Management Committee
Lauren Faris, Treasurer (Chair)
Lauren joined the BIFF team in 2010 to become its treasurer. A Chartered Accountant, Lauren currently works at Zurich Insurance. Lauren took over the role of Chair of the management committee having demonstrated a flair for getting things organised.
Andrew Stoneham, Festival Administrator & Programming Coordinator
Andrew Stoneham received his B.A. in Science with a concentration in Filmmaking from Full Sail University. Andrew has worked for the Bermuda International Film Festival as a storytelling camp instructor and film series coordinator. He was awarded a Bermuda Arts Council Grant, and the Kate Huntington Memorial Bursary, for his work in the development process of the short film Coffee & Pie endowing the project with funds. In October 2010 Andrew was awarded the Cultural Legacy Fund Grant for his short film The Last/First Kiss.
David O'Beirne, Director of Programming
David has served as Director of Programming since the Festival's inception in 1997. A senior architect at Bermuda firm, OBM, David studied at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, earning a Diploma and Bachelor's degree in Architecture. David is a founding member of the festival.
Alison Hicks, Marketing & Public Relations Director
Alison joined the BIFF team in January 2011 to oversee its marketing and PR activities on a pro-bono basis. Alison is a PR Consultant at Bermuda's leading consultancy, Troncossi Public Relations, where her clients include Bermuda CableVision, the Argus Group and AFL Investments. Alison relocated to Bermuda in 2009 from her native U.K. and has nine years experience in the communications industry. She spent three years with international consultancy, Cohn & Wolfe, in London, with a client portfolio that included Barclays Wealth, Bank of America, Diageo and British Airways. Alison is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
Jean Flath, Volunteer Coordinator
Jean is in charge of BIFF's army of volunteer troops. She leads in the recruitment of helping hands for every aspect of the festival, from box office staff to membership salespeople, through Centre on Philanthropy's www.volunteer.bm. Jean is also continually on the look out for film ethusiasts to sit on the management commiteee and bring their professional skills to the table on a pro bono basis.
Kay-Annie Reid-Young, Membership Coordinator
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Kay-Annie became apart of the BIFF family in 2010 when she provided assistance as the Deputy Fund Raising Director on special events such as "Biff Up De Road" block party and the "Alice in Wonderland" premeire. Kay-Annie orginates from the island of Jamaica where she worked in the hospitality industry for 10 years with one of the Carribean's largest all-inclusive chains. She is a certified Special Event Planner by trade and acquired her certification from George Washington University. This year she decided to focus her volunteer efforts for the festival on implementing, managing and supporting the BIFF BUFF membership programme.
Jodi Szabo, Website Coordinator
The newest member of the team, Jodi knocked on BIFF's door offering her support just weeks after relocating to the island from Buffalo, New York, in early 2012. Jodi keeps BIFF's website up to date with the latest news and events. Jodi is employed at the U.S. Consulate as a part-time Community Liaison Coordinator. She has 10 years experience as a journalist working at weekly and daily newspapers in the States and attended the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism and the University of Maine-Orono, where she earned a BA in Journalism.
Tim Stewart, Patron & Sponsor Liaison
Tim came on board in Fall 2011 to act as the point person for BIFF's many generous patrons and sponsors. Tim ensures that, in return for their support, they receive complimentary or discounted tickets to their top film choices and are appropriately recognised for their donations. A lawyer by day, Tim works as a Legal Advisor for Bermuda Government's Land Title Registry Office.
