About Us

Finding Absurd Inspiration in Every Turn

“Most festivals drown in bleak drama — we champion the absurd. In tough times, people need films that let us laugh at the chaos.” - Daniel Booroff | Founder

The Brighton Absurd Film Festival celebrates cinema shaped by the spirit of absurdism — not a genre, but a philosophical lens that reveals the tension between humanity’s search for meaning and a universe without it. Drawing on the ideas of Albert Camus and the Theatre of the Absurd, absurdist films blur the boundaries of dark comedy, existential dramedy, surrealism, and avant-garde cinema. They thrive on illogical plots, futile struggles, and characters confronting the ambiguity of existence, often with humor and surreal invention. Our festival exists to showcase these works — films that question, unsettle, and entertain by embracing the absurd.

Our Story

The Brighton Absurd Film Festival was launched by Schmetterling Productions Ltd, a Brighton-based creative studio committed to nurturing local talent and championing inclusive, boundary-pushing cinema. Absurdism isn’t a film genre—it’s a philosophical lens drawn from Camus and Theatre of the Absurd, one that explores the tension between humanity’s search for meaning and an indifferent universe.

While there’s no official “absurdist” category, films shaped by this philosophy often live in the realm of dark comedy, existential dramedy, surrealism, and avant-garde cinema—rich terrains where illogical plots, meaningless struggles, and comic obscurity collide. We spotlight films that revel in absurdity: stories that unsettle, provoke, and quietly invite us to laugh at the chaotic beauty of life.

Meet The Team

Daniel Booroff

Founder & CEO

Daniel Booroff is an award-winning actor and Modern Absurdist filmmaker based in Brighton & Hove. His films blend dark comedy, surreal horror, and British social realism, confronting themes of futility, miscommunication, and the strangeness of existence. Influenced by Beckett and Pinter, and contemporary voices such as Yorgos Lanthimos, Ben Wheatley, and the Coen Brothers, Booroff creates unsettling yet comic worlds where despair and absurdity collide. As an actor, he is recognised for distinctive character work across film, television, and theatre, with credits including Mary Queen of Scots, The Death of Stalin, The Pentaverate, Britannia, and Not Going Out.

Abi McLoughlin

Operations Director

Abi McLoughlin is a versatile British actor, producer, and former BBC director. After an accomplished career in broadcasting—working as a reporter, producer, and director—she retrained in acting and quickly established herself across stage and screen. Her television work includes Doctors, Shakespeare & Hathaway – Private Investigators, and the feature The Hitman’s Bodyguard. On stage, Abi has earned acclaim for roles such as Dr. Helen Boyle in the award-winning Clean, Van Gogh’s muse in Vincent in Brixton, and her solo performance in The Principle of Uncertainty. She continues to combine her creative background in journalism with a passion for performance.

Chenying Cannell

Director Of Marketing

Chenying “Chen” Cannell is a Brighton-based photographer and visual storyteller whose work spans portraits, events, weddings, and film stills. She is known for her calm, unobtrusive style — capturing atmosphere, emotion, and the real moments that matter. Her film credits include Grandmaster (2024), All the Colours, Delete, and Better Anything (2025). Alongside commissioned projects, Chen leads Bloom, a personal series blending nature and human connection to create imagery that feels both magical and authentic.

Adam Cannell

Festival Development

Adam Cannell is a Brighton-based producer, writer, and sound designer, and co-founder of On The Level Media. Holding an MA in Filmmaking, he has worked across directing, production, and sound design, with credits including Lure (2025) and Shades of Red (2024).

Adam values collaboration and creative clarity, delivering projects that are polished, engaging, and built on strong partnerships.

OUR PATRONS

John Locke

John Locke (born 29 June 1953) is an English character actor who returned to the screen in 2012 after a long absence. His credits include Jupiter Ascending for the Wachowskis, Darkest Hour for Joe Wright, The Favourite for Yorgos Lanthimos, Teen Spirit for Max Minghella, Year of the Rabbit for Ben Taylor, and numerous independent shorts such as Rabbit Foot, Hands of a Collector, Tempest, When Swallows Fly Low, and Cowboy Camembert. In 2017 he served as a jury member at the Dieppe Film Festival, and in 2018 he launched a blog supporting young independent filmmakers worldwide.

Adam Donen

Adam Donen is a writer, director, and composer whose work fuses music, theatre, and technology into new art forms. His Symphony to a Lost Generation (2016), described by BBC News as “either a genius or a madman,” was the world’s first holographic drama, combining 200 actors and dancers with 250 musicians as holograms on an empty stage. In 2020 he created Nixon in Agony, the first binaural audio drama, starring Steven Berkoff. Donen has also written libretti, composed works for leading orchestras, directed theatre, and released four albums. His art frequently engages with philosophy, poetry, and the shifting idea of the “I” in the digital age.

OUR AMBASSADORS

Ella Broad

Ella Broad is a cinematographer, camera operator, and photographer whose work spans narrative, documentary, and experimental film. With a strong background in visual storytelling, she has brought her distinctive eye to projects including Better Anything, God is Dead, They Will Collect Us, and Embla, as well as experimental shorts like In the Pale and Odyssey of Discord.

Her portfolio reflects both technical precision and artistic versatility—ranging from raw, emotional dramas to surreal, atmospheric visuals. Passionate about collaboration and supporting emerging voices, Ella brings fresh perspective and creative energy as an ambassador for the festival.

Anthony Giles

Anthony has held a 20 year career in the creative industries. His work spans music performance and industry, art, design & illustration, photography, filmmaking, education, business development and creative career guidance.

His passion for film, particularly sci-fi and fantasy, started at a very young age, including comedy classics Monty Python, Mel Brooks, early Leslie Nielsen and the TV show Red Dwarf. He attributes this to an even earlier love for books, especially Terry Pratchett's Discworld series.

Having been involved in Brighton's creative scene since 1998, Anthony is proud to support the Brighton Absurd Film Festival from its inception.

Our Partners