Film Oxford is a film and creative arts charity which has been providing training and activities for over 30 years. We have had great success in running community projects with local & national partners. We attract people from all over the UK and beyond, and support local filmmakers, artists, digital creatives and young people through a programme of training, creative support, networking and exhibition We also have an extensive archive going back to the 1970s.
Film Oxford works with complete beginners, emerging talent, artists and industry professionals and is committed to supporting socially and economically marginalised groups. We are a non-profit company and registered charity (1041014) which has run under several different names – and at other premises – since 1975. Learn, Network, Create and Exhibit.
Executive
Film Oxford is run on a day-to-day basis by the Executive Team:
Geron Swann. Centre Director geron@filmoxford.org
Geron came to Film Oxford via the Trades Council in 1987 and has been with the organisation ever since! He is fundraiser, project manager, youth activities and community screenings co-ordinator, Location Oxfordshire manager and general spokesperson for Film Oxford.
Gary Shenton. Production Development production@filmoxford.org
Gary has been at Film Oxford for over a decade. In his role as Production Development Manager he has produced or overseen the production of over 40 short films, many of them receiving national and international festival exposure. He has exec-produced features including the highly acclaimed ‘Anyone Can Play Guitar’ and the award-winning ‘Thank You Skinhead Girl’. As well as supporting production, Gary organises network events and supports local festivals and screenings.
Richard Duriez. Adult Training, Shadowlight Artists, Finance, IT & Office Manager. office@filmoxford.org
Richard has worked at Film Oxford for more than 15 years. He has more than 10 broadcast credits to his name for documentaries (Producer, Director, Editor, Researcher). He has produced numerous non-broadcast productions for NGOs and non-profits as well as short films and two features. He manages Film Oxford’s programme of adults’ courses that train over 300 people each year. He founded, fundraises for, and manages the multi-award winning Shadowlight Artists (professional artists with learning disabilities) with artist Chris Oakley. He also oversees Film Oxford’s finance, IT and other activities.
Nicola Josse. Projects & Production. nicola@filmoxford.org
Evie Sherry-Starmer. Administrator. admin@filmoxford.org
Evie grew up in Oxford’s Community Arts scene, and her professional background is in university administration. She supports all of Film Oxford’s day-to-day activities and works closely with the Shadowlight Artists.
Trustees
Film Oxford is managed by a group of dedicated volunteer trustees:
Keith Martin (Chair)
Keith started his career in the RAF before moving into the government services and construction sectors. More recently he has been running his own management consultancy business focusing on strategy development, business planning and business growth within the government services sector. Specialising in the setting up and management of Local Authority Trading Companies, Keith has supported a number of organisations across the UK including a large services group, a law firm and a number of smaller organisations including Human Story Theatre, an Oxfordshire-based health and social care theatre charity. In his spare time Keith is a keen rock climber and mountaineer, and enjoys keeping fit running and completing occasional (slow!) triathlons.
Mark Gunther (Treasurer)
Mark has over 25 years’ experience in charity/not-for-profit finance. He has volunteered as a youth worker, festival/event steward and union treasurer, secretary, chair and representative. He’s a long-term supporter of Oxford United – which is how he first came to know Geron – and, having lived the majority of his life in Oxford, an Aunt Sally athlete! His second awareness of Film Oxford came when a colleague, for whom he had played roles in short spoofs, was screened at the then Zodiac.
Trish Cashen
Emma Mills
Nick O’Dwyer
Mark Ralph-Bowman
In East and West Africa during the 70s, Mark was engaged with theatre as art form and development tool. From 1984-2011 in Oxford he worked in further education teaching and managing media and performing arts. From 1998-2003 he ran Taking Part, an independent training company working with engineers, tenants’ associations, priests, independent consultants and NGOs.
