ADVISORY BOARD
Jess Search (Chair), CEO, Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation; Co-founder, Shooting People (More HERE)
Rowena Young, CEO, Urbivore; Fellow, ResPublica; Co-founder, Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship (More HERE)
James Mullighan, Producer, Edinburgh International Film Festival. (More HERE)
Mel Agace, Author and Film Producer; Consultant for Virgin Unite, ActionAid, Comic Relief and the UN World Food Programme (More HERE)
Steve Cabrera, Management Consultant; Chairman, Jubilee Hall Trust. (More HERE)
Dawn Prince-White: Managing Director, Gemini Partnership; former Regional Manager for Homeless Link (More HERE)
STAFF TEAM
Bertrand Beghin [Director, Strategy and Finance]
Bertrand leads the evolution of financial strategy and systems at Open Cinema. With a strong background in market and statistical analysis, and extensive links in the social business space, Bertrand is overseeing the development of the financial and marketing plans at the company. Bertrand is the founder of Numbers4Good and a former director at Deutsche Bank.
Laura Hopper [Director of Marketing & Partnerships]
Laura is actively developing new partnerships for Open Cinema and heads up our marketing efforts. She previously started up and operated a cafe/coffee roasting business in Poland and Germany and has worked as an equity research analyst for several global banks. She has an MBA from Columbia Business School in New York and enjoys making videos and short films.
Favourite Film: films from the sixties by Antonioni (Blow Up), Bergman (Persona), Polanski (Repulsion, Cul-de-Sac) and the classic forties film noir Laura (Otto Preminger) whose theme song inspired my name.
Abi McNeil [Guests and Industry Officer]
Abi is bringing inspirational guests from all areas, into the Open Cinema network. Australian born and raised, Abi returned to her British roots at nineteen, and has lived in London ever since. She started out as a production secretary working on programs such as The British Comedy Awards, before moving into television drama. As an assistant director Abi worked on a number of short films and has now made a few of her own.
Favourite Films: 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf' (Dir-Mike Nichols) and 'Clifford' (Dir-Paul Flaherty).
Favourite Film Quote: "Perhaps you were just having a nightmare about your early days in the circus." - Martin Short, 'Clifford'
Will Pearce [Network Manager]
Will looks after Open Cinema’s regional network of film clubs for marginalised communities. He grew up in Durban, South Africa, where he studied textile design. Before moving to London in 1998 he worked in a record store and was a freelance designer for a number of surf companies in Durban/Cape Town.
Previous to Open Cinema, Will worked for the Raindance Film Festival and Tower Records. He also works part-time for Vision Care For Homeless People, who provide a free eye-care service for homeless and vulnerable people.
Favourite Film: It tends to change, but 'Vanishing Point' (Dir-Richard C Sarafian) is always up there.
Favourite Film Quote/Line: "Hey, doll. Could you scare up another round for our table over here? And tell the cook this is low-grade dog food. I've had better food at the ballgame, you know? This steak still has marks from where the jockey was hitting it." - Rodney Dangerfield, 'Caddyshack'
Jesse Vile [Director of Operations]
Jesse oversees the Open Cinema filmmaking programme and also looks after partnerships, festivals and special events. He was previously Producer of the Raindance Film Festival and Head of Distribution at Future Shorts.
Favourite Film: Anything by Stanley Kubrick
Favourite Film Quote: "It's a funny thing, killin' a man. You take away all he's got, and all he's ever gonna have." - Clint Eastwood, 'Unforgiven'
Christoph Warrack [Chief Executive]
Christoph oversees all aspects of Open Cinema from strategy and finance to innovation and public engagement. He worked in film production from 1998 to 2009, regularly presenting work at international film festivals. Christoph has an MA in Screen Directing from Central Saint Martins, and won a Business in the Community / Striding Out Future 100 Award for social entrepreneurs in 2009. In 2011, Chinwag's Digital Mission Washington selected Open Cinema as one of the UK's "10 hottest digital and creative companies"; Christoph joined the mission to the US capital and contributed to meetings with the White House Office for Social Innovation, Google and the World Bank. He has also worked as a critic for the Times Literary Supplement, a DJ and a shepherd, and grew up on the Yorkshire Moors.
Favourite Film: 'Le Joli Mai' directed by Chris Marker
Favourite Film Quote: "The trouble, Mr Goldwyn, is that you are only interested in art, and I am only interested in money." - G.B.Shaw, telegramme to Sam Goldwyn