SFFILM

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SFFILM Announces the Dolby Institute Fellowship

2023 Dolby Institute Fellow Sean Wang World Premieres Dìdi (弟弟) at the 40th Sundance Film Festival Alongside 2021 Dolby Institute Fellow Kobi Libii’s The American Society of Magical Negroes

SFFILM, in partnership with the Dolby Institute, is celebrating the world premieres of two recent fellows at the 40th Sundance Film Festival this month. The fellowship supports narrative feature films from development through post-production.

Created in 2018 as part of an innovative partnership between Dolby and SFFILM, these fellowships were designed to provide an opportunity rarely afforded to independent filmmakers to thoughtfully elevate and deepen the role of sound and image in their finished films with advanced technology from Dolby Laboratories. SFFILM Makers—SFFILM’s artist development program—and the Dolby Institute offer the selected fellows artistic and industry guidance, facilitate introductions, and provide a cash grant allowing them to begin work with a sound designer during the screenwriting stage. Fellows also gain post-production support, with comprehensive sound design, a Dolby Atmos mix, and Dolby Vision color correction and mastering support.

The 2023 Dolby Institute Fellow is filmmaker Sean Wang and his film Dìdi (弟弟) which will have its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The film tells the story of the last month of summer before high school begins. An impressionable thirteen-year-old Taiwanese American boy learns what his family can’t teach him: how to skate, how to flirt, and how to love your mom.

“Writer and director Sean Wang’s script for Dìdi (弟弟) captured our attention with his vivid portrayal of the heart and experience of a young boy living in Fremont, California in 2008. And we are thrilled to collaborate again with producer Carlos López Estrada. We are excited to give Sean access to Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos technology through this fellowship grant to bring the sights and sounds of that world to spectacular life.” Glenn Kiser, Director of the Dolby Institute.

“Our partnership with the Dolby Institute continues to give independent filmmakers astounding access to development of sound and image at every stage of the creative process, something normally reserved for major studio productions” said Masashi Niwano, Director of Artist Development at SFFILM. “Sean’s film benefits from Dolby’s guidance and tools which allows him to stay focused on the story he is telling. We are also thrilled to celebrate two Sundance premieres. Sean will be alongside our 2021 Dolby Institute Fellow, Kobi Libii.”

About the Dolby Institute

The Dolby Institute was created to educate, inspire, and empower the next generation of content creators. Through educational programs, strategic partnerships, and direct artist support, we help creatives think critically and creatively about sound and image, unlocking the power of technology to help tell their stories. To learn more about the Dolby Institute Fellowships or Sound + Image Lab: The Dolby Institute Podcast, visit https://www.dolby.com/institute/

About Dolby Laboratories

Dolby Laboratories (NYSE: DLB) is based in San Francisco, California with offices around the globe. From movies and TV shows, to apps, music, sports and gaming, Dolby transforms the science of sight and sound into spectacular experiences for billions of people worldwide. We partner with artists, storytellers, developers, and businesses to revolutionize entertainment and communications with Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, Dolby Cinema, and Dolby.io.

Dolby, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, Dolby Cinema, Dolby.io, and the double-D symbol are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other trademarks remain the property of their respective owners.

SFFILM

SFFILM is a nonprofit organization whose mission ensures independent voices in film are welcomed, heard, and given the resources to thrive. SFFILM inspires and connects audiences, students and teachers, and filmmakers through film exhibition, youth education, and artist development programs. Annual public film programs presented by SFFILM include the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival) which is the longest running film festival in the Americas, Doc Stories documentary series, special events with the best and brightest in contemporary film, and family programming. SFFILM Education serves more than 15,000 students and educators with learning opportunities designed to cultivate media literacy, global citizenship, and a lifelong love of movies. SFFILM Makers supports the careers of independent filmmakers from the Bay Area and beyond with grants, residencies, and other creative development services.

INFORMATION

For general information visit sffilm.org
For press requests, please contact JCPR&C, Nicole Kerr at nicole@jcpr-c.com
For the SFFILM Press Office, please email press@sffilm.org
For images and press materials, visit sffilm.org/press
To learn more about Dolby Laboratories, visit, sloan.org

SFFILM Social Media

Hashtags: #SFFILM
Instagram: @sffilm
Facebook: facebook.com/SFFILM
Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/sffilm

Box Office Manager

Overview

This position has been filled for the 2024 SFFILM Festival.

Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Box Office Manager will have a key role in customer service during the 2024 San Francisco International Film Festival. They will oversee the hiring, scheduling, and management of box office cashiers, as well as the setup and deployment of hardware. This role will also serve as a main point of contact for all accessibility accommodation requests, and will work closely with the Theater Operations team to ensure patrons requesting accommodations are taken care of. Working closely with our box office contractor (Boxcubed), this position will be expected to develop a strong understanding of our Agile ticketing software and all of SFFILM’s products, such as passes and memberships.

This position is expected to provide on-site support for the 5 day, in-person SFFILM Festival (April 24 – 28) in venues across the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as several pre-fest launch events, and to work in accordance with in-office requirements as determined by organization-wide and department policies. Some night and weekend availability is required.

Application review begins January 22 but will be rolling after that. This position is paid hourly at the rate of $23 per hour and is eligible for overtime. The start date for this position is March 4, 2024 and the end date is May 9, 2024.

Responsibilities

  • Hire, schedule, and supervise all box office cashiers.
  • Serve as the main point of contact for escalating box office and customer service issues during the festival.
  • Develop a strong understanding of Agile ticketing software and all SFFILM products (such as passes and memberships), to support customer service inquiries both pre-event and onsite at venues.
  • Manage all necessary box office hardware, including setting up and troubleshooting devices and training staff and volunteers as needed.
  • Respond in a timely manner to all box office related questions via phone and email.
  • Serve as the main point of contact for accessibility accommodation requests leading up to and during the festival, answering a high volume of emails and working closely with the Theater Operations team to ensure staff at venues are aware of any accessibility requests.
  • Work with our box office vendor to fulfill internal ticket requests, escalating capacity questions as appropriate.
  • Work with our Press Office and Guest Office teams to fulfill ticket requests on the ground during the Festival.
  • Work closely with our box office vendor, ticketing software, and Communications team to understand box office reports, ticket holds, etc. 
  • Coordinate with venues and SFFILM IT contractors to ensure all technology needs are met, including wi-fi at all venues.
  • Coordinate with the Office & Production Manager on box office load ins and load outs.
  • Draft and update Festival Box Office budget for staffing and supplies, and track and submit all payments and expenses.
  • Create a written wrap-report and summary of all necessary timeline information

Qualifications

  • At least 1-2 years experience in a box office or ticketing role, with a preference for festival or event ticketing.
  • Excellent communication and customer service skills.
  • Experience managing a team, with strong ability to delegate.
  • Excellent decision-making and creative problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to learn new software and systems quickly, and a general savviness for troubleshooting technology.
  • Ability to juggle multiple tasks and deadlines across several Festival spaces while maintaining high quality of work and a positive attitude.
  • At ease interacting with people with vastly different backgrounds and roles.
  • Comfortable with the heavy lifting and labor inherent in loading in and out festival sites.

SFFILM is deeply committed to Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) in both its internal management and external programming. Since 2018, the organization has actively been working in collaboration with two Advisory Boards focused on accessibility and inclusivity and officially began work with a DEI consultant in 2019 to further invest in and build on that work. Candidates are invited to discuss their interest and involvement in DEAI practices in their cover letter, and ask us more about our DEAI process in their interview.

SFFILM, in accordance with federal and state law, is an equal-opportunity employer. SFFILM does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy/childbirth, medical condition, disability, age, ancestry, marital status, citizenship or veteran status. This nondiscrimination policy covers all candidates, staff members, interns, and volunteers.