Kristy Matheson, BFI Festivals Director. She is a white woman with dark brown hair, styled to the side, and brown eyes. She wears small, red studs and a black top She is smiling at the camera.
Changing Faces

BFI welcomes Matheson as Festivals Director

Arts Professional
2 min read

The British Film Institute (BFI) has appointed KRISTY MATHESON as Festivals Director.

She joins the BFI from her recent position as Creative Director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Prior to this, she was Director of Film at Australia’s national museum of screen culture, ACMI.

Commencing her new role in April, Matheson will lead teams across multiple operations to deliver the BFI London Film Festival’s public programme in October and BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival from next year.

“Her vision for a wider and more sustainable festival ecology absolutely chimes with the strategic direction of the BFI and how we want our festivals to be led — in a way that values and encourages collaboration and a democratic approach to decision making in tandem with a clear and holistic artistic vision,” JASON WOOD, BFI’s Executive Director of Programming and Audiences, commented.

Matheson said she is “honoured and excited” to be joining the team.

“Festivals provide filmmakers, artists and audiences with a moment to commune on a grand scale – to experience ideas, ask big questions and celebrate together.

“The BFI London Film Festival and BFI Flare represent the very best of this spirit, exploring the depth of UK and global cinema, nurturing new talents, profiling our screen industries and connecting audiences to innovations in the moving image.”