about us
Crossing The Screen – the powerhouse behind the Eastbourne International Film Festival, is delighted to announce the return of the 10th 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
10th eastbourne international film festival history
Crossing the Screen — A Journey Through the Years2016 — The Beginning
The journey starts at the Birley Centre in Eastbourne, where the very first edition of Crossing the Screen sets the stage for a bold new celebration of independent cinema.2017–2018 — Growing Across the Town
The festival expands across four venues in Eastbourne, including the iconic Towner Art Gallery—bringing diverse stories to wider audiences and building a strong cultural presence.2019 — Rooted in Community
The 4th edition finds a home at Leaf Hall Community Arts Centre, strengthening ties with the local creative community and embracing a grassroots, inclusive spirit.2020–2021 — Cinema Without Borders
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 5th and 6th editions move online—continuing to connect audiences worldwide through powerful storytelling.2023 — العودة to the Big Screen
The 7th edition marks a vibrant return to in-person cinema at The Grove Theatre, alongside a special pre-festival screening at Leaf Hall—reigniting the shared festival experience.2024 — Building Momentum
The 8th edition continues at The Grove Theatre, solidifying the festival’s place in Eastbourne’s cultural landscape.2025 — Expanding Horizons
The 9th edition takes place at The Cavendish Hotel, introducing an enriched programme of screenings, workshops, and networking opportunities.
2026 — A Milestone Year
The 10th edition runs from 2nd to 9th May across The Cavendish Hotel, Eastbourne, and Hailsham Pavilion Cinema.
8 days of cinema, celebration, and connection—featuring screenings, special events, and creative encounters. The most ambitious edition yet.
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
KAT DAWN
Digital Contents and Educational Outreach
Kat is the Lead Volunteer for the festival and the person behind our TikTok presence. A Brighton-based creative with a bachelor’s degree in animation, she specialises in social content that captures atmosphere, energy, and community. Working closely with the marketing team, she helps shape how the festival is seen online, from playful moments to big announcements. In her spare time, she enjoys board games, ghost stories, and music events.
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.
