Our Team

Rachel Prendergast

FESTIVAL DIRECTOR

Rachel took over running the festival in January 2025. She has years of production experience running SubMotion Productions for almost a decade, and her films have won awards all over the world. Her first short film, Slyvia, is available to watch on Disney+ in the UK.

She recently set up Liminal Films to produce her first feature film.

Ewan Tough

HEAD OF PROGRAMMING

Ewan joined the team in 2019. His role is to manage all aspects of filmmaker submissions, right the way through to programming shorts, as well as programming other on-screen events such as features.

Alongside his role, he works for an in-flight film distributor specialising in world cinema. He’s a big fan of films from all genres & backgrounds and can usually be found lurking in the cinema or spending hours staring at his shelf deciding what to watch.

Helen Massingham

HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS

Rory Heaton

HEAD OF PRODUCTION

Joe Bird

HEAD OF PRODUCTION

Joe joined the NFF Executive Team in 2023, overseeing live events and collaborating with key festival partners. A writer, filmmaker, and double-graduate of Norwich’s arts programs, Joe brings extensive industry experience across freelance video production, community media, and arts event management.

Creatively, he has written and produced a number of short films, culminating in his first independent feature film in 2026. Whether it’s an existential thriller or a surrealist nightmare, Joe is drawn to cinema that pushes boundaries and explores characters that challenge, provoke, and captivate.

Nic Barrell

Libby Chipperfield

DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER

Libby also spends her free time exploring her own creative ideas, having studied filming and media throughout school. She geeks out on good cinematography and a captivating storyline.

Isabella Scott

DIGITAL MARKETING ASSISTANT

Isabella joined Norwich Film Festival in 2026 as a Digital Marketing Assistant. She is particularly interested in expanding access to the film industry, helping to engage new audiences while supporting emerging directors and actors to showcase their work.

Alongside her work with the festival, Isabella is actively involved in the performing arts, regularly attending dance, singing and acting classes. She has also appeared as a supporting artist in a range of television series and films.

ZOË BLACKLOCK

PROGRAMMING COORDINATOR

Zoë has been a volunteer at the festival since 2017, but in 2021 stepped up to the Exec Team to help shape the festival’s programming output.

They love films from all contexts but have a special place in their heart for British independent cinema, especially films that explore the multifaceted and diverse nature of British culture. This is something they focused on in a dissertation for their BA degree in Film Studies at King’s College London.

ISHNOOR

PROGRAMMING ASSISTANT

Ishnoor, a film enthusiast, first joined the team as part of the Online Screening Committee, as well as volunteering during our 2022 festival.

She loves curating films , and has stepped on to become the part of the Executive Team for NFF2023 as Programming Assistant.

The cinema of dissent has a special place in her heart, and she truly believes that cinema makes the world a better place to live in.

Sam Rooke

Programming Assistant