Staff Opportunities
Seattle Asian American Film Festival is a fully volunteer-run organization and rely on volunteers to staff our year-round planning teams. Volunteer staff could receive a stipend for their service. Please fill out this application form if you would like to join our staff. If you have questions, please reach out to info@seattleaaff.org.
Volunteer Manager
The Volunteer Manager recruits, trains, and schedules festival volunteers. They are the point-person for volunteers during the run of the festival. The individual in this role will be asked to form sustained partnerships with many student groups, arts organizations, and professional networks in Seattle. Leading up to the festival, they will recruit and schedule volunteers for the multi-day event, as well as conduct training on providing exemplary customer service to our diverse audiences. They also follow up with administrative responsibilities, such as updating key documents and keeping records on past participants. This role is significant in introducing local volunteers to independent films that uplift the voices of the Asian diaspora, building intercultural relationships through art and community.
- Spearhead outreach to student organizations, community groups, and other sources of locally-based volunteers
- Update the Volunteer Handbook, Volunteer Interest Form, and other training materials that reflect the needs, values, and interests of SAAFF
- Recruit volunteers for specific roles, based on festival needs
- Conduct training with volunteers that review festival roles and expectations, as well as foster connections between participating volunteers
- Schedule volunteers (and possibly staff members) based on their availability
- Maintain regular communication with volunteers leading up to the festival
- Serve as the main contact for volunteers throughout the festival, as well as for volunteer inquiries during the year
- Volunteer Interest Form
- Outreach to organizations
- Volunteer Trainings
- Volunteer/Staff Schedule
- C-ID Summer Cinema
Programming Coordinator
Programming Coordinator helps support and review film programming for SAAFF’s main festival every year, as well as assisting with Summer Cinema film programming. Review film submissions and work with the programming, marketing and community relations teams.
- Reviewing film submissions and contributing in film programming schedule for the festival
- Support community outreach coordinator in brainstorm relevant groups for outreach
- Writing and editing program and film descriptions
- Scouting and soliciting films
- Submissions opening/closing
- Screening committee
- Programming finalization
- Schedule finalization
- Acceptance notification
- Filmmaker Brunch
- Jury Selection/Management
- Award winner outreach and awards ordering/shipping
- Summer Series programming
Social Media Coordinator
Our Social Media Coordinators supports the needs and goals of the Marketing Department while promoting the mission and values of the organization and maintaining the voice of SAAFF across all social media platforms. They are responsible for keeping up active social media presence through engagement with community accounts, checking our accounts and messages regularly, and sharing local events, opportunities, and relevant content.
Busiest times of year would be festival season leading up to our main film festival and summer season leading up to C-ID Summer Cinema (June-August).
- Content creation, social media calendar planning, writing copy, scheduling posts
- Assist with writing and creating e-news content with other members of the marketing team
- Editing images, videos, and content as needed
- Collaborates with Programming and Events Departments on promotions
- Some background or strong interest in marketing, communications, and community events
- Experience with Facebook business suite, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and MailChimp
- Familiarity with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Premiere
- Photography or videography skills
Sponsorship Manager
The sponsorship manager manages the planning and implementation of sponsorship strategy for monetary and in-kind sponsorships. This involves maintaining outreach and communications with sponsors, managing negotiations and sponsorship inquiries, and ensuring all partners we work with are aligned to our organization’s mission and value. They also will serve as the point person for sponsors during in-person events and parties.
- Work closely with the directors and marketing team to complete the Sponsorship Kit
- Outreach to and coordinate with potential sponsors for the annual film festival, the annual fundraiser, and any other major SAAFF events as needed
- Maintain and update the sponsors database of local businesses and organizations
- Track and ensure sponsorship deliverables are met by both the SAAFF teams and sponsors as agreed upon
- Coordinate ads for sponsors in film festival program guide
- Coordinate with the Finance Coordinator to ensure sponsorships are categorized properly with Shunpike
- Coordinate pick-ups/drop-offs for any in-kind sponsorships with the Events Team
Events Coordinator
Our Events Managers are responsible for organizing and overseeing main events put on by the Seattle Asian American Film Festival. This involves working with venues, local businesses, artists, performers, sponsors and other vendors as needed for the events.
- Main point of contact in securing and working with venue locations
- Coordinate with artists, local businesses and/or vendors required for the event
- Create run of show schedule for each event, working with staff and/or Volunteer Manager to schedule proper staffing to event
- Coordinate with marketing and tech team to ensure all events information is updated in a timely manner
- Opening Night Party
- VIP Party
- Closing Night Party
- Fundraiser
- C-ID Summer Cinema
PR Manager
The Public Relations (PR) manager oversees communication with media personnel and curates publicity for the Seattle Asian American Film Festival. This involves developing press releases prior to publication, managing media inquiries, seeking interview opportunities, and cultivating relationships with broadcast and online media.
- Develop press releases for the annual film festival and other major SAAFF events
- Add SAAFF events to local, online calendars (i.e. City of Seattle, Parent Map, and EverOut)
- Strategize and work with press industry (newspapers, radio shows, television broadcasting, blogs, and podcasts) to promote the annual film festival and other major SAAFF events in various media outlets
- Work closely with Filmmaker Liaison and programming team to coordinate interviews between SAAFF staff/filmmakers and external press teams
- Compile a press kit from all the documents provided by the filmmakers
- Compile and archive all press mentions and interviews of the festival each year to be uploaded to the website