The success of the Palm Springs International Film Festivals depend upon the volunteers.
By becoming a part of the festival team, you will have opportunities to work with a diverse group of people from all walks of life.
Assist in the theatres - Work in the festival office - Sell festival merchandise - Help with special events
Transport festival guests - Count ballots - Organize festival credentials
These are only a few of the many ways the volunteers make the festivals happen!
If you wish to volunteer for the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films in June, the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January, or throughout the year, click here to register or log in online:
For further information, e-mail or call 760.322.2930.
WHY VOLUNTEER?
*Thousands of moviegoers*
*Filmmakers from around the world*
*Hundreds of films*
And a team of over 1,000 dedicated and hardworking volunteers!
"I volunteer for the Palm Springs International Film Festivals because of the experience and the education. I get to meet incredible people and see some extraordinary films!" -- A volunteer for 8 years.
VOLUNTEER JOB DESCRIPTIONS
Theatre Operations Team:
You will literally be on the frontlines of the festivals assisting in the theatres helping thousands of moviegoers attend screenings. For many of the festival guests, you will be the first and possibly the only face they see so friendliness is a must. Lead Volunteers and Venue Managers will instruct you where you will be most efficient.
Responsibilities: Ticket taking; pass counting; ushering; distributing and collecting ballots; line management.
No film viewing is allowed during volunteer shifts. If you like, you may bring a book to read during screenings or you can quietly chat with other volunteers. You must also be able to stand for long periods.
Merchandise Team:
Sell fun festival souvenirs that practically sell themselves!
Responsibilities: Promote and sell merchandise; ring up sales using a computer; maintain inventory and a secure environment.
Some lifting is required in order to replenish stock. Also a short training session on the computer is extremely helpful before the festival so you will be well prepared to handle the numerous patrons who want to make purchases.
Office Team:
Help out year-round when needed in the festival office. This is an excellent opportunity to get to know staff and other volunteers in a quieter environment than during festival time. During festival time volunteers help on the phone with processing ticket orders and answering questions.
Responsibilities: Answer phones; process phone orders; data entry; mailings; filing.
The Office Coordinator will provide individual training on the computer used to process phone orders prior to the start of the festivals. Bring a cheery voice and helpful attitude and you will have a lot of fun. You may bring a book to read when helping with the phones because it can be quiet at times depending upon the amount of callers.
Front Desk Team:
Put on a happy face and let your sparkling personality shine through when you cover for the receptionist while on lunch break. Learn the manageable phone system and help out year-round.
Responsibilities: Answer phones; greet visitors; manage front desk during lunch hour.
Credentials Team:
Are you a behind-the-scenes kind of person and someone who likes to be out there? If so, Credentials is for you. Prior to the festival Credentials makes all passes and then during the festivals distributes them to arriving guests. During the International Film Festival in January, Credentials is the first stopping point for all moviegoers who purchased passes. During the ShortFest in the summer, Credentials is the first stopping point for all moviegoers who purchased passes as well as the filmmakers and industry guests. Some computer knowledge is helpful. Training in advance of festivals is required.
Responsibilities: Data entry; label making; retrieve photos from email; assemble and organize passes; distribute passes during the festivals.
Guest Services Team:
Do you know how to be invisible and visible at the same time? Then this team is for you. Help in the hospitality suite that serves the festival filmmakers and industry guests.
Responsibilities: Check guests into suite; set out and replenish food trays; bus tables; serve hors d'oeuvres and drinks during Happy Hour; answer guest questions.
Working on the Guest Services Team requires volunteers to stand for long periods and also to be able to do some lifting. Please note that networking is not allowed. Volunteers are asked to bring a smile, a helpful attitude and an awareness of when and when not to engage with guests in the suite.
Transportation Team:
Do you enjoy having interesting conversations with interesting people? Then consider the Transportation Team.
Responsibilities during the International Film Festival in January: Filmmaker pick up at area airports including LAX; transport filmmakers and industry guests around Palm Springs area.
Responsibilities during the ShortFest in the summer: Shuttle filmmakers and industry guests to and from the Camelot Theatres and the host hotel, the Hilton Palm Springs; shuttle filmmakers and industry guests to/from Special Events at night. Shuttle service may continue to midnight or a little bit later to Palm Springs hotels. Specific routes are designated and maps are provided.
Volunteers must be at least 25 years old and have a valid driver's license and proof of insurance. The Transportation Team uses, for the most part, donated vehicles for both festivals. The Transportation Team is an excellent opportunity to meet fascinating people. However, it is important for volunteers to have an awareness of when passengers want to engage in conversation and when they do not.
Special Events Team:
Help with Special Events that happen every day of the festivals.
Responsibilities: Guest check-in; help with set up; hand out party favors and drink tickets; guard entrances.
Volunteers must be able to stand for long periods and may have to do some lifting. Also, parties start late and continue until 11:00 pm-midnight. Please note: As much as the festival staff appreciates your sparkling personality and outgoing manner, volunteers who help with Special Events are there to work and not to party. Specific tasks are absolutely necessary to implement in order to have a successful special event and volunteers who want to work are definitely a crucial part of that equation.
Production Team:
How about a little aerobic exercise combined with volunteering? The Production Team is a great opportunity to be a part of the festival experience and stay in shape or get fit at the same time.
Responsibilities: Set up and breakdown festival venues; move festival programs, flags and other production materials to and from venue sights; pick up beverages and distribute to festival venues.
Volunteers must be able to lift 25 lbs and we are always looking for volunteers who have a truck in order to help out.
Ballot Team:
Do you like to be "in the know?" You could be by participating on the Ballot Team. All films are voted on by the audience, and the Ballot Team is responsible for calculating the results.
Responsibilities: Count ballots for each film screening; record ballot results.
No higher math skills are necessary. A system has been developed that is easy for volunteers to learn. The Ballot Team provides an extremely important function in that these votes are used for each festival to determine the Audience Awards, a significant marketing tool for films being honored. These audience selected films will be screened, if available, on the last day of each festival, otherwise known as the Best of the Fest day.
Street Team:
Do you like to walk? Do you like to get to know desert area businesses? Then the Street Team is an excellent place to volunteer!
Responsibilities: Distribute posters and rack cards to area businesses.
Area businesses love PSIFF because the festivals bring revenue to the community so frequently business owners are waiting excitedly for the festival promotional materials. Volunteers are given specific block area maps for downtown Palm Springs and outlying areas. Volunteers can take a many or as few promotional materials as they want to take. All help is appreciated!
Village Fest Team:
You can have the opportunity to represent PSIFF during the downtown Palm Springs Thursday night street fair called Village Fest. If you like people then the Village Fest Team is for you.
Responsibilities: Help set up table and promotional materials; meet and greet the fair attendees who have questions about PSIFF, Film Society, the festivals and volunteering; help tear down.
Translator:
Do you have a way with words...in other languages? Filmmakers travel from all over the world to attend the festivals and sometimes there is a need for interpreters for visiting guests.
Responsibilities: Provide translation during Question and Answer sessions following screenings; interpret for filmmakers attending events or media interviews.
DRESS CODE
International Film Festival: Black on the bottom, i.e. slacks, pants, skirt and white on top, i.e. a shirt, blouse, sweater, or collared polo, and COMFORTABLE shoes, no rubber flip flops.
ShortFest: Khaki on the bottom, i.e. slacks, pants, Capri's, walking shorts and white on top, i.e. a shirt, blouse, collared polo shirt, or tee shirt without slogans or designs, and COMFORTABLE shoes, no rubber flip flops.
Volunteers will be issued name badges for each festival. Badges must be picked up at an announced location prior to the first volunteer shift. Badges must also be worn at all times when volunteering and removed before attending a screening.
BENEFITS
Vouchers: In addition to meeting lots of fun people, supporting media arts and participating in a significant community event, you will receive a voucher for each volunteer shift you do. Shifts are usually 4-5 hours long. Vouchers may be exchanged at any of the festival box offices for a film screening or panel discussion of your choice. Please keep in mind that first, and sometimes second, choices may be unavailable. The festivals offer a wide array of films and there are little gems waiting to be discovered.
Please Note:
- Vouchers earned during a particular festival can only be used to attend screenings during that festival. For example, the International Film Festival vouchers can only be used for that festival and the ShortFest vouchers can only be used for ShortFest.
- Vouchers expire in a year.
- Vouchers can be used for or given to family and friends to attend festival screenings or panel discussions.
- Vouchers from both festivals can be combined and used for a Palm Springs International Film Society annual membership, but please keep in mind vouchers do expire in a year. 12 vouchers for an individual Associate membership, 18 vouchers for a dual Associate membership. For more information on joining the Film Society please contact the Film Society Membership Administrator at the festival office.
IF YOU HAVE...
*Outstanding people skills
*Patience
*Rational thinking in crisis situations
*A sense of humor
*And willingness to do whatever needs to be done
AND YOU...
*Like to meet fascinating people
*Want to support media arts
*Be a part of an enormous community event
THEN HAVE WE GOT A JOB FOR YOU!
"I love the film festivals and have been volunteering since the beginning. That was over 20 years ago. I have worked on the Theatre Operations Team for every festival and cannot think of a time when I will not volunteer!" - A volunteer veteran for 21 years.