Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) is delighted to announce key senior appointments who will lead the premier event to new heights and cement its place in the world’s spotlight.
BIFF’s organising body, Film Fantastic, has appointed Josh Martin its new CEO to lead the organisation as well as the 27th annual BIFF from 21-31 October and the Gold Coast Film Festival.
Film Festival Board Chair Sue-Anne Chapman said the Film Fantastic Board was delighted to have Mr Martin at the helm.
“Josh has a strong track record in delivering major events and festivals along with a solid foundation of leadership and governance at a time of significant growth for our organisation,” Ms Chapman said.
“In partnership with Screen Queensland, we look forward to delivering a rich program jam- packed with traditional, world-class screen content and innovative industry programming to create an event that has the future of cinema at its heart.”
BIFF also welcomes Operations Manager Mark Melrose to create unique in-cinema experiences, engaging industry programs and networking events.
The appointments come as BIFF prepares to launch a sneak preview of its world-class cinema program on Thursday 16 September to audiences and industry members alike.
Mr Martin, the former CEO of Connecting Southern Gold Coast, has held senior management roles with the Gold Coast Suns, Gold Coast Titans and IMG.
“It is an honour to be joining the organisation at such an exciting time. I can’t wait to release a first-look at our 2021 BIFF program including the announcement of an amazing Opening Night film,” he said.
Mr Martin said the 2021 Festival would champion connection and shared experiences between audiences and filmmakers after a challenging 18 months for the film industry.
“We have assembled a highly skilled team with decades of combined film festival experience to deliver our vision for BIFF this year.
“Our talented Program Manager Sasha Close has meticulously curated a BIFF program comprising more than 70 feature films and 20 shorts over the 11-day Festival.”
Ms Close promised BIFF’s 2021 program would be bold and unforgettable, hinting at a huge number of Australian and Queensland premiere films.
“Audiences will have the chance to discover something new, something unexpected, something real,” Ms Close said.
“This year’s program is diverse, fresh and entertaining and I can’t wait to share a sneak peek on Thursday.”
Brisbane International Film Festival is an 11-day celebration of films from 21-31 October 2021. Visit biff.com.au for updates and program announcements.
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