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Briony Hanson
Briony Hanson
Briony worked in the field of cultural exhibition for over ten years before making a move to The Script Factory in 2000. Previously director/programmer of Newcastle’s Tyneside Cinema, during which time she also lectured in film studies at the University of Northumbria, Briony then headed the BFI Programme Unit providing programme advice for regional independent cinemas, and curating nationwide tours of film and television material. During this time, she also acted as a Consultant for Channel 4’s Independent Film & Video Department, wrote two broadcast support booklets also for Channel 4, and co-programmed the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival from 1996-2000.
She moved to become a Producer for The Script Factory in 2000 where she co-devised and taught Script Reading courses; produced Performed Readings; and devised and programmed The Script Factory: SCENE Festival events. She was made a Director of The Script Factory in 2002 and continues to programme and chair live events, works on development initiatives, and oversees web activity.
Briony has conducted numerous on-stage interviews and masterclasses with filmmakers and performers ranging from Julianne Moore, Todd Haynes, Steve Buscemi and Gus van Sant, to Emma Thompson, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Rob Brydon, Clive Owen, Jim Jarmusch, Dustin Hoffman, Lisa Cholodenko, Christine Blundell, Mike Leigh and Andrej Wajda.
Since leaving film exhibition, she has occasionally programmed seasons for the National Film Theatre (now BFI Southbank), has acted as an assessor for NESTA, and been on juries and committees including BAFTA's Original Screenplay Jury and WFTV Awards. She also makes occasional broadcast appearances as a film critic contributing to BBC TV's The Cultiure Show, BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, Front Row and The Film Programme, to Sky TV's Movie News Show, and for one-offs such as Granada's 100 Greatest War Films for C4. She is a regular guest on both Sky Movies' annual Oscar and Golden Globes Nominations Shows. She also co-edited the 2008 Filmmakers' Yearbook for A&C Black, and is currently the Film Editor for DIVA Magazine.
Script Factory co-director Briony Hanson with Andrej Wajda after his SF Masterclass in Warsaw
Briony is unlikely ever to top her greatest career achievement: she was responsible for co-devising and organising the first ever Sing-along-a-Sound Of Music which premiered at the NFT in '99, still runs in the West End, and has toured America, Australia and Europe.
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