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.

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.

Jade is a Film Programmer at the Independent Cinema Office. Before this, she programmed Curzon Home Cinema and Curzon Cinemas. After completing her MA in Film Studies, Programming and Curation at the National Film and Televison School, Jade programmed Northampton Filmhouse from 2019-2022. She has also previously programmed for film festivals including Open City Documentary Festival and Film Africa. 

Sarah has a Bachelor degree in Film (with a feminist approach to film analysis) from Massachusetts. This is the third film festival she has worked with, and she is very keen to assist in bringing in an increasingly diverse audience to Borderlines. She has worked at The Courtyard for three years, and loves the festival every year. 

Angharad has a Bachelor degree in English Language and Linguistics from the University of Sheffield. Since then, she has worked in Publishing, TV Production and the Heritage sector. She loves all things cinema and some of her favourite films include Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Rear Window, Paper Moon and Anora. She’s local to the area and has been enjoying the festival for many 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.
 

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.