WELCOME
MEET THE TEAM
The Purbeck Film Festival is fortunate be run by an expert volunteer team. You will meet some of the following at any screening you attend.
Claire Burns. Formerly a conference organiser, Claire is the only employee of the festival and brings her excellent organisational, marketing and networking skills to the Festival.
Rob Dartnall, Film and Media lecturer, documentary film maker, Rob chairs the judges at the Short Film Competition.
Andrea Etherington, Chair of the festival, was head of Performing Arts and Media in F /HE,
ex-trustee of The Rex and currently trustee of the Mowlem Cinema and Theatre.
Peter Groome joined the festival from his role as a senior manager in television. Peter hosts a radio programme on film music on Purbeck Coast FM.
Peter Handy, a senior social worker, Peter oversees all things technical including outdoor screenings.
Lorie Harding assists Claire with administrative roles, advertising, sponsorship, proof reading and compilation of the brochure.
Woody Harding, a lecturer in film, Woody heads the Programming team.
Dave Matoe, all the way from New Zealand, Dave is an IT expert and assists with all technical aspects.
Paul Taylor, Film enthusiast with extensive knowledge of all things cinema, Paul is a member of the Programming team and assists on IT and the Shorts competition. Paul also hosts a monthly film review show, Purbeck Premieres, on Purbeck Coast FM.
Julie Sharman, Former manager of Purbeck film Festival and now a Trustee, Julie has worked in TV and film production. She currently works in the marketing team for The Lighthouse, Poole.
This team is aided by:
Liam O’Hara, film maker director of the festival trailer and member of the Social Media
team
Alan Jones, Westminster Journalist assists Claire with press releases.
Lynn Lennox, interior designer and hospitality advisor.
Rebecca Russell, a BU student of Film Festival management MA is helping us at Boscombe.
OUR HISTORY
The Purbeck Film festival (PFF) began in 1996 with screenings at the Mowlem and the Rex Cinema in Wareham to celebrate 100 years of cinema. The following year it received a National Lottery grant which enabled it to screen 21 films and buy the Rex Cinema. In 1998 became a registered charity which today is independent of any other organisation. From these small beginnings the PFF has grown in size and stature to embrace approximately 80 films including 10 outdoor events at Corfe Castle and Durlston Country Park. The festival has always seen itself as a community resource and therefore offers a cinematic umbrella to a great number of venues ranging from village halls, churches, hotels and community centres. In fact, as one of its banners describes, ‘give us a 13amp fuse and we will give you a film’.
Providing such a resource to Purbeck has realised a great deal of support from the community, be it the sponsoring of food, drink, advertising and peoples’ time and energy. Almost all of the work is dependent on volunteers: the 10 committee members and upwards of 15 other enthusiasts when the festival is operating.
Twenty seven years of successful screenings has meant the strong support from the British Film Institute (BFI) who value our commitment to world cinema as well as independent British films.
The festival continues to attract venues to its brand with the additions of Electric Cinema Bridport and Boscombe Arts Depot.
We look forward to celebrating the Purbeck Film Festival’s Silver Anniversary with you next year!
The photo is of Lady Cotton, Purbeck Film Festival’s President (right) and Andrea Etherington, Festival Chair (left).
LATEST NEWS
Purbeck Film Festival Trailers
Q&A with Director of Priest of Love
Christopher Miles (right), Dame Janet Suzman (left) and Andrea Etherington, Festival Chair (centre)
PURBECK FILM FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
Julie Sharman (Festival Manager)
Woody Harding, Peter Handy, Dave Matoe, Debbie Handy, Paul Taylor, Claire Burns,
Lorie Harding,Rob Dartnall, Lynn Lennox, John Hooker, Peter Groome.
Thanks to David Holman, and to Robin Whitecross for design.