SASHA CLOSE – SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CINEMA PIONEERS OF THE YEAR
Sasha Close is a highly regarded executive in the Australian cinema and screen industry, with over two decades of experience spanning distribution, exhibition, programming, and film festivals. She began her career at United International Pictures before moving into exhibition and programming at Village Cinemas, where she managed programming the flagship Rivoli cinema and arthouse cinema sites.
Sasha went on to work for and then lead the programming team at Wallis Cinemas, working for the iconic Adelaide independent cinema chain for 16 years. Sasha has recently held senior festival roles, including Head of Programming for both the Brisbane International Film Festival and the Gold Coast Film Festival.
An advocate for independent cinema and gender equity in the screen sector, Sasha served on the Board of the Independent Cinemas Association (2016-2019) and was a member of Screen Australia’s Gender Matters Taskforce (2017-2019). In recognition of her leadership, she was awarded the prestigious Natalie Miller Fellowship in 2016 and currently serves as its President.
Sasha is now Head of Marketing and Business Development at The Mercury in Adelaide, where she continues to champion screen culture. Sasha is also a regular contributor to industry conferences and festivals and has served as a judge for AACTA film categories and various film festivals.
