Nik Powell, Vice-President of the European Film Academy and Director of the National Film and Television School in London, has agreed to be the president of the feature film section of the festival.

In 1972, Nik Powell set up Virgin Records with Richard Branson, nowadays a multi-million pound company. In the 80’s, Nik Powell went into partnership with Stephen Wooley and formed Palace Productions, later on producing three of Neil Jordan’s most succesfull films - COMPANY OF WOLVES, MONA LISA (nominated at Cannes and the Oscars) and the Oscar-winner THE CRYING GAME.

His next company, Scala Productions, founded in 1992, produced, among others, THE NEON BIBLE (directed by Terrence Davies), LITTLE VOICE (d. Mark Herman), nominated for Oscar and Golden Globes or LAST ORDERS (d. Fred Schepisi), with Michael Caine, Bob Hoskins, Tom Courtenay, Helen Mirren, David Hemmings and Ray Winstone. One of his latest productions is LADIES IN LAVENDER (d. Charles Dance) starring Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith and Daniel Bruhl.

Since 2005, the year he was appointed Director of the National Film and Television School, Nik Powell became non-executive chairman of Scala Productions.

Nik Powell will also deliver a master-class within B-EST IFF, entitled „THE 30 LESSONS OF A PRODUCER – THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO NIK POWELL”.