Tess Van Hemert

Dr. Tess Van Hemert is a Lecturer in the School of Communication at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), specializing in global screen distribution, gender equality in the screen industry, and international film festivals. She holds a PhD from QUT, where her research investigated the role of festivals in advancing emerging women filmmakers, with fieldwork conducted at the Toronto International Film Festival, International Film Festival Rotterdam, and Brisbane International Film Festival.

Her research interests include film festival ecosystems, audience engagement, and cultural policy, with a focus on gender representation and regional cinema. She has contributed to projects such as Resilient Screens: Investigating the value of Australian Cinema Exhibition, and published in Studies in Australasian Cinema, New Review of Film and Television Studies, and Cultural Studies Review.

Recent work includes audience surveys for Palace Cinemas and the Brisbane International Film Festival, analyzing attendance patterns and festival impacts. Her articles highlight themes like Australian film support policies, regional festival sustainability, and the historical role of women in media (e.g., her 2024 review of Sound Citizens). She is also affiliated with QUT’s Digital Media Research Centre.

Her publications emphasize the intersection of cultural memory, festival innovation, and gender equity. Notable contributions include critiques of film festival programming, analyses of Queensland’s film landscape, and studies on the legacy of cinematic institutions.