Festival Team
Behind Ipswich International Film Festival is a team united by a shared belief in the power of cinema to connect people, ideas and places. Together, we are committed to establishing Ipswich on the international film map, creating a festival that celebrates extraordinary filmmaking while championing the talent, creativity and ambition of our region.
Daniel Champion
Founder & Artistic Director
Since joining the Board of the Ipswich Film Theatre Trust in 2019, Dan has pursued a singular ambition: to establish Ipswich’s first international film festival. His relationship with King Street Cinema began in the early 1980s, and that lifelong passion now drives a vision to make Ipswich a gateway to world cinema — connecting filmmakers, audiences and creative voices from across the globe with the town and its rich cultural heritage.
Richard Johns
Festival Executive Producer
Richard Johns is one of the UK’s most highly regarded producers, with a list of credits to his name that includes the Channel 4 TV series Chivalry (Steve Coogan, Sarah Solemani) and films such as two-time Academy Award-nominated Shadow of the Vampire (John Malkovich, Willem Dafoe), Like Minds (Toni Collette, Eddie Redmayne), The Calcium Kid (Orlando Bloom, Billie Piper) and Off the Rails (Dame Judi Dench, Kelly Preston, Ben Miller)
Beth Tchie
Guest Services Coordinator
Beth is Guest Services Coordinator for Ipswich Film Festival, bringing a background in business, hospitality and creative support. Through Propel, her creative assistant business, she works alongside creative people and businesses, helping turn ideas into action. She’s delighted to be part of the festival and to help create the best possible experience for its guests.
Kailan Welham
Media Consultant & Student Liaison
Kailan is a 20-year-old Ipswich-born writer/director and a rising star in the Suffolk film industry. He is a third-year digital film production student at the University of Suffolk, the founder and CEO of local film company Bad Apple Productions and a digital marketing partner of Film Suffolk.
