about us
Crossing The Screen – the powerhouse behind the Eastbourne International Film Festival, is delighted to announce the return of the 9th edition of the festival. This event promises to once again unite cinema enthusiasts and celebrate the captivating world of film.
Eastbourne International Film Festival stands as a vibrant platform for showcasing innovative and independent visual art from around the globe. Nestled in the charming landscapes of Sussex, United Kingdom, this festival is dedicated to discovering and honouring unique voices and emerging talents in the world of cinema, ones unafraid to venture beyond traditional storytelling.
workshops and seminars
A central pillar of this festival is its commitment to fostering a deeper understanding of filmmaking. The festival hosts a series of workshops and seminars that provide valuable insights and learning opportunities for both emerging filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts. These sessions cover various aspects of filmmaking, from scriptwriting to cinematography, and aim to inspire and educate.
In addition, the festival places a strong focus on community engagement and growth. It offers a structured program for volunteers from East Sussex College Group in Eastbourne and Baden College in Herstmonceaux, creating an environment where the next generation of filmmakers can learn and contribute.
festival history
- The inaugural edition of the festival took place at the Birley Centre in Eastbourne, East Sussex, in November 2016.
- Subsequent editions, including the 2nd and 3rd, were held in November across four different venues in Eastbourne, including the prestigious Towner Art Gallery.
- The 4th Crossing the Screen Film Festival in September 2019 was hosted at the Leaf Hall Community Arts Centre, underlining the festival’s strong connection with the local artistic community.
- The 5th and 6th editions (November 2020 and March 2021) adapted to online formats due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The 7th and 8th edition unfolded at The GROVE Theatre in Eastbourne, with a pre-festival film screening at the Leaf Hall Community Arts Centre and Belgium Café.
The 9th edition of the Eastbourne International Film Festival was in March 2025 , with outstanding celebration of cinema.
Crossing The Screen continues to be a dynamic force that invigorates the festival’s outreach through monthly community cinema screenings and cinematic events across Eastbourne, connecting filmmakers and film enthusiasts, and fostering the growth of the cinematic arts in
Sussex.
We are now working on the 10th edition of the film festival, which will be expanded into a full week of celebrations—featuring incredible events, screenings, and activities dedicated to independent cinema.
Meet the Team
DOMENICO DELLA VALLE
Founder & Director
Domenico is a lively member of Crossing the Screen team. He is a freelance filmmaker interested in drama and documentary productions. He was awarded a Master in Television and Video Production at Bournemouth University. Having worked for almost 20 years in the live-event management industry, Domenico has a great passion, experience and skills as a producer of Community Cinema, Music, Sports & Fundraising events
MANFREDI MANCUSO
Founder & Director
Manfredi holds an MA in Filmmaking from the London Film School. Since 2012, he has collaborated with international film festivals, especially in the Asian region. In 2014, he was an international consultant for the Beijing IFF where he showcased his expertise in film programming and selection. From 2014 to 2018, he was a member of the international federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and a submission coordinator for the F.I.R.S.T. Independent Film Festival China. From 2015 to 2017, he worked as the Head of Short Programming at the Rome IFF and as a member of the Jury for the official collateral “N. Taddei” Award at the Venice IFF. Besides his festival jobs, he has worked as an event manager, coordinator and organiser.
ROBERT HYLAND
Film Critics and Presenter
Dr Robert Hyland is Senior Lecturer in Film and Media studies at Bader College, Queen’s University (Canada). He earned his PhD from the University of Kent in Canterbury, where his research work was conducted on a history of Japanese Horror and folk culture. He has since published and presented articles on Japanese film and animation, on Taiwanese cinema, South Korean popular culture and Hong Kong and Chinese cinema, and has been an invited lecturer at institutions in Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, China, South Korea and Germany. He is the book reviews editor for the journal Asian Cinema and is a co-editor of the forthcoming anthology on the superhero in popular culture, Supercultures 2, produced in conjunction with the Superhero Project.
NADA ABDULLA
Submission Coordinator
Dr Nada Abdulla is a visual anthropologist with huge interest in visual representations of cultures through images and moving pictures. She has been trained in filmmaking in various places around the world, such as Kuwait, UAE, Australia and the UK, where she produced a number of short narrative and documentary films. In 2015, her documentary Hijabi Girls, has been selected to screen at many international film festivals and featured on BBC 3, showing on TV as part of a documentary called ‘Through Your Lens’. Since 2014, Nada has been working with different film festivals as a selector, coordinator and programmer.t
JUDE MOORE
Digital Contents and Educational Outreach
Jude is a creative media educator and designer based in Eastbourne. He teaches across photography, film, audio, and graphic design at East Sussex College, where he also supports student-led media projects such as Tag Magazine, Eastbourne Youth Radio, and Eastbourne Alive. Alongside his teaching, Jude brings experience in editorial design, visual storytelling, and social media strategy. He now supports Crossing the Screen by managing its digital content, helping to share the festival’s vision and voice with wider audiences.
