Mat Kesting

Mat Kesting
He/Him
Chief Executive Officer, Adelaide Film Festival 

I fell in love with cinema as a teenager—though I never imagined it would become my career. I studied media at university, partly because it was the thing to do, but mostly because I was drawn to journalism and storytelling. During that time, I helped organise a travelling short film festival and filmmaking competition, which eventually grew into a national festival I volunteer-produced for over a decade.

Along the way, I worked in cinemas, volunteered at ACMI, and contributed to arts festivals and events. A breakthrough came when I secured a programming role at the Brisbane International Film Festival, learning under an exceptional Artistic Director. Since then, I’ve held roles at the Mercury Cinema and Adelaide Film Festival. I even pursued Environmental Science in my 30s, but the pull of film, festivals and programming proved too strong to resist.

Honestly, I think I have the best job in the world.

I’m now a specialist in festivals and programming, having worked in the sector since the late 1990s. Named one of Screen International’s Future Leaders, I’ve proudly led Adelaide Film Festival since 2019 as CEO & Creative Director. In this time, I’ve curated the AFF Investment Fund—overseeing 50 screen commissions—driven audience and box office growth, doubled the Fund’s size, and led AFF’s shift to an annual event.

My deep love and connection to AFF goes back to 2008 through programming roles, fuelled by my passion for championing Australian cinema. Over the years, I’ve produced the 15/15 Film Festival and collaborated with AFTRS, Lumiere Cinemas, ACMI and other cultural festivals. I currently serve as Deputy Chair of Festival City Adelaide and am a proud advocate for Adelaide’s vibrant cultural life.

I feel incredibly lucky to do my work. A great piece of advice a friend once gave me has always stayed with me: “Try to do work you value or believe in—even if it requires sacrifice, it will lead to better things.” It’s a philosophy that’s served me well.

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This article is part of the Festival & Event Industry Career Profiles series, a collection highlighting the diverse stories of Adelaide’s finest festival professionals. 

Photography by: Jack Fenby