Valentina Alba Todino is Honorary Associate Research Fellow for the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures (MLC) and MA in Applied Translation, at University of Exeter (UoE)

Her interest has focused on migration and translation of identity for several years. Since 2017, she worked on a project called Transcultural Devon, creating a video-archive of interviews with migrants living in Devon and producing some short films based on such interviews, working alongside director David Salas. This draws inspiration from her central role of community connector, especially within the Italian diaspora as founder of the Italian Cultural Association Exeter, but more in general within the whole international and migrant community based in Devon.

Alongside music and other art forms, she has a keen interest in cinema, developed in her early age in Italy, when she was studying in Rome and spending many hours in her local arthouse cinema. Therefore she was determined to bring to Exeter a valuable contribution to the development of a more multicultural cinema offer. Valentina has worked alongside Claire Horrocks at the Exeter Phoenix for the last few years to bring alive a programme of Italian films that are available to the members of the ICAE and to the public too, usually once a month.

Lately she has gained the role of Drop-in and Events coordinator for the charity Refugee Support Devon. Thanks to her conviction that cinema is an invaluable way of creating awareness on topics that would otherwise go unknown, RSD has recently become a member of BFI South West. This means that Valentina has been working in collaboration with Studio 74 at the Exeter Phoenix to bring to the general audience some film titles related to the issues of asylum seekers and refugees, encouraging conversations and supporting more community engagement on this hot topic.

https://www.facebook.com/ItalianCultureExeterItalian Cultural Association E (@italian_association_exeter) • Instagram photos and videosOur Vision - Refugee Support DevonLisette ReedLisette Reed is a Final Year student at the University of Exeter, studying BA (Hons) English and Film & Television Studies. Throughout her time at university, Lisette hase worked on various Southwest based films, both with external production companies and producing on a range of projects for XTV Online, Exeter’s student filmmaking society. Alongside this work and her studies, she am also the Social Secretary for Exeter’s Campus Cinema, a student-run cinema in the heart of Streatham Campus. Within this role, she hs worked closely with the Exeter Phoenix in ensuring that students are able to see new releases on the big screen for an affordable price. "Thank you again for this amazing opportunity and I can’t wait to see all the films to come!"
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lisette-reed-ab8bb3240
Instagram: reedliketheplant_Ashley LaycockAshley is originally a performance artist/actor who hails from Lynton and Lynmouth. They have worked in television as a runner for art and history documentaries for Seventh Art. Lived for over a decade in Japan as a business English teacher, working with engineers of robotics. Their finest hour was giving out the fliers for the legendary Fat Boy Slim Big Beach Boutique in the early 2000's. Ashley lives for music and film, likes to review video games and tabletop RPGs in their spare time and has volunteered for the UK Games Expo as a steward and GM. They are currently loving their time volunteering at the Phoenix for gigs and Studio 74. Ashley also loves Ozu Yasujiro movies and is a massive Suede fan. Their dream was realised last year when they met Louise Wener from Sleeper, Sonya from Echobelly, writer Kim Newman and the 5678's from Kill Bill. Ashley's ideal home is spiritually in the mindset somewhere between Devon, Brighton, Japan and Glastonbury 98 - 2000.'Sam Forster

Sam Forster is the Events Officer at Exeter Phoenix, which is like trying to complete the world’s largest jigsaw, against the clock. Hailing from the sunny streets of Torbados and having studied in Brighton, the hardest part of his day is not being 10 minutes from the beach now that he lives in Exeter.

He loves to chat, preferring small talk over deep chats, and enjoys films that reflect his appreciation for the everyday.

Having been in various student films, he’s taken on all the classic roles, the foil, the comic relief, or more often than not, the one who gets killed off in the first ten minutes.