Ben Gibson is the director of the DFFB film school in Berlin. He was previously director of degree programmes at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School and a visiting professor at Goldsmiths. From 2001 to 2014, he was director of the London Film School. He is a former independent producer and was head of production at the British Film Institute from 1988 to 1998. Before that he was a distributor, exhibitor, theatre director, film critic and journalist.

Since 2007, he has been the creator, executive producer and writer of the critically acclaimed television series MAD MEN. To date, he has received nine Emmys, two BAFTAS, three Golden Globes, numerous WGA awards and many other distinctions recognising his work on the series. As a director, he has been nominated twice by the DGA for his work behind the camera. ARE YOU HERE, starring Owen Wilson and Amy Poehler, marks his feature film debut as a writer, director and producer. Metthew's other credits as a writer include the television series BECKER, THE NAKED TRUTH, and THE SOPRANOS, for which he was also an executive producer. He is a member of this year's Berlinale International Jury.