Welcome to the DCIFF Volunteer Web page!
Thank you for your interest in volunteering for DCIFF 2008, our 10th year!
As a non profit organization, the Washington, DC Independent Film Festival (DCIFF) prides itself on being run entirely by volunteers like you. Every person from the director/founder, Carol Bidault, to the executive committee, to the festival helpers, all are unpaid volunteers. Therefore, you are an important asset and the time you contribute is extremely vital to our organization.
We are constantly looking for dedicated volunteers all year around to help out with a variety of tasks in administration, Web development/editing, festival planning and preparation and of course helping at the actual festival in March.
For more information about volunteering contact our volunteer coordinator at DCIFFvolunteer@gmail.com. Please see our Volunteer Agreement for more information and for volunteering at the festival.
See a list of current Volunteer positions below :
Film Market and Tradeshow Manager – (One Chair)___________________
- Acquires copies of films from previous years for inclusion in market. Creates a comfortable and welcoming space for viewing of such films and coordinates regular screenings for distributors
- Procures and secures industry leaders and other interested sponsors for inclusion of tradeshow. Possible sponsors:
- Local businesses
- Filmmakers
- Video Production Equipment manufacturers
- Film production companies (local or national)
- Sets staff assignments and supervises staff at Trade Show
- Supervises, installs and packs all Trade Show booth equipment
- Supervises set up of all Trade Show areas including signage
- Central communication contact for Trade Show Participants inbound and outbound
- Update and verify Web-site data
- Verifies Festival and Trade Show contractual commitments completion
- Organizes and distributes Trade Show swag
- Greets Participants to Trade Show
- Responds to Participant requests and finds solutions to such requests
Volunteer Relations Committee - (One Chair and Multiple Members)____________
- Volunteer Relations Manager
- Handles all volunteer coordination prior to and during festival.
- Assists in recruiting volunteers to serve on festival committees.
- Recruits new volunteers and builds relationships with existing volunteers to retain continual festival support. Volunteer positions to be filled:
- Theatre staff (ushers, ticket-takers, etc.)
- Sales (box office, merchandise, etc.)
- Marketing/Public Relations
- Sponsorship
- Filmmaker/VIP Relations
- Film Evaluators
- Special Events/Production
- Technical (lighting, audio/visual)
- Office
Education/Seminar Committee - (One Chair and Multiple Members)___________
- Educational Director - Committee Chair
- Organize seminars
- Plan Advocacy Forum including contacting Congress
- Develop Educational Outreach Program
- Schedule and secure speakers for all initiatives
- Set pricing and prepare budget
- Manage Education Seminar Staff
- Seminars Liaison – Intern or Volunteer
- Speaker liaison including securing bios approval and agenda preparation
- Locate and prepare seminar handouts, meeting room and equipment
- Update and verify Web-site data
- Establish and implement data collection methods for attendees
- Supervise and assign seminar staff
- Advocacy Forum Liaison – Intern or Volunteer
- Congressional liaison including securing bios approval and agenda preparation
- Locate and prepare advocacy forum handouts, meeting room and equipment
- Update and verify Web-site data
- Establish and implement data collection methods for attendees
- Supervise and assign forum staff
- School (Colleges and Universities) Outreach Liaison – Intern
- Outreach liaison including securing bios approval and program preparation
- Locate and prepare program handouts, meeting room and equipment
- Update and verify Web-site data
- Establish and implement data collection methods for attendees
- Supervise and assign outreach staff
- Film School Liaison – Intern
- Film School liaison prepares list of schools and initiates contact
- Provide marketing and volunteer materials to film schools
- Update and verify Web-site data
- Establish and implement data collection methods for attendees
Special Events Committee - (One Committee Chair and Multiple Members)__________
- Special Events Committee Head
- Organizes, implements and evaluates events for festival
- Works with vendors and venues
- Secures and maintains special event budgets
- Prepare and send invitations to appropriate parties.
- Examples of events in past: Happy Hours, Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Award Ceremonies, Receptions, Question and Answer sessions, Free Film Event
Music Festival Committee (One Chair)_______________________________________
- Creates a database of local and national bands and artists who may be interested in performing during festival.
- Recruits and books acts for inclusion in music festival (keep in mind artist’s riders)
- Secures appropriate technical equipment for various acts and creates and aesthetically pleasing music space.