Volunteer at TIFF
Every September, the TIFF Volunteer Office engages outgoing, dedicated and enthusiastic individuals to support one of the world’s most celebrated cultural events: the Toronto International Film Festival.
Over the course of 2009, more than 1,500 individual volunteers supported TIFF, contributing just over 47,000 hours of service to activities throughout the organization. While opportunities vary from year to year, Festival volunteers are involved in almost every department of the organization. We are currently recruiting volunteers for projects and events leading up to and during the eleven days of the 2010 Festival, taking place September 9-19.
What do Festival Volunteers Do?
Our volunteers can most often be seen on the front lines of the Festival in a customer-relations capacity – answering questions, directing patrons or industry delegates, tearing tickets, checking passes, helping to set up and run various activities, and greeting Festival attendees at our many theatre venues.
A smaller number of our volunteers also work in a more administrative capacity – assembling press kits, assisting with volunteer registration and data entry, distributing marketing materials, working at an information desk, providing technical set-up or strike support, or welcoming international guests to Toronto when they arrive at the airport.
WHAT ARE THE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR VOLUNTEERING AT THE FESTIVAL?
All prospective Festival volunteers (new and returning) must:
- Be eighteen years of age or older
- Apply to volunteer by completing the Festival’s online application form and attend a mandatory volunteer orientation session (dates will take place throughout July and early August 2010) in order to complete the initial registration process
- Appropriately maintain her or his own personal Volunteer Hub account (new users will be sent login information for their Volunteer Hub account after the Festival’s online application has been processed and accepted)
- Submit a current resumé and telephone contact information for three references
- Commit to completing a minimum of four shifts (limit one shift per day; individual shift lengths will vary)
- Be prepared to attend all mandatory training sessions, where applicable (training session dates and times are determined and communicated to the appropriate volunteers some time after the initial registration process is complete)
- Have good English-language comprehension and strong communication abilities and skills
- Be friendly, helpful team players who are supportive, respectful and professional when working with a diverse and talented group of volunteers and staff.
APPLYING TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE 2010 FESTIVAL
We are currently welcoming new and prospective volunteer applicants interested in volunteering for the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival. All new volunteers are required to apply online. Applications are accepted based on our minimum volunteer requirements (as noted above), your stated availability to volunteer and additional applicable skills, knowledge and experience. Please note that to be considered, applications must only be completed by the prospective volunteer. The number of new volunteers we can accept in a given year is dependent upon the number of positions that are available. Please be advised that prospective volunteers (new and returning) should be prepared to attend a mandatory volunteer orientation session in Toronto in July or early-August. The dates, time and location of the mandatory volunteer orientation sessions will be sent by email only to volunteers after their online applications have been approved.
Click here to apply online now!
If you’d like to receive up-to-the-minute news about volunteer programmes at the Toronto International Film Festival, please subscribe to the TIFF Volunteer Newsletter.
RETURNING VOLUNTEERS
Previous Festival volunteers in good standing (i.e., volunteers with a strong attendance and performance record) who have volunteered at the Festival in 2007, 2008 or 2009 are considered returning volunteers for the 2010 Festival volunteer programme. Our returning volunteers will be contacted by email and invited to complete their online registration for the Festival prior to accepting new volunteer applications for the Festival. Please note, however, that returning volunteers must also complete their registration process in order to volunteer; re-acceptance into the Festival volunteer programme is not automatic and must be renewed each year.
Please contact the Volunteer Office as soon as possible if you are a returning volunteer and have not been contacted by the Volunteer Office by July 2010. Note that if you volunteered for the Festival prior to 2008, you will need to re-apply as a new volunteer when the appropriate application becomes available.
Look forward to seeing you at the Orientation Sessions and at the Festival!