Working as a Volunteer at Film Festivals
Volunteering at Movie Events Is a Chance to Attend Free Screenings
Jun 3, 2009
All film festivals work to a budget and many work to a tight budget. This means that a large number rely heavily on volunteers to staff their events without adding to the costs. But it is not all one sided. Volunteers can benefit greatly from signing up, too.
There are several reasons to volunteer at a film festival: for film buffs, it offers the possibility of getting into many if not all of the screenings for free; for filmmakers looking to submit a film to a festival, it offers a chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at how a film festival operates; and for students it promises free meals and an interesting extra-curricular activity to add to their CV.
Finding Volunteer Opportunities
Hundreds if not thousands of film festivals take place every year around the world. For anyone willing to travel, particularly to the more prestigious events, there is no shortage of volunteer possibilities. It is worth remembering, however, that film festivals will not bear any of the costs. If they cannot afford to pay volunteers an hourly wage, the will certainly not be forking out for flights and accommodation.
A much easier and more realistic option, especially for first-time volunteers, is to find out which film festivals are taking place locally and when. Unless they are extremely small, most film festivals now have websites which should indicate whether they are looking for help (for example, the links below provide comprehensive information for volunteering at the Toronto and Raindance film festivals). At the very least, the website should contain the contact details of the festival organizers.
Volunteer Requirements
It is customary for film festivals to make certain stipulations, such as the skills required or the minimum number of shifts the volunteer must be available to work. The Toronto International Film Festival, for example, which used 2,000 volunteers leading up to and during the 2008 event, lists a number of basic volunteer requirements. These include being 18 years of age or over, having a high level of English and being able to work at least four shifts. In exchange for each shift, volunteers receive a voucher that can be redeemed for movie tickets.
The International Documentary Festival Amsterdam in the Netherlands, on the other hand, asks that volunteers commit to a minimum of eight shifts, but in exchange they receive a pass valid for all regular public screenings.
The Raindance Film Festival in London, UK looks for volunteers to fill a variety of functions, from office administration and projection assistants, to box office attendants and theater ushers. For the latter position, the festival asks for calm, focused individuals with strong public speaking abilities as they may need to introduce screenings.
Working as a Volunteer
It is normal to complete and submit an (online) application for a volunteer position, just as one would for a job. The benefits of volunteering at a film festival can more than make up for the lack of salary. Bear in mind, however, that although unpaid, volunteering is still work - sometimes hard work - and the volunteer represents the festival during his or her shifts.
So while an usher position provides the best chance of being able to see free movies, the reality is that people will show up to the wrong screenings or latecomers will need to be shown to their seats. The volunteer who has already settled down in the front row with a bucket of popcorn is not fulfilling their commitments to the festival and is unlikely to be asked back in the future.
Cautionary tales aside, volunteering at a film festival is invariably an exhilarating experience that offers the chance to meet and interact with other enthusiastic cinephiles and – of course – to see plenty of movies for nothing.
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