How to Volunteer at a Film Festival

If you love films and are fascinated with the movie-making genre, then volunteering at film festivals would be ideal for you. Volunteers work hard, but the rewards are great. You may meet interesting people from the industry. Volunteers see movies--some that even end up winning Academy Awards--before they hit the big screen.

Instructions

1. Contact film schools. You don't have to live in Hollywood or New York City to have access to film schools. Most metropolitan cities have them. Contact these institutions to find out about upcoming festivals.

2. Decide upon the types of film festival that you'd like to volunteer. There are many, so choose the ones that are the most interesting to you.

3. Fill out a volunteer form. Once you decide for which festival you'd like to volunteer, you can fill out a form in person or online.

4. Prepare to attend meetings before the start of the festivals. How many meetings depends on the festival. The Los Angeles Film Festival requires one or two meetings. In these meetings, you'll find out what the staff expects from you.

5. If you live in the Seattle, Washington, area, join S.I.F.F. The S.I.F.F. is Seattle's International Film Festival, and the volunteers "will work for film."

Tips & Warnings

• Be on time to the required meeting for volunteers.

• Come prepared. Bring a pencil and small pad for taking notes. Who knows what being an attentive and hard-working volunteer may bring.

• Volunteers, especially those for the L.A. Film Festival, get to see movies that end up on the big screen before the viewing public. A few movies volunteers have seen: The Devil Wears Prada, Little Miss Sunshine and Maria Full of Grace.

• Search the Internet. We live in such a great age so that even if where you live is too small to have a film school, that won't preclude you from volunteering. Type in a few key words, and you'll find festivals that are near your town.