We are delighted to announce Melanie Iredale as our new Director of Birds’ Eye View Film. In this role Melanie will lead the team, continuing to advocate for gender equality and diversity in all film spaces and lead on their #ReclaimTheFrame project to bring ever greater audiences to films by women.
Melanie comes to Birds’ Eye View from Sheffield DocFest where she has served as Deputy Director for seven years, and as a programmer on its international film programme. She will take up the position in September, and will be based between London and Sheffield.
Says Melanie: “It is a privilege and a joy to be invited to join Birds Eye View in its campaign for gender equality in film, and to lead on the curation and championing of works by women and non-binary filmmakers. Together with the team, I look forward to building on BEV’s important and incredible work in programming and promoting a wider perspective in cinema here in the UK, and through that a more inclusive, internationalist and intersectional lens on the world in which we live. In collaboration with partners and allies, we will seize this unique moment in ‘herstory’ to resist the ‘new normal’ and instead agitate for a diversified and decolonized film industry that is a fair, safe, and compassionate space for everyone.”
Mia Bays, who is leaving the position as Birds Eye View’s Director-at-Large in October to become the new Director of BFI Film Fund, says: “Melanie’s personal ideals and integrity provide an excellent fit with Birds’ Eye View’s mission and plans. We have collaborated several times over the past few years and she has been a regular attendee at our ‘Reclaim The Frame’ Sheffield events and a member of our Pandemic Response Programme. She has a passion and vision for the celebration of cinema and film in all its forms but particularly that from new and diverse perspectives and has a proven track record in its promotion and dissemination to broader audiences – which makes her a great fit for us. Welcome Melanie!”
Jill Tandy, Chair of Birds Eye View says: “I and the rest of the Board are absolutely delighted to welcome Melanie as the new Director. She is an experienced leader with a passion for diversity and a deep knowledge of film curation. She will bring a fresh and exciting perspective and build on the great work Mia has done as BEV has grown from strength to strength. We wish Mia all the best on the next phase of her career at the BFI.”
Melanie continues: “I bring with me seven years’ experience as Deputy Director at Sheffield DocFest and owe a huge thanks to the artists and filmmakers involved for their trust, to the networks I built for their support, and to such a dedicated team for their collaboration over the years. I leave the charity proud of what we achieved together and grateful for everything I learnt along the way – all of which will come with me on this next chapter.
For this new opportunity at Birds Eye View, I want to thank the Trustees, team and outgoing Director for their trust in me, and to start now as I mean to go on: in offering my eyes and ears, commitment and solidarity to our film community.”