeds Film which also organises Leeds Young Film Festival for children, the INDIs Film Festival for ages 15-25, and year-round programme, education and training initiatives. Chris was previously Cinema and Festivals Programmer at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford.

ALLISON GARDNER | Director
Glasgow Film Festival

Allison joined Glasgow Film in 1993 as a Duty Manager and began to work in the programme team eventually becoming Programme Director and Co-director of Glasgow Film Festival. She became the CEO in April 2020 and is also the Director of Glasgow Film Festival, she hosted her last film festival in March 2025 and will retire from Glasgow Film in October 2025.

KRISTY MATHESON | Director
BFI Festivals

Kristy is the Director of BFI Festivals (London Film Festival and BFI Flare). She was the Creative Director of the 2022 Edinburgh International Film Festival and prior to moving to the UK, was Director of Film at ACMI, Australia’s national museum of screen culture. Before her role on the Executive Team at ACMI, Kristy worked at the Sydney Film Festival, Dendy Films and Brisbane International Film Festival. She served on Screen Australia’s Gender Matters Taskforce, as a jury member for BAFTA’s Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer and is a recipient of the Natalie Miller Fellowship.

PAUL RIDD | CEO & Festival Director
Edinburgh International Film Festival

Paul was appointed CEO and Festival Director of Edinburgh International Film Festival at the end of 2023 and ran his first edition in August 2024. Prior to this he was Head of Acquisitions for UK distributor Picturehouse Entertainment and worked as an International Consultant for Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and a Programme Advisor for The BFI London Film Festival.