[FILLED] Seeking: Director of Programming (Volunteer Position VSFF2023)

Attention short film fans! We’re looking for a passionate Director of Programming to join our team!

This role will curate an exciting showcase of BC's best short films while taking leadership within and giving back to the Vancouver film community.

Sounds like you? Read more below:

About Us

Since our inception in 2005, the Vancouver Short Film Festival has been committed to celebrating Canada’s vibrant community of short filmmakers, documentarians, and animation artists. Our goal is to foster that community by elevating local talent, connecting filmmakers to audiences, and building ties between emerging and established filmmakers nationwide.

The festival programs over 50 films each year and awards over $15,000 in cash and prizes to Canada’s best short films. Since 2009, screenings and events have taken place at the VIFF Centre Cinema in downtown Vancouver. In 2021 VSFF held its very first online edition via Eventive Virtual, screening 61 films and holding three days of special events.

The 13th Vancouver Short Film Festival will be held in June 2023 in a hybrid format (in-person theatrical screenings and online on-demand). We are currently looking for committed volunteer staff members to join our stellar team.

Director of Programming

Duration: Fall 2022 – July 2023

Part-Time volunteer commitment with a fluctuating schedule depending on the season (the busiest months are during the Winter/Spring of 2023).

As the Director of Programming, you will lead the curation of the film programmes that comprise the 2023 Vancouver Short Film Festival. You will assess submitted short film content, curate films as part of the festival’s Official Selection, and deliver a schedule of programming that meets VSFF’s mandate of celebrating the best of BC short films and elevating emerging talent in order to grow the local film industry.

Duties include:

-Watch and assess short film content submitted to VSFF during our submission period (quantity of content to screen varies per year)

-Intake, analyze and assess film ratings/reviews received from the VSFF pre-selection team to help inform programming decisions

- Spearhead programming goals for the festival and develop concrete paths forward to achieve these goals, for both short-term (one year) and long-term (multi-year) contexts, in collaboration with Festival Co-Directors and Senior Programmer.

-Assemble VSFF’s short film programmes for the 2023 event with guidelines from the Festival Co-Directors, including film selection, program orders, schedule, etc, in collaboration with the Senior Programmer.

-Assist Senior Programmer in drafting acceptance letters, and rejection letters to submitted filmmakers as required

-Draft statements on VSFF festival programming for press releases, festival promotion, and press interviews, and participate in interviews with media leading up to the festival as requested

-At times, support the Festival Directors in developing industry programming (speakers, networking events, etc) where these events' needs intersect with your position

-Stay actively engaged in the Vancouver/BC film industry and BC/Canadian film festival circuits, staying informed and current on industry standards and trends

-Act as a representative of VSFF within the community, attending or participating in festivals, screenings, and networking events as available, with the intent of growing VSFF’s network and continuing to develop VSFF’s relationship with the Vancouver film industry and community

-Attend Programming meetings or festival staff meetings as required

-Other related duties as assigned

Qualifications

You:

Are passionate about film and the arts community in BC, and attend film festivals, screenings, and arts events on a regular basis.
Hold a post-secondary degree in Film Studies or Production or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Possess a minimum of four (4) years of experience working in Film Production, Film Studies, Festival Production, and/or Festival Programming.
Possess strong analytical and evaluative skills and strong attention to detail
Possess strong ability to follow through on tasks and projects from concept to execution
Possess cultural and community awareness in analyzing film works from the community
Are organized and have good verbal and written communication skills.
Have access to the Internet, phone, and Microsoft Word and Excel.
Have been exposed to a wide range of genres of cinema and are able to find strengths in most films.