Melbourne WebFest is proud to reveal the festival team of 2020. We’re making some changes, welcoming back some old faces and saying heartfelt goodbyes.
Earlier this year, Alexander Hipwell made the decision to step down as the Festival Director.
He writes:
I am so proud of the festival program we delivered in 2019!
However, as many of you who are close to me know, Melbourne WebFest wasn’t the only project I was running that year. It became clear to me just as we were launching the event that I lacked the capacity to commit to another festival as the Director. It wouldn’t have been fair on the people around me or the organisation if I continued.
Nonetheless, I’m proud to announce that Lauren Colosimo will be stepping up to lead the festival in 2020.
In terms of my involvement in the future, I will continue to be a member of the newly-formed advisory board.
It’s been an absolute pleasure to have watched this industry bloom and to see Australia positioned as a leader in the space. I’ve been able to get to know so many members of the community in the last eight years and I look forward to working with you all sometime again in the future.
Keep creating,
Alex
Melbourne WebFest would like to thank Alex for his six years of hard work, passion and dedication to the festival.
Alexander Hipwell Lauren Colosimo & Harrison Lawrence
And with that, we’d like to introduce our new Festival Director, Lauren Colosimo!
She writes:
While I am sad to see Alex step down, as he has been an integral part of the team, I’m very excited to step into the role of Festival Director.
I began at WebFest in its second year as an intern, I went on to work in and eventually manage the communications team. I have watched the web series industry and community grow immensely into the wonderful and supporting community that it is.
We are definitely living through unprecedented times and now, more than ever, I believe it is important to support digital content creators and our community. If anyone can navigate the digital landscape we currently find ourselves reliant on, it is going to be us!
Myself, and the amazing humans on the festival organising committee, are working to bring you another entertaining, educational and jam-packed festival in 2020, no matter what form the event may be in.
We’d also like to take this time to note the departure of our beloved Harrison Lawrence who has worked with the festival in various roles since 2015. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours.
And of course, we’d like to give a massive welcome back to our returning committee members.
Lauren Colosimo Festival Director
Candace Brereton Communications and PR Manager
Susu Najjarin Content Manager
Max Robins General Manager
Kristen Settinelli Engagement Manager
Lisa Falla Production Manager
Ishta Saraswati Digital Coordinator
We’d also like to introduce our new Advisory Board.
Julie Kalceff Writer, Director and Producer
Luke Eve Screen Director and Producer
Michelle Law Actor, Author and Screenwriter
Sally McLean Actor, Writer and Director
Tamasin Simpkin Production Executive at Film Victoria
Warwick Holt Screenwriter
Alexander Hipwell Former Director of Melbourne WebFest