Annita Nitsaidou

• Curate and develop the Official Programme, including international features, shorts, VR, industry panels.
• Establish and maintain relationships with filmmakers, distributors, cultural institutions.
• Oversee the selection committee (25 people) and programming team (6).
• Coordinate directly with operations, hospitality, and marketing teams to align programming with audience development goals.
• Facilitate Q&As, workshops, special events featuring filmmakers and industry guests.

Festival Director & Head of Programme

Apr 2024 – Present

• Leading the creative and strategic direction of the festival, managing a team across programming, marketing, and outreach.
• Curating a diverse and inclusive film programme with a focus on underrepresented voices.
• Securing funding partnerships, increasing annual budget sustainability by 26%.
• Overseeing cross-channel audience engagement strategy, achieving 19.7% growth in attendance and reach through new partnerships and marketing campaigns.
• Representing the festival at industry events, expanding international collaborations and submissions.

Interim Director & Head of Programme

Apr 2023 – Apr 2024

• Stepped into leadership role during a transitional phase, ensuring continuity of operations and programming.
• Introduced new programming themes and guest speakers to increase engagement with younger and more diverse audiences.
• Led recruitment and onboarding of staff, interns, Young Programmers, and volunteers across departments.

Festival Coordinator, Programmer & Marketing Officer

Mar 2022 – Apr 2023

• Hndled the logistics of the festival including venue bookings, film delivery, travel arrangements, and volunteer scheduling.
• Developed and delivered the festival's social media and email campaigns, increasing ticket sales and engagement.
• Co-programmed and curated the Official Programme.
• Designed and implemented community outreach projects in partnership with local organizations.

Marketing & Audience Development Officer & Programmer

Jun 2021 – Mar 2022

• Developed the festival's new branding and communications strategy, resulting in a 32% increase in engagement across Instagram and Facebook.
• Co-programmed the festival strands and organised the online post-screening discussions.
• Supported copywriting, editing, and design of digital promotional materials.
• Led and coordinated the Festival's first Young Programmers initiative.

Marketing & Audience Development Assistant

Jan 2021 – Mar 2021

• Assisted in building early-stage marketing plans and contributed to a successful online festival edition.
• Created and scheduled social media content to promote screenings and Q&As.
• Helped gather and analyze audience data for reporting and development purposes.

• Developed and executed comprehensive SEO strategies to boost website traffic and enhance brand visibility.
• Created and optimized high-quality, keyword-driven content that improved organic search rankings and reader engagement.
• Conducted regular content audits and in-depth keyword research to maintain content relevancy, ensure SEO compliance, and uncover new visibility opportunities.

• Provided feedback on programming and outreach to ensure relevance and accessibility for young and diverse audiences.
• Collaborated with peers to advise on inclusivity, cultural trends, and audience engagement tactics across BIFA's programmes.

• Led marketing and audience development for the Native Spirit Festival.
• Increased brand awareness by developing and implementing effective social media strategies.
• Managed multiple social media platforms and boosted engagement rates, ensuring a consistent brand voice and message.

• Wrote SEO-optimized content for a diverse range of clients across industries including crypto, education, wellness, and tech.
• Produced blog articles, landing pages, website intros, "About Us" pages, and branded editorial content tailored to unique brand voices.
• Conducted targeted research to create accurate, engaging, and keyword-driven content that improved search rankings.
• Managed multiple content briefs simultaneously while adhering to tight deadlines and individual client style guides.

• Coordinated the logistics for the festival's hybrid edition, supporting the planning and delivery of Q&As and panel discussions.
• Liaised with potential partners, media outlets, and cultural institutions to develop promotional and educational collaborations.
• Wrote and scheduled email campaigns and newsletters to boost event attendance and brand engagement.
• Supported online event facilitation and communication with international filmmakers and guests.