About Volunteering
The New Orleans Film Festival relies on the generosity and dedication of hundreds of volunteers. We seek individuals who share a passion for supporting independent and diverse filmmaking. Volunteers are the face of this festival and we couldn't do it without you!
Check out the detailed breakdown of the Volunteer Program below and see how you can join this stellar team of volunteers.
How To Volunteer for the New Orleans Film Festival
Once you decide to jump on board, fill out these forms to stay in the loop on sign ups!
Flex Volunteer Interest Form
½ Fest Volunteer Application
Festival Internship Application
Contact Us
If you have any questions that are not addressed here, please feel free to contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Nicole Oria, at Volunteer@neworleansfilmsociety.org
Volunteer Requirements
Flex Volunteers
Must commit to a minimum of 3 shifts each lasting 4 hours
Ability to set own schedule & sign up for shifts through Volunteer Mark
1 voucher awarded per 4 hour shift
May be moved to a different volunteer job if need be
½ Festival Volunteers
Must commit to 24+ hours
Set schedule with some flexibility
Access to films and festival parties*
New Orleans Film Society Membership awarded after the festival
Festival Interns
Must be available for the entire Festival, Oct 17th-25th
Must apply for a position and interview with the Volunteer Coordinator
Schedule and tasks set by Volunteer Coordinator
Access to films and festival parties*
New Orleans Film Society Membership awarded after the festival
1-2 training sessions will be required for volunteers at every level, date tbd.
Volunteer Benefits
Film Vouchers
Awarded after each four hour shift. Can be exchanged for a ticket to any film that is not sold out.
Merchandise Exchange
Volunteers can exchange 4 unused vouchers for a merchandise voucher
A merchandise voucher is valid for one item from the merchandise NOFF Merchandise Store
Memberships
Awarded to anyone who logs 20+ volunteer hours
Membership benefits include advanced tickets for our festivals, 15+ free exclusive screenings throughout the year, and discounts on our tickets, passes, events, and merchandise.
Click here for more information about NOFS memberships
NOFF Pass
An All-Access Pass will be awarded to Volunteers who log 30+ hours pre-festival
Must be 21+ years of age
If volunteer is under 21, an Unlimited Film Package Pass will be awarded
Click here for more information about NOFF Passes
Access to Parties
Volunteers who are part of the event team will have the opportunity to attend the parties depending on their specific jobs
Must be 21+ years old
Volunteer Lounge
Volunteers will have access to the staff and volunteer green room in the CAC
In said lounge, there will be snacks and drinks, as well as food on occasion
Raffle
Any volunteer that commits 20+hours will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win FFF pass, 2019 NOFF pass, a NOFF Swag Bag, Scene Stealer Membership, and more prizes!
Post Festival Party
Once the festival is over, a Volunteer Appreciation Party will be planned to thank you for all your hard work.
NOFF Departments
Programming The Programming department curates all the films in the festival
Development Development procures and coordinates sponsorships. They are the liaison between the festival and our generous sponsors.
Marketing and Communications This department manages all communication and marketing efforts of NOFF.
Operations Department Operations liaises with all festival departments concerning venue operations & oversees the box office, volunteer, technical operations, & production.
Guest Relations Guest Relations coordinates invitations, travel, & transportation for the Festival’s visiting guests. Festival guests include: filmmakers, actors, jurors, & film industry professionals.
Volunteer Job Descriptions
Office Crew
Volunteers come to the NOFS office in the weeks leading up to the festival to help with general pre-production needs.
Office needs include pass and filmmaker welcome bag assembly, merchandise count and prep, supply assembly, red carpet cleaning, ballot prep, running errands, etc.
Additionally, we will need volunteers to help our Warehouse Manager with tasks such as organizing the storage, sorting through materials, and pulling any necessary materials.
After the festival has ended, we will need volunteers to assist with reorganizing the office.
Venue Crew
Ticket Scanner: scan tickets as people enter the theater before screenings
Line Management: Volunteers will be placed near the lines to provide clarification and information to those lining up
Counter: Keeps an accurate headcount of every person in attendance at a given screening, lounge, or event
Ballot Distribution & Collection: Tasked with passing out Audience Award Ballots & collecting them after the screening
Ushers: Help those in the theater find their seats before & during the screening
Development Volunteer: will be placed around various venues to promote NOFS membership and garner donations
General Venue Maintenance and Support: Volunteers are tasked with helping the venue manager prepare for screenings and maintain the public spaces by cleaning in between screenings, putting out reserved seating signs, and answerings questions.
Panels, Pitch Competition, and Roundtable Volunteers: Will be responsible for helping with set up, breakdown, and help throughout these special events.
Multiple Festival Internships Available
NOFF Hub Crew
Storage: Help keep the storage area in CAC organized and replenish any depleted materials throughout the hub.
Sponsor Activation Areas: Assist with setup and breakdown of area, work directly with sponsors to assist with any needs
Episodic Happier Campier: Volunteer needed to monitor the entrance and keep count of all guests that come through instalment.
Main Box Office and Merch: Volunteers will help with Filmmaker and Sponsor Check-ins tables, replenishing merchandise items in the store, helping with rush line sales, and helping with displaying merchandise. *Retail experience is a plus*
Music Video Lounge: Volunteer needed to stay in the lounge and keep an accurate count of everyone who enters the lounge
Cinema Reset: Help with counting those in attendance, aide with VR check-in and training users on VR Headsets.
Special Ops Team
Specialized group of individuals who are on-call throughout the Festival to help with any and all issues or tasks that may arise.
Some Special Ops tasks include running items between venues, delivering lunches to staff, picking up ballots, and entering surveys. that can be done on foot (i.e. walking something small from the CAC to the advocate)
Events Crew
Each night the Festival Parties will take place in a different venue each night. Therefore, we will need volunteers to be available each night.
Venue Set up and Breakdown: Help the Events Coordinator and Events Assistant set up before the parties and events. Must also help with breakdown and load out from venue.
Attendance Count: Volunteers stationed at the party and event entrances to keep count of attendees
Door Check-In: Volunteers stationed at the entrances to check for All-Access Passes
Food Set-Up: help replenish and setup food at parties.
Party Floaters: Volunteers needed to roam around the parties to keep event space tidy, ensure the event is running smoothly
½ Fest Volunteer opportunities & Festival Internships available
Street Team
Pre-festival Volunteers on the Street Team will distribute flyers and program guides around NOLA
Transportation Crew
Ride-Along-Volunteers will accompany drivers in airport runs to pick up filmmakers and guests of NOFF
Party Transportation Volunteers will help with providing safe rides to and from the Festival parties and events
Knowledge of New Orleans and NOFF is a plus
Production Crew
Helps with setup and breakdown of risers, step and repeats, red carpets, etc.
Setup of all NOFF spaces including lighting, sound, etc.
Some physical tasks such as lifting 15 lbs or more may be required
VIP Lounge Crew
Volunteer will help with the setup and breakdown of the VIP Lounge
Monitor and replenish food and beverages when needed
General-Volunteer will fill needs of VIP Lounge coordinator such as counting attendance, pass check-in, greeting and tending to entertainers, filmmakers, and festival goers, and ensuring the lounge is in proper order.
Photography/Videography
Professional photographers needed to shoot NOFF events for eventual display on website, social media, promotional materials. Portfolio must be sent with application - you will be credited.
Additional Support-Volunteer will use personal camera, phone, or other device. Do not need to be a professional
Post-Festival
Professional photographers needed to shoot NOFF events for eventual display on website, social media, promotional materials. Portfolio must be sent with application - you will be credited.