who we are and why tweetfest is different
Our festival isn’t like any other. And it all started with a little networking event that happened monthly with filmmakers called The UK Actors Tweetup. More than a decade later, The UK Actors Tweetup remains a cornerstone of what started as a cross-Atlantic organisation with hubs in LA, NY, and the UK. More than a decade later (since 2010), the Tweetups continue, boasting thousands of engaged participants on social media and email. And, TweetFest Film Festival has been delighting live audiences in London since its inaugural year in 2015 at the iconic Hackney Picturehouse.
A female-led film festival passionately championing emerging and undiscovered talent from the UK, TweetFest actively helps filmmakers to grow in their careers long after they’ve left the festival.
Every year our VIP jury of amazing people has differed, with the panellists including the likes of casting directors Gemma Sykes and Shakyra Dowling, award-winning television and feature directors Laura Smith and Jesse Quinones, Emilie Wren who produced the London Film Festival, and John Byrne who writes for The Stage, amongst so many others, judging our finalist’s work. We have had award-winning directors Blaine Brothers (Nina Forever), Hat Trick Productions Development team, Casting Director Manuel Puro at Puro Casting (Moon, The Machine), award-winning director Simon Blake (Still), BAFTA nominated producer Alex Moody (Alan Carr, Argumental, BAFTA nominated Funny Valentines), Producer Jessie Mangum from Goalpost and Variety Magazine International Director Alberto Lopez, plus more. Our galas have taken place at Finsbury Park Picturehouse, Hackney Picturehouse, the ArtHouse Cinema and the Hen and Chickens Theatre, some truly magnificent venues to showcase the industry’s finest in short filmmaking.
Previous years have seen us showcase MiniFest and F-Rated Shorts screenings at the iconic Hen and Chickens Theatre, along with casting director, producer, director and Filmmaker Panels and Q&As.
TweetFest is also proud to be a BIFA qualifying festival, is an official film festival on IMDb, a founding member of the AIFF, and a member of Film Hub London.
And behind every good film festival are the people and sponsors who put it all together. Meet our Tweet-tastic team...
ANGELA PETERS
TweetFest co-founder & director – Festival producer
Programming the festival alongside director Chryssanthi Kouri, Angela is the founder of the UK Actors Tweetups and the award-winning blog, B.A.B.E. for actors. Angela is an international actress who has acted in many cinema and festival-screened feature films, television and shorts, with credits on ITV, BBC, Netflix, Prime, Sky, iTunes and more. And when she isn’t hosting the UK Actors Tweetup, she’s usually in a studio voicing some job or another in her native Aussie accent, for televisions, film and commercials.
Twitter: @angiepang
ANDREA FARRENA
TweetFest co-founder
Andrea works internationally as a producer, as well as running a talent management company, Farrena Films Mgmt, where she represents actors, directors and producers. Andrea believes that networking is the key to success in this industry hence why she joined the Tweetup team back in 2012. Andrea is currently producing a Creative England short film and has many more features and shorts in the pipeline.
Twitter: @AndreaFarrena
CHRYSSANTHI KOURI
TweetFest Festival programmer and TweetFest co-producer
Chryssanthi Kouri is a director and writer, with a film and theatre background, and works internationally. She has written and directed six short narrative films and has directed over 12 short & long plays at London’s Off-West End stages. She also works as a Director/Producer for broadcast TV. Her latest short film “Dustlight” is currently screening at festivals worldwide and has so far received the Best Cinematography in a Short Film Award at the Woods Hole Film Festival in Massachusetts, USA. Along with several short and feature scripts, Chryssanthi is currently developing her first TV series, a female ensemble, black comedy-drama set in austerity Athens. The project has recently been optioned by an independent Greek production company for further development. She is a BAFTA Connect and a Directors UK member.
Instagram: @chryskouri
SHAKYRA DOWLING
patron + VIP JURY member
Casting Director Shakyra Downing continues to be one of the long-standing patrons of TweetFest. Shakyra is a passionate advocate for diversity in all aspects of casting and is always on the lookout for new talent and excited to work on fresh creative ideas with both promising new filmmakers and established directors. A fierce champion of new and emerging talent, SDC has carved out a niche specialising in independent British feature films and European co-productions alongside television and commercials – many of which have been internationally recognised and gone on to be nominated for multiple awards including BAFTAs and BIFAs, and at festivals from Sundance to TIFF.
ZARA DAY
TweetFest HOST
Zara is a writer and actress who resides in London. She is represented by Core Management for acting, and Independent Talent Group for writing and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Performance Studies and English Literature from The University of Sydney in Australia, The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and Kings College London in the UK.
Twitter: @zarasymes
MEL RADLOFF
TweetFest liaison and host
Mel has been working alongside the Tweetup team for many years now, helping and hosting monthly events. Mel is a multilingual actress, presenter and keen cinephile. Mel is also one of the hosts for TweetFest each year.
Twitter: @Melanie_Radloff
SAM FOURNESS
TweetFest TECHNICIAN and tech genius
Sam Fourness is a London-based actor and filmmaker, who has worked in films, television and commercials. When he isn’t busy acting, he also helps ensure that TweetFest runs smoothly with his incredible technical background in editing.
STEVE HARCOURT
resident judge and liaison
Steve is one-half of Free Seed Films and is in production on a feature documentary. He is also an avid film reviewer for many well-known festivals and publications. As a filmmaker, he makes short films, adverts and music videos, and co-produces his successful weekly radio show, ‘Free Seed on Soho Radio’, as well as co-hosting the monthly film show ‘Screen to Screen’ with Liz McMullen. A man of many talents, he is a musician/composer, and is a founder (and existing!) member of Collapsed Lung, known for their Top 20 hit, ‘Eat My Goal’.
PATRYCJA DYNOWSKA
TWEETFEST VOLUNTEER
Our fantastic volunteer Patrycja who is a busy working tv, film and theatre actor.
More: Patrycja Dynowska
EMILY LEE
TWEETFEST VOLUNTEER
The brilliant Emily Lee has been a TweetFest volunteer at multiple events and is also a busy actress and voice coach.
More: Emily Lee
LIZ HAMMOND
TweetFest liason & judge
In previous years Liz has gone above and beyond to help with sponsorship and judging for TweetFest.
Find Elizabeth on Spotlight
MICHELLE ZAHNER
TWEETFEST LIAISON
Michelle has been a brilliant support in all things partnerships and judging.
Find Michelle on Twitter
TWEETFEST HOST
Actress and voiceover artist Liz is one of our hosts and has been a part of TweetFest and Tweetups since the beginning.
Find Liz on Twitter
ROB ABERCROMBIE
Camera operator and video editor
Rob has worked in corporate, branded and charity video for over two years with experience in short films. He’s passionate about all things film, and enjoys capturing professional-looking images and edits with an eye for creative detail and storytelling.
Photographers we have worked with
ISAAC PERAL PHOTOGRAPHY
TWEETFEST PHOTOGRAPHER
Isaac Peral has been photographing actors and our TweetFest galas for a long time. If you want to see more of his work at our event, just click on our gala page.
Twitter: Isaac Peral
TWEETFEST PHOTOGRAPHER
Stephen recently joined the TweetFest honour boards as on of our guest photographers for various events.
See more of Stephen Young’s work.
JOHN STEVEN MARTINEZ
TWEETFEST PHOTOGRAPHER
John joined us as a guest photographer for the first time in 2023 and it is wonderful to have his expertise at our events.
See more of John Steven Martinez‘s work.
“TweetFest dazzled the audience with its 7th year event at the ArtHouse Cinema.“
Fab UK Magazine
TweetFest 