Team
Michael Stewart
Director, Open City Docs
Michael is responsible for sustaining and renewing the underlying vision that drives Open City Docs. He runs the Future Media Studio at UCL which works with Open City Docs School to deliver film training at all levels. He is an anthropologist and spent a number of years in Broadcast production (Everyman, Timewatch, BBC).
ContactMaría Palacios Cruz
Festival Director
María Palacios Cruz is a film curator, writer and educator. Before joining Open City Docs, she led the Film Curating course at Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola in San Sebastian (Spain), which she also helped to conceive. María has worked for many years as an independent curator for film festivals and cultural institutions worldwide. She has been a programmer for the Courtisane Festival since 2008 and was its Director between 2010 and 2012. She was Deputy Director of LUX, the UK agency for artists’ moving image, from 2015 to 2020.
ContactOliver Wright
Director of Film Programme
Oliver is responsible for the festival’s film programme, as well as our year-round screening events. He has been involved with the festival since its inception and has been programmer since 2014. Oliver has also worked on a number of other film festivals including BFI London Film Festival, LSFF and Underwire Festival.
Lucy Wardley
Festival Producer
Lucy is the Festival Producer at Open City Documentary Festival. She has worked with the festival in a variety of capacities including on the guest and programming teams and holds an MA in Documentary Practice from Queen Mary University of London.
ContactMarta Berto
Marketing Manager
Marta is a communications professional with a track record of successfully commissioning, art directing, and producing video, editorial, and promotional content for a variety of audiences across Europe. Formerly, Marta led on marketing, communications and press for Sheffield Doc/Fest, British Film Institute & London Film Festival, MEDIA/Creative Europe programme and HBO Europe among others. Marta also serves as an Advisor for The BFI Film Audience Network (BFI FAN) who offer Hub Members free access to a broad range of knowledge and experience within the cinema exhibition industry.
ContactOpen City Docs School Team
Angela O'Regan
Schools Manager
Angela is the first point of contact for students interested in studying on the Open City Doc Schools MA and MFA, and is responsible for assisting those who are studying.
ContactLaurence Avis
Technical Manager
Laurence is the technical manager for the Open City Docs school. Recently, he has also worked in screening coordination and technical delivery for other festivals including BFI London Film Festival and London Short Film Festival.
ContactAndrew Northrop
Technical Assistant
Andrew is the technical assistant for the Open City Docs school, and also a marketing assistant for the festival. He also writes regularly for MUBI Notebook, Kinoscope, Cineaste and other outlets.
ContactRipley Parker
Short Course Manager
Ripley is responsible for managing the Open City Docs School short courses, as well as assisting with the students studying on the MA and MFA.
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