Masterclass Leaders 2023

Throughout the week-long Art Beats workshop, students from Lancaster and Sunway University attend masterclasses led by industry professionals, where they learn about various artistic practices and expertise. These masterclasses, combined with workshops conducted by the festival mentor, will inspire the students to apply what they have learned in the short films they produce during the week.

This year, the masterclasses are led by the following:

John Torres - independent filmmaker, writer and musician from the Philippines, whose experimental films explore memory, family, folklore and personal storytelling. As the 2023 Art Beats mentor, he led the Sensing Film masterclass, encouraging students to embrace creative experimentation and focus on the filmmaking process.
Ghazi Alqudcy – filmmaker, educator and Senior Lecturer at Sunway University. Through his Personal Little Stories masterclass, Ghazi shared his approach to transforming everyday experiences and personal memories into compelling cinematic narratives, drawing on his extensive experience creating award-winning short and feature films.
Lim Wei Jie – film programmer, curator and festival director. His Film Festivals masterclass introduced students to the world of film curation, exploring how festivals shape contemporary cinema and the artistic, ethical and cultural considerations behind selecting and showcasing films.