FESTIVAL TEAM

Naomi has been with Borderlines since it began in 2003, as Festival Producer, Executive Director, then Festival Director in 2013. Previously she was a documentary/drama director-producer, with programmes and award-winning shorts on the BBC. Her grandfather built and ran a new cinema in the Puerto d’Andraitx, Mallorca, the Cine d’el Puerto, in 1940s Franco-era Spain. A real Cinema Paradiso.

On the staff since the 2009 Festival, Jo has tackled many film-related jobs: running the London Film-makers’ Co-op Cinema, writing for City Limits, The Guardian and Sight & Sound, teaching, directing a documentary on Super 8 film-making for C4, researcher on Derek Jarman’s The Last of England and a stint as one of the techies on the Flicks in the Sticks pilot.

Isabel is currently a Film Programmer at the Independent Cinema Office. Prior to this role, Isabel worked as part of the Cinema team at the Barbican Centre. She has also worked at various film festivals including Open City Documentary Festival, BFI Future Film Festival and BFI London Film Festival. She was also the Film Programmer at Overnight Film Festival; a residential film festival based in her hometown of Eastbourne.

Mikaela has been a Film Programmer for the Independent Cinema Office for two years, supporting a range of independent cinema's nationwide on the creation of culturally broad programmes for wide ranging audiences. Before this, she was the lead Programme Manager at the Showroom Cinema, a 4-screen arthouse cinema in Sheffield, where she was based for 5 years.

Alison has been the Festival's Press Assistant since it started. She sends out press releases and collates cuttings into the annual press book and is also a talented photographer. Alison has a soft spot for dance films; Carlos Saura films are a particular favourite along with Strictly Ballroom and old Gene Kelly movies.
 

Holly has a bachelor degree in Film Studies and a masters' in Film Distribution and Marketing, and is passionate about film (not surprisingly!) She has been an avid Borderlines audience member for the past two years and is excited to be a part of the 2024 team. She is excited for multiple films in this year's programme, including The Zone of Interest and All of Us Strangers.

Sandie has been involved with the Exhibition industry for more than 30 years and wears many hats.  She has been a supporter of Borderlines since its beginning. She is employed as Brand Ambassador for Ferco Seating Ltd. She is also on the Board of Governors for the Cinema Technology Community (CTC) and writes for Cinema Technology Magazine.  In addition, Sandie is on the European Executive Committee of Women in Exhibition (WIE). Sandie’s favourite films are Kills on Wheels, The Olive Tree and The World’s Fastest Indian.

Leah completed a degree in English Literature and Film Studies at UWE Bristol.  Since then she has worked in production for the film and events industry. Some of her favourite films are Being John Malkovich, Little Miss Sunshine and There Will Be Blood. Her top picks at this year's festival are All of Us Strangers, American Fiction and Celluloid Underground.