SFFILM

The Bay Area's home for the world's finest films and filmmakers.

Communications

Media Relations Manager

The Media Relations Manager is a dynamic, organized, highly personable, and self-directed Public Relations professional. This role requires high attention to detail, as well as a commitment to follow-through and execution. The right candidate will be excited to manage a team of four direct reports, liaise with studios and PR firms, and organize media access to SFFILM events. Most of all, this person will have a proven track record in capturing an organization’s brand voice across all media and writing projects.

This is a full-time, temporary position that runs from January 13, 2020, until May 1, 2020.

Responsibilities

  • Oversee the activities of the SFFILM Festival Press Office.
  • Manage entire seasonal Press Office team during the spring, including schedules and assignments. Direct reports include the Press Office Coordinator and two Publicists.
  • Manage the Festival’s PR timeline, including all press announcements made leading up to and at the Festival press conference on March 18.
  • Pitch SFFILM programs and events to high-level press contacts, including organizing interviews.
  • Liaise with studios, PR firms, and talent reps about Festival events and activities, including coordinating social media needs.
  • Facilitate all on-site press coverage at SFFILM events, such as managing press access, overseeing red carpets, and setting up interviews.
  • Hire, train and oversee Press Office interns.
  • Write press releases for SFFILM programs.
  • Design and develop tools to deliver materials, track coverage, and compile accurate statistics regarding publicity performance.
  • Participate in social media content generation alongside other Communications team members, including on-site event capture and posting relevant press coverage.
  • Coordinate schedules of photographers and video capture teams at year-round programs and during the Festival.
  • Manage external PR firms and consultants as needed.
  • Support Director of Communications and Director of Marketing in maintenance of the Communications departments Editorial Calendar.

Qualifications

  • 2–3 years’ experience in a similar position is strongly encouraged, preferably in an arts-related environment
  • Attention to detail, significant diplomacy skills, consummate professionalism, ability to multitask, and prioritize competing responsibilities, with grace under pressure.
  • Open to working off-business hours occasionally as needed, especially around SFFILM events.
  • Ability to maintain utmost discretion and confidentiality.
  • Adept at anticipating problems before they arise and juggle multiple priorities at once.
  • Comfortable working with limited supervision in a dynamic small office environment.
  • Familiarity with Press Office tools, systems, reporting, and analytics.
  • Superior written and verbal communication skills.
  • Experience in film or television production is beneficial, particularly a general familiarity with who’s who in the film industry.

Communications Intern

The Communications team at SFFILM is seeking a dependable, detail-oriented, and web-savvy individual to provide promotional support for its upcoming public programs, including the 2020 San Francisco International Film Festival. This is an excellent opportunity to gain marketing experience at a nonprofit arts organization and top-tier film festival, providing well-rounded exposure to the production of print and digital publications and social media as well as the communications strategies behind the organization’s events outreach. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter who approaches a variety of communications tasks with a positive attitude and follow-through.

This position will require some evening/weekend availability and increased hours during the SFFILM Festival (April 8–21, 2020). Spring internships run from early February to May 2020. Deadline to apply is January 15, 2020.

Responsibilities

  • Provide direct administrative support to the Communications Coordinator, Digital Strategy Manager, and Director of Marketing.
  • Aggregate and organize marketing assets for Festival and institutional programs (i.e., social media links to coverage of participating films).
  • Assist with the content management of select social media channels, especially the organization’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Vimeo accounts as well as the SFFILM blog (Medium).
  • Perform data entry (FileMaker Pro), edit and format copy for the Festival website and program guide.
  • Edit images for web and print, working in Photoshop.
  • Conduct research and initiate contact with new community partners and potential distribution hubs.
  • Help to coordinate collateral distribution at Festival venues.
  • Provide production assistance and customer service at SFFILM events.
  • Other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

  • Extremely detail-oriented.
  • Ability to take both instruction and initiative while working with minimal supervision.
  • Superior communication skills, both orally and in writing.
  • Great phone manner. Cold calling experience a plus.
  • Proficiency in FileMaker Pro, Photoshop, Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel), Google apps.
  • Familiarity with HTML or proficient web publishing skills desired but not required. CMS is WordPress.
  • Experience with social media platforms an asset.
  • Professional and friendly demeanor. Interns represent SFFILM when speaking with customers and community members.
  • Demonstrated interest in contemporary film or arts & culture.
  • Minimum commitment of 8–12 hours per week (two or three days a week) and availability to work some evenings and weekends.
  • Familiarity with San Francisco Bay Area geography a plus.
  • Fluency in English required.

Publicity Intern

The SFFILM Communications department is seeking a dependable, detail-oriented and web-savvy individual to aid in the publicizing of all SFFILM programs and events. This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on publicity experience at a top-ranked film festival, and provides well-rounded exposure to press outreach strategies in digital and traditional media. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter who approaches a variety of communications-related tasks with a positive attitude and consistent follow-through.

Working under the supervision of the Press Office Manager and Press Office Coordinator, learn how the SFFILM Press Office operates by assisting in, preparing for, and executing publicity campaigns for the 61st San Francisco International Film Festival (April 8–21, 2020) and other year-round SFFILM programs.

This position may require some evening/weekend availability. Spring internships run from early February to May 2020. Deadline to apply is January 15, 2020.

Responsibilities

  • Conduct research into special interest media outlets.
  • Contact press to initiate contact and pitch coverage.
  • Gather and organize materials for film programs such as images, press kits and synopses.
  • Provide press materials to media contacts and facilitate interviews.
  • Maintain video library including tracking secure screening links and checking them out to press and staff.
  • Enter and update data (mailing lists, contact info, etc.) in institutional databases.
  • Organize, track and process press clippings and assist with ongoing clippings archive project.
  • Develop and draft press releases and press kits.
  • Provide onsite event support at festival venues, including screenings, receptions and special events.
  • Assist with miscellaneous projects as assigned.

Qualifications

  • Flexible, energetic, detail-oriented team players.
  • Good organizational skills.
  • A passion for cinema.
  • Experience with FileMaker Pro, Photoshop, Microsoft Office, Google apps.
  • Great writing and telephone skills essential.
  • Knowledge of a second language is a plus.

Festival Publicist

The Festival Publicist is responsible for working with local and national media outlets to publicize the 63rd San Francisco International Film Festival (April 8–21, 2020).

This is a full-time, temporary position that runs from February 17 – April 24, 2020.

Responsibilities

  • Researching and updating contact information for journalists in database.
  • Working with assigned media contacts (80+) to generate preview coverage and set up advance interviews.
  • Becoming familiar with festival program and developing niche pitches.
  • Writing press releases, pitches, and media alerts.
  • Working press screenings.
  • Actively pitching stories to national and local contacts ahead of and during the festival.
  • Actively pitching stories to attending journalists, and facilitating interviews with festival spokespersons and filmmakers.
  • Covering festival Press Office, providing information and materials to accredited journalists as requested.
  • Working red carpets, screenings, and events to facilitate press access and maximize coverage opportunities.
  • Keeping detailed notes on each assigned journalist in database for future reference.
  • Tracking coverage and assisting with clippings processing.
  • Writing a detailed wrap report.

Qualifications

  • At least two years of experience in film publicity; experience in a festival environment a plus, Bay Area contacts a plus.
  • Superior communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • Proven ability to multitask effectively and manage a large group of active contacts with time-sensitive needs.
  • Ability to pitch a film you haven’t seen.
  • Extreme attention to detail.
  • Experience with database systems.
  • Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
  • Passion for cinema a plus.

Press Office Coordinator

The Press Office Coordinator is responsible for coordination and administrative support of all activities of the Press Office leading up to and during the 63rd San Francisco International Film Festival (April 8–21, 2020).

This is a full-time, temporary position that runs from February 10 – May 1, 2020.

Responsibilities

  • Managing media accreditation process (200-250 applications), including outlet review/investigation, communication of approval/denial, and credential production.
  • Managing communication with film teams, studios, and distributors around press access for screeners and other press materials.
  • Collecting, organizing, and processing press materials for all SFFILM Festival films, including screeners, images, press kits, and clips.
  • Leading setup of press download site, including upload of 1000+ individual assets for 3/14 program announcement.
  • Overseeing team of 2-3 interns who contribute to materials processing and coverage tracking, assisting their training in publicity outreach.
  • Managing screener checkout system, for staff and press.
  • Assisting in execution of press conference and press screenings.
  • Facilitating move to Festival offices, setup of interview space.
  • Managing operation of Festival Press Office, including staff/intern schedules.
  • Writing press releases for SFFILM Festival programs as needed.
  • Working screenings, events, red carpets, and receptions as needed.
  • Working with small media group based on interest.
  • Overseeing coverage tracking and clippings processing.

Qualification

  • Extreme attention to detail.
  • Ability to wrangle and organize thousands of individual assets (images, press kits, bios, video files, screening links) in a coherent and accessible manner.
  • Experience working with journalists and film teams, studios and distributors.
  • Superior communication skills, both email and phone.
  • Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
  • Proven ability to multitask and prioritize effectively.
  • Experience with Filemaker preferred.
  • Passion for cinema a plus.