About Us

Forgive us for blowing our own trumpet, but at INDY we’re not just good at what we do – we’re champions! If you would like to boost your cinema’s potential, set up an INDY cinema locally, hire us for a special event or screening, or simply want to book a film for your cinema, please get in touch.

Meet The Team

Ian Brown

Managing Director

About Ian

Ian launched INDY Cinema Group in 2010 to help bring the power back to independent cinemas. He brings 18 years of experience in the film industry ranging from engineer, cinema management to film festivals, Union vice chair with BECTU and sat on the Screen Sector Leadership Group for cinema in Scotland. Ian’s drive, ambition and determination to make a difference in the cinema sector, open more cinemas and enable existing cinemas to increase their box office potential and show a more diverse slate of films has grown INDY to what it is today, the world’s only international head office support company. Ian is passionate about extending INDY’s range of unique services and further INDY’s standing as champions across the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

Favourite Film: Grosse Pointe Blank
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Carmen Brown

Director / Head of Finance

About Carmen

Carmen left a 13-year career in retail management and finance in London and Edinburgh to help build INDY and lead our in-house finance department. A lifelong fan of cinema, she brings her commitment to customer care and financial expertise to the company and thrives on meeting new challenges. Whatever the task at hand, whoever the client, the bottom line for Carmen isn’t just making sure the figures stack up for our clients, it’s about helping your business run more smoothly and easily.

Favourite Film – X-Men: First Class
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Pete Johnson

Head of Operations

About Pete

Pete’s 15-year cinema and film career has included a variety of management roles and coordinating premieres for the Edinburgh International Film Festival. He was headhunted to lead 20th Century Fox’s northern UK marketing and promotion activities, forging new relationships with the media and independent cinemas. A subsequent move into theatrical sales helped to develop his astute sense of the marketplace and sharp negotiation instincts, key skills that now benefit INDY’s clients and audiences throughout the UK in his role as our Head of Operations.

Favourite Film – Top Gun
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John Carpenter

Screen Content Manager

About John

John’s over 20 years in the industry has seen time in some of the world’s top cinema chains including managing the top grossing location of Eastern Federal Theatres where he was a finalist in the Hollywood Reporter’s Annual Showmanship Award.  John’s passion for film and independent cinemas took him out on his own opening and supporting independent cinemas in the United States. John’s extremely strong ties to the film studios located in the US and drive to not just develop the cinemas program but the business itself is what excites him to use those ties to help other independent cinemas in the US to grow with INDY Cinema Group.

Favourite Film – Black Hawk Down
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Stewart Putwain

Head of Operations (ANZ)

Stewart Putwain

Stew fell in love with the independent cinema experience while working at a single screen indie as a student. After trying numerous times to have a “real” job he embraced cinema wholeheartedly in 2009, managing a 3-screen independent cinema for several years. A change of location necessitated a change of role and Stew took up a position with Veezi – INDY's point of sale supplier. After almost 5 years on the ground with Veezi in Australia & New Zealand (and a quick stint in the UK), he made the switch to INDY in 2019. As Head of Operations for ANZ Stew is excited to see more independent cinemas join the INDY family.

Favourite Film: Shaun of the Dead
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chris matthews

Chris Matthews

Head of Film (ANZ)

About Chris

With nearly 20 years in the NZ Film Industry representing both cinema exhibition and film distribution across the major cinema chains and studios, Chris provides film booking & weekly scheduling services for select independent cinemas across NZ, and operates Caramel Canine Films – a company dedicated to providing local Producers and Filmmakers with production funding application support and Impact Production strategies – Chris has joined INDY Cinema Group NZ with a view to growing the audience for locally produced content and maximising the box office potential.

Favourite Film – Jurassic Park
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James Rice

Senior Film & Development Manager

About James

With family roots in the US and UK, James settled in Edinburgh after finishing his studies in Biology and Ancient Greek. He worked for fifteen years in senior programming and programme delivery roles at the Centre for the Moving Image, comprising Edinburgh Filmhouse and the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Leading a team at the heart of both a thoroughly ambitious cinémàtheque and a high-profile international film festival, James mastered a wide range of management skills and specialist fluencies relevant to connecting people with films. His focus has increasingly moved towards the creation and deployment of custom applications to streamline the organisation’s work and unlock the team’s potential to do more with less. He’s now brimming with excitement to bring his skills and experience to bear at INDY, whose multi-national scope and vibrant client portfolio offer the broadest of canvasses in which to continue bringing films and people together.

Favourite Film – “does not compute - too many great films to choose from”
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michael putlack

Michael Putlack

Art House Programmer

About Michael

Michael's been in the exhibition industry since July of 2008 as a popcorn jockey before moving his way up. After stints at Kerasotes in Colorado, Sundance Cinemas in San Francisco, The Lyric in Colorado, both Academy and Matakana Cinemas in New Zealand, and again at The Lyric, he's very happy and excited to be working with INDY Cinema Group. Michael is also currently attending Colorado State University pursuing a Masters in Business Administration.

Favourite movie: Spotlight.
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becky padley

Becky Padley

Screen Content Manager

About Becky

Becky moved to Edinburgh in 2014 to pursue a Masters in Film, Exhibition and Curation at the University of Edinburgh, and has been a regular contributor to film festivals in a variety of coordinating roles. Having worked at Sheffield Doc/Fest and Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival, she went on to manage the film programme for Hidden Door Festival in 2016 before crossing paths with INDY Cinema whilst working at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Becky is thrilled to be joining INDY Cinema Group as Screen Content Co-ordinator.

Favourite Film – Blade Runner (Director’s Cut)
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Jim Matherson

Digital Content / Technician

About Jim

A former senior projectionist at two of Edinburgh’s major cinemas, Jim joined our team in 2015 as a touring projectionist. As a fan of film from childhood, pursuing a career in cinema gave him the ideal opportunity to mix pleasure with business. Since 2003 he has developed and honed his cinema skills and technical expertise.

Favourite Film – Jurassic Park
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Alice Vilardel

Alice Vilardel

Marketing & Outreach Manager

About Alice

Alice holds a Master’s degree in ‘International Cultural Management & Sponsorship for the Arts’ from French university Sciences Po. After cutting her teeth in various film festivals in Australia where she worked in partnerships management, marketing and events, Alice made the jump to New Zealand to work with the New Zealand International Film Festival. With a passion for connecting films with audiences, Alice has joined the INDY Cinema Group team as Outreach Manager and is based in Wellington. 

Favourite Film – Paris, Texas
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katie miller

Katie Miller

Digital Content & Operations

About Katie

With a background in the independent theater industry, Katie joined the team in 2019 and brought with her 9 years of experience. She is a native of Davidson, North Carolina and a cinephile with an interest in film production and the history of the Golden Age of Hollywood. With many skills including customer service, point of sale operations, projection experience, payroll, and management she is excited to bring all of her experience and her abilities to INDY Cinema Group.

Favourite movie: The Shining
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christina ryan

Christina Ryan

Graphic Design & Social Media

About Christina

Christina has always been a passionate cinephile. Growing up with an inspiring screenplay writer, Christina cultivated a love for the cinemas at a very young age. Childhood past times often included a trip to the theaters for the latest blockbuster, or couch for the renting of a classic. Christina's love for film inspired her to pursue a degree in Telecommunications from the University of Florida. With a creative spirit and a keen understanding of audiences, Christina has provided marketing and social media consulting work for professional sports teams, non-profits, and private businesses. Christina also has a technical background in Point of Sale systems and has worked with one of the largest POS companies in America.

Favourite movie: Rear Window
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mark tweddle

Mark Tweddle

Screen Content & Technical

About Mark

Mark began working in cinema at one of the first multiplexes in the country as a humble usher with the intention of getting a bit extra money for Christmas. Progression to management and projection meant that he was fortunate to have been involved in the opening of 16 sites around the country, and have shown films at festivals including Edinburgh, Leeds and Glastonbury. 30 years on his passion for film and film lovers has him still working in the business – and still saving for Christmas.

Favourite Film – Almost Famous
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fraser edmond

Fraser Edmond

Cinema Touring Manager

About Fraser

Some kids plaster their bedroom walls with posters of pop stars; Fraser covered his with pages from film magazines. The hours he spent in his hometown cinema growing up propelled him towards an engineering degree and then to his first job in the industry as a projectionist. A seasoned professional, Fraser joined the INDY team in 2011. He brings over 15 years of technical experience, from working at major multiplexes to art house venues. Since joining us, Fraser has been responsible for setting up over 20 part-time cinemas across the UK.

Favourite Film – Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
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joe crotty jnr

Joe Crotty, Jr.

Screen Content Manager

About Joe

The movie business is in Joe’s blood. His grandfather was a film buyer, his uncle was a film buyer and his father is a film buyer. Having a love for movies, Joe started his movie career working at a theater while attending college. After graduating, Joe worked for 10 years in distribution at Sony Pictures as a sales manager and then decided to make the switch to the exhibitor side of the business where he teamed up with his father, Joe III. With over 50 years of combined experience, their contacts, knowledge and expertise are an invaluable asset to the INDY Cinema Group.

Favourite Film: Casino Royale
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Matthew Preen

COO/CEO (ANZ)

About Matthew

Matthew has an extensive background in the technology industry and since 2008 has been immersed in the Independent cinema world. He is a passionate believer in the importance of independent cinema and is a strong advocate for the industry. He was the person responsible for the launch and growth of Veezi (cinema management software for independent cinemas from Vista) to the most widely used independent cinema software in the world. With a strong commercial background and a bit of entrepreneurial flair, Matthew brings his unique energy and warmth to the INDY team. Based out of Auckland, NZ, Matthew and his wife have a large family of 6 kids (none of whom are kids anymore) and a couple of dogs. Originating from Birmingham, England (home of the Peaky Blinders), he is a life-long Aston Villa FC fan.

Favourite Film: Highlander
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Contact Us

89 Giles Street
Edinburgh
EH6 6BZ
Telephone: +44 (0) 330 223 4455

Email: hello@indycinemagroup.com

Email: hello@indycinemagroup.com

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Indy Cinema Group
89 Giles St, Edinburgh, EH6 6BZ

hello@indycinemagroup.com

+44 (0) 330 223 4455

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