Chris Auty started his professional career as a film journalist, running the film department of Time Out.  From 1984-85 he was European Editor of The Hollywood Reporter.
In 1985 he left journalism to launch a new UK film distribution company (Oasis), releasing some 45 films over the next five years, as well as acquiring and re-launching two of Britain’s best-known art house cinemas (the Gate in London, and Cameo in Edinburgh). In 1989 he helped finance, and acted as world sales agent for, Peter Greenaway’s THE COOK, THE THIEF, HIS WIFE AND HER LOVER.
From 1991–99, he was Managing Director of Jeremy Thomas’ Recorded Picture Company and served as a producer on several of its films, as well as initiating the creation of RPC’s own international sales company, Hanway.
In 1999, he became a founding Board Member of the UK Film Council – the governing body responsible for all public funding of film in the UK.
From mid 1999, Chris Auty became CEO of the Virgin-backed Film Consortium, a lottery franchise company. In October 2001, Chris also became Chief Executive of the group incorporating The Film Consortium -– The Works Media Group plc (an AIM-listed company). Under his leadership the company developed its international rights business, and in 2005 successfully launched a new UK distribution subsidiary, which subsequently secured a home entertainment output deal with Universal Pictures UK., and has released over 30 films to date.
Having completed the re-structuring of The Works into a distribution-led business, Chris stood down as Chief Executive in mid 2007. He runs and presents a lecture course in business skills, film production, and finance on the National Film School’s MA course; teaches in film at London University; and is working on a film-related new media venture, which is scheduled to launch this year.
Producing / exec producing credits include: STEALING BEAUTY (Bernardo Bertolucci), MY SUMMER OF LOVE (Pavel Pawlikowski), CRASH  (David Cronenberg), BLOOD AND WINE (Bob Rafelson), DUST (Milcho Manchevski), IN THIS WORLD (Michael Winterbottom) COUNTRY OF MY SKULL (John Boorman), BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS (Stephen Fry), RIVER QUEEN (Vincent Ward), THE PROPOSITION (John Hillcoat).

For the past five years Andre has specialized in working with content owners, brands and media companies, including Aardman Animations, Universal Pictures, Walker Books, and Working Title Films in delivering creative solutions in multi platform Interactive Content, Marketing and Resource Investigation to help these businesses gain a competitive edge in the Broadband space. Before founding Crucible Media he was Head of Entertainment at 3 (Hutchison 3G)., where he lead the development of cutting-edge wireless Broadband services for their Third Generation Mobile service. Prior to that he ran the interactive Entertainment channel for NTL's interactive TV, wireless, and broadband PC platforms.
Before entering the digital ecosystem, Andre started his career in Los Angeles, where he was an agent at United Talent Agency and subsequently set up a film production and talent management company in London, International Arts Entertainment. In 1994, he produced E=MC2, starring Jeremy Piven and Richard Attenborough

Tessa has worked both as the Producer and as a Consultant for The British Independent Film Awards since the Awards were founded in 1998, and became a director in 2006.

Christopher Fowler co-founded Creative Partnership, a company that changed the face of UK and international film marketin. He has spent nearly 30 years working in film. The award-winning author of thirty novels and short story collections, he has written for the BBC, The Times, Time Out, Daily Mail and has a regular column in the Independent on Sunday.

Steven Gaydos joined Variety in 1993, first serving as Variety's managing editor of special issues. In 1999 Gaydos was named executive editor of Variety/Daily Variety and in that capacity he helps oversee the work of the largest entertainment news staff in the world. In August, 2000, Gaydos took on the additional role of international managing director of Variety, overseeing the global editorial and business operations from the London office of Variety. Gaydos serves on the board of the Hartley-Merrill Screenwriting Awards and is a member of the Writers Guild of America, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the European Film Academy.

Norma's credits include the Oscar, BIFA and BAFTA nominated MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS, the Oscar and BAFTA winning DANGEROUS LIAISONS, THE SECRET AGENT, GANGSTER NO.1, SISTER MY SISTER, THE HONORARY CONSUL, KISS KISS (BANG BANG) and BUSTER. She was one of the founders of WIFTV UK, and is on the board of the Soho Theatre.

Fred was the co-founder and producer of the British Independent Film Awards 1998-2001. He then set up Adara Pictures, a production company specialising in factual television formats. He is the writer/director of Northern Lights (2005), and currently co-runs the production company Black Island.

His clients include Peter O'Toole, Jeanne Moreau, Bruce Beresford and Frederic Raphael. Steve is also a member of both the American and British Motion Picture Academies and PMA (Personal Managers Association) Council.

Ollie Madden started his career at Graham Broadbent and Damian Jones' company, Dragon Pictures. He later became an Acquisitions Executive at Atom Films, the world's largest short film distribution company. In 2001 Madden moved on to be a Director of Production and Development at Miramax Films, where he worked for three years and was involved with such films as DIRTY PRETTY THINGS, BRIDE AND PREJUDICE and PROOF. In late 2004, Madden joined Intermedia Films as Head of UK Production and Development, where he worked on THE HUNTING PARTY, BASIC INSTINCT 2, and produced comedy MAGICIANS for Intermedia and Universal. In 2007 Madden joined Warner Bros. as their UK based VP of Production and is currently developing a slate of films for the studio.

Neil is managing director of McCartney Media, a publishing and consultancy company which specialises in media and telecommunications. Neil was the founding editor of Screen Finance, the Financial Times newsletter on the film industry, which he ran for the FT for 12 years, along with a number of other titles, until these were sold to the Informa Group. He writes widely on media and telecommunications issues, and is frequently called on to speak at conferences and to provide expert analysis for television and radio programmes. He has provided research and consultancy services for a number of private clients, including Warner Brothers and the European Commission. He is also a producer, secretary of the Independent Film Trust and London representative of the Moscow International Film Festival and the Split International Festival of New Film.

Martin Myers is the fourth generation of his family to enter movie business. His Great Grandfather and Grandfather owned cinemas across London. An accomplished professional with broad experience of the film and video business in both corporate and independent sectors. Martin has substantial experience of taking a product from concept/script to completion with sales and marketing expertise.
Following early roles in distribution, sales and marketing for CIC, UIP, Martin became Sales and Marketing Director of Miracle Films and later took on the same role (along with responsibility for acquisition) at Vestron Pictures where he released PRINCESS BRIDE, BUSTER and DIRTY DANCING. He was subsequently appointed Theatrical Director of First Independent Films Limited, where he oversaw acquisitions and release.
In 1999 he set up Miracle Communications, focusing on the distribution and sales. During this period he has been responsible for releasing films including ASOKA, SHOOTERS, DANCING AT THE BLUE IGUANA, VILLA DES ROSES, ONG-BAK and McLIBEL. Forthcoming titles include: Blue Blood, Conversations With Other Women,A Guide to Recognising Your Saints, Jindabyne, Taking Liberties, Tell No One and Ghosts of Cite Soleil.

Tracey Scoffield joined the television industry as a trainee to William G. Stewart on light entertainment shows, and was associate producer of Jonathan Ross' debut show The Last Resort for Channel 4, before moving into drama development and working for Colin Callender at the Callender Co. She then sidestepped the industry for eight years by joining publishing house Faber and Faber, where she ran the films and plays list, setting up the screenplay publishing initiative and working with directors such as Martin Scorsese and the late Louis Malle and Krzysztof Kieslowski. Ms. Scoffield then joined the BBC as a Script Editor, becoming Head of Development and Executive Producer for BBC Films. In the latter capacity, she has executive-produced Richard Loncraine's award-winning THE GATHERING STORM (broadcast in the U.S. on HBO), Stephen Frears' DIRTY PRETTY THINGS, Roger Michell's THE MOTHER, and Michael Winterbottom's A COCK AND BULL STORY.
In 2005 she left the BBC to set up Rainmark Films, a television and film production company based in London, with producer Frank Doelger. In 2007, their production slate includes: PRIMO, A NUMBER, MY ZINC BED, CHURCHILL AT WAR and THE OTHER MAN, a feature film to be directed by Richard Eyre.

Johanna has worked for both BIFA and Raindance since 2000, became producer of the Awards in 2003 and director in 2006.