BFI appoints Tricia Tuttle as deputy head of festivals

The BFI has appointed BAFTA’s Tricia Tuttle to the newly created role of deputy head of festivals.

Working under BFI head of cinemas and festivals Clare Stewart, Tuttle will be responsible for delivering the annual programmes for the BFI London Film Festival and the BFI Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. She will manage a team of programmers and programme advisors.

Tuttle joins the BFI from BAFTA where she has held the post of senior manager, film & skills for the last five years, During her time at BAFTA, she was responsible for the film programme, including the International Screenwriters Lecture series, the annual David Lean lecture and the inaugural edition of talent development programme Brits to Watch: The Screenings.

Previously Tuttle was screenings and events programmer for filmmaker training body The Script Factory, as well as co-programmer of the BFI London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, and programmer of talks and special events for the LFF.

“I’m joining the BFI Festivals team at such an exciting time. Under Clare Stewart there is new focus, freshness and vision to the BFI’s programmes and I’m ecstatic to be part of helping to realise this vision alongside her and a massively talented team of programmers,” said Tuttle.

The newly created role comes as a result of the BFI’s decision to create four new teams within its Exhibition department – festivals, cinemas, events and production and business and industry.

Along with Tuttle’s apointment as deputy head of festivals, Helen de Witt (previously the BFI’s festivals producer) takes on the role of head of cinemas, Stuart Brown will see his role as BFI head of events expanding to head of events and production and Anne-Marie Flynn, previously the BFI’s head of projects and development, will be head of business and industry.

All four will report to Clare Stewart, who described Tuttle as a “terrific addition to our team – creative, tenacious and driven – she has a proven track record of making a difference and brings great energy and smarts to our expanding Festivals activity and our newly structured Exhibition department.”