Ben Hecking

A filmmaker at heart, I have been writing and making films since I was 14. I studied English at the University of St Andrews and, in my second year, I made a 90-min-long film called The Image Maker ('a much better film than the Constant Gardener', My Mum, 2004). I was the president of Rogue Productions (St Andrews Film Production Society) and helped to organise two film festivals. I was also heavily involved with the theatre scene and produced and directed a number of shows - including a sell out production of Jean Paul Sartre's "No Exit" at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Upon graduating I lived and worked in Edinburgh for a year - shooting a number of short films for an independent production company - before moving down to London in September 2007. I worked for the independent documentary production company Windfall Films as a runner for a year, before trying my luck as a freelance camera operator and assistant.

Six months later, after a period removing staples for 9 hours a day, I was rescued by Spanner Films and found myself managing Indie Screenings.

As of January 2010, I will be found studying cinematography at the National Film and Television School.

I've thoroughly enjoyed my time with Spanner, and with Indie Screenings, and am looking forward to seeing how it grows. It is such a fantastic tool for change, both in the types of films that are going to be on there but, on a much wider scale, it is a brilliant opportunity for exceptionally made independent films, which wouldn't normally get a distribution deal, to be seen by many, many people. Viva la Revolucion!