Everyone working behind the scenes at Folkestone International Film & TV Festival have been involved in filmmaking, television and hosting events for many years making the team highly experienced and effective team members.
Gary JJ Spate
Co-founder / Executive Director
Gary is a TV producer and filmmaker having broadcast several TV shows since the late-1990s. In his hometown of Grimsby he was also a member of the Meniscus Film Festival and on the board of award-winning TV production company Turning Point Productions. Since his move to Folkestone in 2013 Gary has been working on several movies, short films and documentaries and is the managing director of TwentyThree Studios.
Steve Davis
Co-founder / Festival Director
Steve is a movie and documentary filmmaker whose last feature, Christmas Slay, was the most watched Christmas film on Amazon Prime USA over the 2015 festive period. Steve latest projects are ‘Outbreak of the Break’ – a zombie feature – a World War Two film called ‘No Glory’ and a World War One film called ‘Somme16’.
Sadie Ingoldby-Spate
Head of Marketing
Sadie is a small business owner specialising in marketing and branding for businesses. She is also our in-house graphic designer and has produced many film posters and props. Sadie is an experienced film and television producer and was company secretary of Turning Point Productions until 2009.
Ben Barton Gibson
Festival Director
Ben is an experienced filmmaker and a senior campaign writer at SAGA Cruises. His most recent film ‘Stella Erratica’ was screened at the Cannes Film Festival and he is passionate about the Super 8 film format.
