ABOUT US

Along the north side of the Thames Thurrock lies. Origins of marsh and ague, where Dracula, Captain Kidd and Queen Elizabeth 1 forged myths. Where colonial subjects staggered ashore and braced themselves with Empire. Here, worlds first encountered each other, swept along by the tides of maritime travel. Secundum Tamesim Quovis Gentium. Spinning the matrix of fervent imagination born out of stories and images. Thus emerged Film Thurrock in 2018, an embryo of a film festival. Leapfrogging over Covid, this child of creativity began to flourish audaciously.

WHO WE ARE

  • Creative Director of Film Thurrock

    Hi Ching studied at the Royal Ballet School and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He began his career as a ballet dancer in companies that included Frankfurt Opera and Ballet Classique de Paris. He then became an actor as well as Artistic Director of projects such as Festival of Lights at the Royal National Theatre, the Handover of Hong Kong in the London Docklands and Silk Screens for the BBC produced across four UK cities simultaneously to mark the Beijing Olympics. He has won prizes for his writing and music compositions which have been featured on the BBC and in venues throughout Britain. He was Head of the Upper School at the Urdang Academy and Principal of Dance Theatre Academy for which he was approached by Bolshoi Ballet artist Sulamith Messerer to establish. He is a Founder Member of AAAHA which produces Film Thurrock. He established Thurrock Screen Culture Festival in 2018, formerly TIC / Thurrock Film Festival.

  • Co-Director, Thurrock Young Film Network

    Alan Bright has made swift progress since being a volunteer with AAAHA in April 2022. Beginning as a runner, he quickly assumed a leading role in developing the Young Film Network. He acquired important technical and programming skills for this whilst organising Thurrock Film Club. In conjunction with upskilling himself, he has taken over marketing Film Thurrock on all social media outlets. A recent graduate of South Essex College, he impressively transferred his skills and knowledge in business, marketing, and teaching into a wide range of outcomes for Film Thurrock. He prides himself on his ability to adapt to change and, being a perfectionist at heart, pushes himself to the very limit to ensure successful results. He is a founding member of Film Thurrock. goes here

  • Executive Festival Director of Thurrock International Film Festival

    Jun Noh is a London-based filmmaker, writer, and producer with a background in acting and storytelling. A graduate of London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), he works across theatre, film, and audio, with a focus on amplifying underrepresented narratives. He co-founded Kobold Blue Productions, creating multidisciplinary works that spotlight marginalised voices and confront urgent social issues. His play Things Between Heaven and Earth was staged at major UK festivals and later adapted into a short film. Jun also serves as executive producer on An Important Man with Flying Colours Productions. His work often explores identity, displacement, and psychological depth through a visually striking and emotionally layered style. He is passionate about independent cinema and committed to creating bold, resonant stories that spark dialogue and change.Description text goes here

  • Community Curator of Thurrock International Film Festival

    Ollie Mills is a community and heritage professional based in Thurrock. He began his community work at the Purfleet Heritage and Military Centre (PH&MC) in 2022, where he quickly progressed within the organisation to become an Executive Committee Member and Treasurer. Now also serving as a Director of the Anglo Asiatic Arts & Heritage Alliance (AAAHA), Ollie is successfully bridging the gap between AAAHA and the PH&MC by fostering deep collaborations. This partnership was the driving force behind the WWII Salute festival in Purfleet, a major community initiative that salutes their rich heritage and the shared legacy of Thurrock and The Commonwealth nations.

    Ollie’s expertise lies in making heritage accessible through community-led engagement. He previously spearheaded the Purfleet Community Gallery project, securing grant funding from START Thurrock to showcase student artwork through both physical and digital exhibitions. An accomplished public speaker and researcher, he has curated multimedia presentations for Grays Library using BFI archival footage and has actively participated in local oral history projects, preserving vital community narratives for the future. Additionally, he has helped create and manage film productions for AAAHA, further integrating visual media into local heritage storytelling.

HI CHING

Creative Director

hi.ching@filmthurrock.uk

ALAN BRIGHT

Co-Director

alan.bright@filmthurrock.uk

OLLIE MILLS

Community Curator

ollie.mills@filmthurrock.uk

ADELLA MORTON

Creative Coordinator

adella.morton@filmthurrock.uk

JUN NOH

Executive Festival Director, Thurrock International Film Festival

jun.noh@filmthurrock.uk

FILM THURROCK is produced by