Bankside's Kelliher elected as chair of Film Export UK

Stephen Kelliher of Bankside Films has been elected as the new chair of the board of Film Export UK, the trade association for international film sales and distribution companies.

The board elections take place every two years.

New directors Clare Crean (The Works) and Andrew Orr (Independent) join the re-elected Samatha Horley (Salt), Elisar Cabrera (High Point).

Kelliher said: “I’m looking forward to building on the great work we have already done to raise the profile of our sector. The world will always embrace great filmmaking but it doesn’t all happen automatically. That’s the message we must get across.”

Nicole Mackey (Fortissimo Films) and Ralph Kamp (Timeless Films) who has been the association’s chair since its formation in 2007 did not seek re-election as directors and will now step down.

Kamp said: “It has been a privilege to serve the sales sector during some very interesting times throughout which I have been impressed by the unstinting support for our efforts from the membership. I’m happy to be passing the leadership of the association into very capable hands.”