MQFF is a non-profit organisation governed by a voluntary Board of Management, staffed by a small team of committed professionals and supported by an army of generous volunteers. MQFF is further supported by our Sweethearts who are members of our Private Giving Program. We couldn’t do it without our Team Players – all of our valued Festival Sponsors, Partners and Providers who help us to produce a first-class Festival each year.
MQFF Team
OUR WONDERFUL STAFF
Louise Lever ( she/her )
Festival Director
Louise Lever is an award-winning filmmaker, writer and the former Festival Director of the Geelong Pride Film Festival (2026). She has run successful LGBTQIA+ film screenings across Australia and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts from The University of Auckland.
Louise has significant experience in film and screen events, and her latest short film ‘Joey’s Heart’ had its World Premiere at BFI Flare in London.
Louise also made the feature documentary ‘Revolt She Said’ featuring Former Prime Minister Helen Clark and is currently working on her feature film Infatuation.
Steven Trosti ( he/they )
Festival Producer
Steven Trosti is a Melbourne-based arts producer, curator, and socially engaged artist whose work spans film festivals, markets, and community-engaged arts. He has produced the Melbourne Queer Film Festival (2021-2024 & 2026) leading the delivery of Australia’s largest celebration of queer cinema. As well as Birrarangga Film Festival (2023,2025 & 2027), coordinating venue operations, volunteers and major events.
Beyond festivals, he is the founder of Gay Stuff Market, Melbourne’s first LGBTIQA+ makers market, which has grown into a vibrant and inclusive community platform for queer artists, makers, and small businesses.
Steven worked as Creative Producer of the ArtLife program at Footscray Community Arts Centre (2017–2020), producing workshops and events with artists of living with disabilities, and also contributed to Due West Arts Festival as Artistic Associate.
Alongside producing, Steven maintains a multidisciplinary art practice across painting, collage, and sculpture, with work exhibited and collaborated on projects in Australia, the USA, Canada, and Japan. His career reflects a passion for creativity, inclusivity, and community connection.
Bree Davis ( she/her )
Finance Manager
Bree Davis joined the MQFF team as Finance Manager in July 2024. She brings with her a wealth of experience from within the Non For Profit sector where she has worked with many different organisations.
Bree is a staunch supporter of human rights. Working with indigenous, women's rights, LGBQTI+ and community based organisations has been her passion for the last 25 years.
With Bree's commencement at MQFF, she has now managed to serendipitously combine her love of cinema with her socially based principals.
Olym Li ( He/Him )
Marketing and Fundraising Manager
Olym joined the MQFF family in May 2026, bringing a mix of commercial acumen and creative passion to the team. After migrating to Australia in 2013 and completing his MBA, Olym made a intentional transition from the corporate sector to the not-for-profit space, driven by a desire to make a positive impact in the LGBTQIA+ community and the arts.
When he’s not in the office, Olym is behind a lens. He is an avid cinema lover and has a passion for photography, with work featured by the likes of Google, Apple, and multiple tourism boards.
OUR INCREDIBLE BOARD
Gail Veal ( she / her )
Co-President
Gail has been an avid member and supporter of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival ‘since forever’. She has been swaggering into queer films since the days of the old State Theatre underground screenings, and isn’t afraid to share that.
Gail has been a Board Member since early 2020, and became Co-President in late 2021. She has spent the majority of her career managing HSE for multinational companies so it’s no surprise that she chairs the Risk Management Sub Committee for MQFF.
Gail is also a MQFF Sweetheart, a Rainbow Patron of Midsumma, and a Bronze Patron of the Victorian Pride Centre. Gail holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Graduate Diploma of Ergonomics, both from La Trobe University. Her time away from desks and cinemas is spent working on her second book, swimming, riding her Vespa and epicurean travels.
Marco Angele ( he / him )
Board Member
Marco is a Principal at marshalls+dent+wilmoth lawyers, specialising in commercial, media and entertainment law. His expertise includes commercial contracting and procurement, transactions, fundraising and intellectual property. He has been on the MQFF Board since 2021.
Marco advises clients predominantly from the technology, media and entertainment industries. Recently, he has acted for leading television and film production companies, media content distributors, festivals and hospitality venues.
Marco has led the delivery of legal services on a number of feature films and television series. A list of these can be found at his IMDb.
Max Jahufer
Board Member
Max Jahufer, a passionate Trans advocate and founder of Melbourne-based creative agency FutureStudio, brings over 15 years of experience in advertising, marketing, and sales. His drive to revolutionise the agency experience led to the creation of his creative agency FutureStudio, where he blends creativity with commercial sustainability to deliver innovative and impactful solutions for top Australian brands.
Outside his agency work, Max is a versatile writer, actor, and musician. He also co-founded Roaring Tribe, a film production company dedicated to elevating diversity and amplifying authenticity. His work on the 2024 feature film “A Savage Christmas,” where he served as co-creator, community advisor, and actor, highlights his dedication and commitment to inclusivity and authentic representation on screen. Max’s portrayal of lead character, Kane, in the film breaks boundaries and redefines norms for his community, contributing to its 2024 AACTA nomination for Best Independent Feature Film.
Amelia Jones ( they / them )
Board Member
Amelia Jones (they/them) lives and works between Ballarat, on Wadawurrung Country, and Melbourne's west, where they are Coordinator Events and Venues at Hobsons Bay City Council. They lead a realigned unit covering the city's festivals and events program, film and event permits, and its cultural venues including Williamstown Town Hall and Altona Theatre. The program includes Movies by the Bay, Council's free outdoor cinema season.
Amelia has worked in arts, events and venues for around 15 years, including at the Victorian Pride Centre, Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, Latrobe Regional Gallery, Lamington Drive and Ballarat's Cultural Venues. They have secured more than $6.5 million in government, philanthropic and private funding to grow Victoria's creative industries.
Amelia also serves on the board at Castlemaine Art Museum, and holds a Master of Business in Arts and Cultural Management from Deakin University. They bring a regional voice to the MQFF board and advocate for a film and event-friendly Victoria.
OUR OUTSTANDING SPONSORS, PRESENTERS & PROVIDERS
MQFF is very fortunate to be supported by a range of incredibly generous organisations, community groups, cinemas, government departments and businesses each year. We love working with our Partners and Sponsors who celebrate difference and together share a commitment to support the LGBTIQ+ community and the arts in Melbourne.
To see a full list and to enquire about joining them, visit our Sponsors page:
MQFF SPONSORS
OUR CHERISHED LIFE MEMBERS
Our life members have devoted countless hours to ensure the longevity and success of MQFF over the Festival’s colourful history. They are a much-loved and valued part of our community.
Rowland Thomson, Crusader Hillis, Madeleine Swain, Suzie Goodman, miss jan horstman, David McCarthy, Richard Watts, Suzy Green, Rowena Doo, Luke Gallagher, Alex Green, Paul Tonta, Leanne Sumpter, Colin Billing, Claire Jackson, Lisa Daniel, Paul Clifton, Roberta Armitage, Jason Ngam, Cathy Anderson, Scott Herron and Richard Laslett.
