Welsh/American Ben Thompson (he/him) grew up in the UK before heading to New York City where he began working as a screener for Tribeca Film Festival. Upon realising his love of curation, he worked his way up to becoming VP of Shorts Programming for the festival.
We chatted to Ben, who is one of the two very special guest curators of our 2026/7 Lighthouse Selections, about what he looks for in a film, the intricacies and skills of curation, and why he thinks it’s just as important to meet a lot of people as it is to watch a lot of films.
If you haven’t uploaded your film to T-Port yet this year, you have until July 15th to make it eligible for this year’s collection. Our annual Lighthouse Selections are specially curated by industry figures, such as Ben, to represent the best that T-Port has to offer. Find out more on our website.
Hi Ben, would you introduce yourself?
I grew up in London in the UK and am a mix of Welsh on my mother’s side and American on my father’s. I am currently the Head of Shorts Programming at The Tribeca Film Festival in New York. I see my role in the short film world as amplifying exceptional short form storytelling from around the world and curating programs that I hope will inspire and move the audiences.
Where do you most love to watch films?
Definitely the Cinema
If you could watch one film forever on a loop – what would it be?
That’s a tough one. I would say probably Jurassic Park. I saw it 6 times in the cinema and will watch it whenever it comes on TV if I am flicking through the channel. It is such an incredibly well realized world and story it just pulls me in every time.
Which upcoming filmmaker should we be obsessed with right now?
I would say Coralie Fargeat. I saw her short Reality+ 10 years before she made THE SUBSTANCE.
There are good films and there are great films. What makes a film great?
For me, great films transport and immerse you into their worlds and characters, so you lose track of time, the external world and your thoughts and feelings are completely wrapped up in the film while you are watching. Also that you continue to think about the film even after it has finished!
What do you think a curator’s super power is? (or should be?)
Another tricky one. Maybe empathy and insight. To select films for audiences’ curators don’t just have to have a love of films but a real interest in people as well and the types of stories that resonate with different audiences.
One of the harder elements of programming curators have to learn is to select films that may not necessarily resonate with them but that they feel will speak to a particular audience or individual.
Not sure if that is a superpower but it is a skill that increases with the more films you watch and more you learn about people.
What will you be looking for while selecting Lighthouse films?
I am always drawn to stories with strong and well realized characters, as long as we are invested in the character, we will be invested in their story regardless of how complex or simple it is.
Can you name a trope, convention, or other aspect that would immediately turn you off a film?
For short films it would be credits at the beginning and a slow feature style introduction to the story. Shorts are a different art form and trying to replicate a feature film style never really fits for me.
Could you tell us about how you became a programmer? What does your career path look like?
I started off with dreams of being a filmmaker. It isn’t easy though and even some of the most successful filmmakers still need other jobs to make a living. I was no exception and not at all successful when I started as an intern at Tribeca.
I began as a screener watching short films and making recommendations. I figured it was a great day job that would still allow me to work on my own films. Somewhere along the way I realized I take just as much pleasure, if not more, in presenting other people’s films that I feel passionate about than my own.
Do you have any advice for wannabe curators / programmers that you wish you’d known early in your career?
Don’t just learn about films, learn about people as well, spend time talking and finding about the types of films different people enjoy, it will definitely help you in curating films for a wide range of different audiences.
What’s your best piece of advice for filmmakers as they are embarking on their early career?
Don’t give up! If filmmaking is what you truly love, keep creating stories, use short as a playground for your ideas and imagination. It can be difficult to still create with all of the obstacles life can throw in your way and other paths to explore, but as long as you make films you will always be a filmmaker.
Let us know if you have anything else to add!
For filmmakers to keep creating. I know the festival circuit can be tough and discouraging at times but always keep in mind, without your films, festivals wouldn’t have anything to show.
I have so many stories of filmmakers who have persevered over years and countless rejections to finally getting to share their work with audiences around the world. And ultimately isn’t that why filmmakers make films, to share with people!
We are Seeking the Future of Film – Submit Your Short Today
We can’t wait to see which films Ben picks! If you’re a filmmaker, you have until July 15th to submit your short to T-Port in order to be eligible for selection. If you’ve independently uploaded your film to T-Port before the closing date then it will be seen by the curators.
T-Port films are only accessible to professionals, so your premiere status will not be affected.
Stake your place in the next generation of filmmakers waiting to be discovered for only 15 Euros / year. Find out more on our website and get started with T-Port today. Check out last year’s selected films.
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