Program

Staff

CEO / Creative Director
Mathew Kesting

Our CEO is a film exhibition and event specialist with a long love affair with film festivals and screen culture.  

Mat’s passion for cinema and strong curatorial voice is well known to Adelaide audiences as AFF’s Programs Manager since 2015 and from his years at the Mercury Cinema as Exhibition Manager programming Cinémathèque, Silent ReMasters, and the hugely popular Seniors on Screen. He programmed six editions of OzAsia Festival On Screen and was previously the Program Manager at the Brisbane International Film Festival. Mat is proud to have been a part of the Lumiere Cinema team following his studies in Media and Cinema.  

 Mat oversees our organisation and leads strategic planning. He manages the AFF Investment Fund. Passionate about commissioning new work from local and national filmmakers, Mat is always on the hunt for incredible films to screen and bold new work to support. 

Mat currently sits on the Festivals Adelaide Board. He is fascinated with the natural world, is committed to sustainability, and recently completed an Environmental Science degree just to keep it real. He also has three small children so no – he has no spare time or hobbies. But has fond memories of camping… 

Email Mat: [email protected]

Program, Audience and Industry Development Manager
Gail Kovatseff

Gail manages AFF’s programming department, responsible for film submissions, selection and Awards alongside industry development, audience expansion and AFF Youth. A prominent figure in the SA Screen Industry, Gail led the Media Resource Centre and Mercury Cinema for 12 years as CEO, transforming its professional program including introducing the Screen Makers Conference and establishing the cinema as a vital part of the city’s cultural life via launching programs such as Seniors on Screen.  Gail graduated university with an on-going love of American Literature and European History.  

Email Gail: [email protected]

Finance and Governance Manager
Robyn Jones

Robyn takes care of our finances, Board and Government stakeholders, and manages the customer service team. She is first point of contact for general enquiries. Robyn holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) and a Bachelor of Education. She previously worked for KPMG and taught finance at University before turning her attention to the big screen as the Accountant and Office Manager for the Media Resource Centre. If you ask nicely, she just might tell you about her gold medal for juggling. 

Email Robyn: [email protected]

Development Lead
Kane Moroney

Kane dedicates his days to AFF’s fundraising and partnerships. Want to become a Festival Partner or Donor – he’s the one to speak to. Kane holds a Bachelor of Music and studied to be a professional classical flute player while working at cinemas in Perth and Sydney. His role in Audience Development with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra saw engagement grow with diverse community and youth audiences. And yes – he really is 6’8″. But rather than checking the weather ‘up there’ and playing basketball, he devotes his spare time to books, learning and bringing down his average pace per km when out on a run.
Email Kane: [email protected]

Operations Manager
Sarah Lancaster

Sarah is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations of the Festival. She manages a number of AFF projects including developing our first Reconciliation Action Plan. A festival faithful, she cut her teeth at the Sydney Film Festival and has worked at TIFF, Hot Docs, AIDC, the Adelaide Cabaret Festival.  Formerly Production and Development Executive at the South Australian Film Corporation, Sarah holds a First-Class Honours in Film and History, and Masters in Media in Education. Once a  35mm projectionist, Sarah now stitches together yarn instead of celluloid.   

Email Sarah: [email protected]

Publicist
Tracey Mair

Tracey liaises with all media and filmmakers regarding stories, interviews and reviews and is the main contact regarding publicity at the Festival. A film and television communications specialist with 30 years with experience across production, distribution, festivals and industry strategy, Tracey runs her own dedicated boutique PR agency. When she can tear her eyes away from the screen, she is usually found busy in the kitchen, sipping on a natural wine and planning her next travel adventure.  

Email Tracey: [email protected]

AFF 2020 – Festival team

Marketing Manager – Nathan Hocking

Marketing Coordinator – Thomas Jackson 

Programs Coordinator – Justin Martyniuk 

Programs Assistant – Emma Hough Hobbs 

Program Writer – Mike Walsh 

Contributing Writer – Saige Walton

Consultant Strategic Activations – Tara Macleod

Head of Production – Richard Seidel

Production Consultant – Matt Wildy

Production Crew Member – Kat Waterman

Production Crew Member – Kahl Hopper

ProductionCrew Member – Christian Ruelicke

ProductionCrew Member – Zinta Martirovs

Administration & Events Assistant – Gina Cameron

Ticketing Services Manager – Dani Raymond

Box Office Manager – Ceri Hutton

Industry Liaison Manager – Olga Nowicka

Front Of House Manager – Melissa Little

Access Consultant – Gaelle Mellis

Brand Design & Art Direction – Cul-de-sac Creative

Industry Liasion Manager – Olga Nowicka

Festival Assistant – Amanda Hawley

Marketing Consultant – Laura Ursino 

Operations Intern – Nicholas Centofanti

Marketing Intern – Madison Griffiths 

Marketing Intern – Megan Keher