Accountability:
Reports to the Director of Programs and HR.
Direct Reports:
The Festival Programmer (FP) is accountable for leading and managing short-term festival contracts that include but are not limited to: Technicians, Parties and Guest Relations, as well as the Programming Coordinator. HR support is provided by the Director of Programs & HR.
Management of staff includes:
- participation in recruitment process (includes: advising on job description, participating on hiring committee and checking candidate's references)
- day-to-day direction and support of staff (includes: scheduling regular check-ins, ensuring staff meet performance goals and deadlines, and progressive discipline of staff if necessary)
Responsibilities:
The Festival Programmer develops and oversees the artistic vision of our annual community-based festival.
Festival Programming
- Develop and implement a creative vision for the festival that fulfills our vision, mission and values
- Identify any gaps in programming and ensure they are filled
- Research, solicit and screen film and video for festival exhibition
- Oversee a call-for-submissions process, ensuring a wide distribution
- Oversee curation of all programs and selection of films and videos
- Oversee the implementation of all festival programming including, but not limited to:
- panel discussions, workshops
- spotlights and film series
- guest curators
- competitions, awards and jury processes
- interdisciplinary programs and events
- any other special initiatives
- Lead the Programming Committee, providing mentorship and support as needed
- Serve as the key contact with artists, distributors and curators
- Build relationships with artists, distributors and other art groups
- Ensure timely programming updates, enabling festival staff team to fulfill their various roles
Festival Theatres & Scheduling
- Select and book festival theatres; liaise with the Director of Partnerships & Marketing regarding theatre sponsorship as appropriate
- Develop and manage a festival schedule
- Serve as key contact with festival theatres and manage bookings
Print Traffic
- Oversee the booking, shipping and receiving of all festival films and videos including both preview tapes and exhibition copies
- Ensure applicable payment
- Maintain a cost-effective shipping/courier process
- Maintain the programming database of all films and videos
Oversee the Technical Coordinators to
- Identify, research and book any technical support needed for festival events
- Implement all technical aspects of dubs and transfers
- Ensure transportation of all exhibition prints to venues
Oversee the Guest Relations Coordinators to
- Oversee all arrangements for visiting artists
- Ensure hospitality needs are met
Communications
- Take a lead role in developing and coordinating timely content for the Festival Guide
- Coordinate the production of festival trailers
- Oversee festival community partner programming
- Work with the Media Relations and Marketing Coordinators to service media requests and marketing strategies respectively
- Serve as a media spokesperson for the festival
- Serve as a public face for the organization when attending other film festivals, arts and community events
Revenue Development
- Complete the programming components for government grant applications and final reports, as per deadlines
- Oversee submission fees
- Support programming for any additional special events and fundraising initiatives
- Attend donor stewardship and fundraising events as required
General
- Create and regularly revise a critical path required to carry out the programming work and fulfill the milestones set out
- Attend and provide status and budget reports at staff meetings
- Provide monthly staff reports and attend up to two board meetings per year
- Participate in annual strategic planning processes
- Manage the festival programming budget
- Maintain timely and accurate statistics for your program
- Keep accurate and easily accessible records of all work in order to ensure organizational continuity
- Other duties as required