How Do I Become a Volunteer?
1. Review
View the available year-round volunteer team positions we are currently onboarding below, their role descriptions and requirements. The skills and availability necessary for each team are also listed to help you determine what roles will work best for you. Please note that some teams require submission of additional documentation via email.
2. Apply
Once you have decided on your team, please fill out the Year-Round Volunteer Application Form linked under each team’s description. Alumni and returning Festival volunteers will also re-register through this application process. You will receive an email acknowledging your application submission once it has been received by the Volunteer Department. Once your application has been reviewed by the volunteer department, you will be placed onto the Year-Round Pending Team on Shiftboard – this team is next in line for interviews and team placement!
3. Interview
When you are placed on the Year-Round Pending Team in Shiftboard, you’re all set – no further action is required of you until interview bookings open!
You will receive an email from us when interview bookings become available. Once available, log into your Shiftboard account to book your interview timeslot. Click “Calendar” and “Schedules” to view available “bookings.” Simply click the 1-hour timeslot that works with your availability for a 15-minute phone call interview from the Volunteer Department.
If you miss a phone call from the Volunteer Department, please be patient – we will try to reach you again. After two missed phone calls, we will not remove you from the queue; however, we will have to move onto the next available applicant.
We only have so much room, but we’re always looking for ways to get you started here at the VIFF Centre. We appreciate your patience and can’t wait to meet you!
4. Handbook
After your interview, you will receive a “Welcome Letter” email from Shiftboard with a link to the Year-Round Volunteer Handbook. The Volunteer Handbook has all the information you will need before your orientation and first shift and provides useful tips about VIFF’s Year-Round Volunteer Program! Please read through your Volunteer Handbook prior to your scheduled orientation.
5. Orientation
You will be scheduled for your team orientation and training at the end of the interview. Orientations are mandatory for new and returning volunteers. You will not be provided access to your team’s schedule until you have completed your orientation.
All orientations take place at the VIFF Centre and will introduce in detail what a typical volunteer shift looks like. At your orientation, you will also receive a tour of the VIFF Centre, review the volunteer code of conduct, and meet some of the team you will be working alongside!
6. Schedule
Your first shift will be scheduled for you so that you may shadow an experienced volunteer while you familiarize yourself with the responsibilities of the position and team. After your first shadow shift, you will be able to begin picking up your own volunteer shifts through Shiftboard. To pick up shifts on your team, simply follow the same steps as booking an interview, found under the “Interview” section above.
Shiftboard provides a schedule view of all available shifts. If you don’t see any shifts appearing in your schedule, it means that there are currently no available shifts. Shift lengths range from 3 – 5 hours. Most volunteer positions require a commitment of at least one shift per week.
Year-Round Volunteer Perks
Community
Belong to an amazing group of film-lovers from around the world!
Free Movies
Want to see the movies garnering the most international buzz before everyone else? What about those indie darlings your friend is always telling you are unmissable? When you volunteer for VIFF Year-Round, you get access to free movies after every shift you work!
1x Volunteer Ticket Voucher for each shift you work. Vouchers are transferable – bring a friend!
Once you have completed your 4-shift trial period, you can choose between a Volunteer Voucher or upgrading to a Year-Round Volunteer Pass. The Year-Round Volunteer Pass provides you with access to up to 2x free tickets per screening at the VIFF Centre. You can use this perk to bring a friend or family member with you.
Busy for the screening you selected? No problem – you do not need to be present for your friends and family to use your free volunteer tickets. You only need to be present when redeeming your Volunteer Pass perks at the box office for your tickets.
Discounted and Free Items at Concession
What goes better with free movies than free popcorn! Volunteers at the VIFF Centre year-round receive free popcorn, soda, coffee, and tea when on shift. Volunteers with a Year-Round Volunteer Pass receive free popcorn, soda, coffee, and tea whenever they attend a screening at the VIFF Centre, and additionally discounts on candy, alcoholic beverages, and merch – simply show the concession attendant your Year-Round Volunteer Pass when ordering.
Exclusive Events
Invitations to preview screenings not available to the public, partner events, and volunteer-exclusive parties.
Reference Letters
We are happy to provide volunteers with a letter of reference whenever requested.
Year-Round Teams at the VIFF Centre
Front of House Team
Commitment: minimum 3-5 hours a week
Schedule: Morning/Afternoon/Night, Weekdays/Weekends
Age requirement: 16+
Description & Responsibilities:
The Front of House Team at the VIFF Centre helps to create an unforgettable experience for each guest while ensuring that screenings all run smoothly. Before and after each screening, volunteers are busy helping patrons and preparing the theatre for the next show. During each screening, unless your Venue Manager or fellow volunteers require assistance, there is often ample downtime to settle into a book or work through some homework to pass the time.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Scanning tickets and helping direct patrons
- Helping manage in-theatre queues and standby lines during busier screenings
- Tidying the theatre in-between and after each screening
- Ushering guests into the theatre and assisting them to their seats, guiding them when lights are turned off with flashlights (ushering positions are 19+ for all unclassified screenings)
- Assisting with special events, helping unload and load the theatre for Live events on Roadie shifts
- Supporting concession volunteers and staff when needed
The role is good for someone who:
- Has great customer service skills
- Has a positive and outgoing attitude
- Works well in high-paced environments
- Enjoys teamwork and is self-motivated
Concession Support Team
Applications closed
Commitment: minimum 3-5 hours a week
Schedule: Morning/Afternoon/Night, Weekdays/Weekends
Age requirement: 19+
Description & Responsibilities:
The concession support volunteer is a vital position that helps to ensure that the VIFF Centre concession is one of the smoothest operations with the best offerings. This role supports the VIFF Centre concession attendants during busier periods by producing and serving the best popcorn in the city, pouring fountain drinks, keeping an eye on the coffee, tea, and water station, and assisting with mid-shift and end-of-shift clean-up. All members of the Concession Support Team are required to also join the Front of House team and attend a Front of House orientation in addition to their concession-specific training on-shift.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Following the direction of the team lead, concession attendant and/or venue manager
- Helping concession attendants make popcorn and melt butter
- Serving popcorn and snacks to guests
- Pouring and serving non-alcoholic beverages for guests
- Ensuring that the coffee, tea, and water station is clean and stocked for use
- Assisting operations with concession restocking concession as needed
- Supporting Front of House volunteers and staff with cleaning duties between and after each screening, and at the end of each night
The role is good for someone who:
- Has great customer service skills
- Has a positive and outgoing attitude
- Works well in high-paced environments
- Enjoys teamwork and is self-motivated
- Can carry/lift up to 50lbs
Year-Round Photography Volunteer
Additional Documentation: Once you have been accepted to the Year-Round Pending Team in Shiftboard, please share a portfolio of your work as a link or PDF to [email protected] with the subject line “PHOTOGRAPHY TEAM”
Commitment: Ad-hoc, as needed for event coverage
Age requirement: 19+ (on occasion, access to venue(s) is age-restricted)
Description & Responsibilities:
The Year-Round Photography Team at the VIFF Centre supports VIFF’s photo and videography needs at key events throughout the year. These include Q&As, Live events, filmmaker photo calls, special events, and venue atmosphere shots. This team plays an important role in ensuring proper coverage, with a focus on branding, logos, and activations at VIFF events.
There is no set schedule for this team — shifts are ad-hoc as needed for event coverage. Shift details, event-specific shot lists, and Dropbox folder links are posted in Shiftboard.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Photographing events including Q&As, galas, filmmaker photo calls, and screenings
- Capturing 5-10 of your best photos per event, including speakers, crowd shots, atrium mingling, and candid or posed moments with special guests
- Ensuring full coverage of any sponsored assets and branding at activations
- Checking shift details in Shiftboard for event-specific shot lists and uploading finished photos to the provided Dropbox folder or email contact within 24-hours of the shift
- Being mindful of patron comfort — if a guest does not wish to be photographed, please be respectful of their needs
- Capturing and emailing photos of volunteers in action to the Volunteer Department to be used for the VIFF website, publications, and marketing materials
The role is good for someone who:
- Has experience in event photography and photographing people in fast-paced environments
- Has experience in event videography
- Is comfortable in crowds and directing subjects for photos/videos
- Owns or has access to a DSLR camera (mandatory)
- Has access to a computer and editing software such as Photoshop or Lightroom (mandatory)
- Has access to transportation and is available to volunteer on evenings and weekends
- Has a basic understanding of the nature of theatres, festivals, and live events
- Possesses additional lighting gear or lenses (an asset, not mandatory)
Philanthropy Department Team
Applications closed
Additional Documentation: Once you have been accepted to the Year-Round Pending Team in Shiftboard, please share a resume, cover letter, OR statement of interest to [email protected] with the subject line “PHIL SUPPORT”
Schedule: 1-3 shifts per month, in-office, 3rd Floor of the VIFF Centre
Age requirement: 16+
Description & Responsibilities:
The Philanthropy Department Team plays a vital role in helping VIFF secure the funding we need to thrive. Volunteers in this position support VIFF’s efforts to maintain strong relationships with donors and express gratitude for their generous support. You’ll also assist with communicating our impact and keeping our databases up to date. Advanced computer skills are required for this position! A VIFF computer will be provided to you during each shift and collected from you after your shift ends.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Following the direction of the Philanthropy Department staff, the Director of Philanthropy and the Memberships & Annual Giving Manager
- Handwriting correspondences and calling donors to show our thanks
- Assisting with database maintenance and data entry, checking for errors
- Cataloguing and organizing images taken by VIFF photographers
- Helping to research foundation opportunities
- On occasion, supporting the Philanthropy Department to setup, prepare, and clean beforehand and after Board Meetings
ex. Make coffee station, wipe down tables, stack chairs, clean up dirty glassware
The role is good for someone who:
- Has advanced computer skills (ie. proficient in Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint)
- Has excellent penmanship
- Enjoys working in an office environment
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Is motivated to bring more donors and guests to the VIFF Centre and annual festival
Year-Round Newsletter Volunteer
Additional Documentation: Once you have been accepted to the Year-Round Pending Team in Shiftboard, please share a portfolio of your written work (articles, blog posts, or other written works) to [email protected] with the subject line “NEWSLETTER TEAM”
Location: Hybrid (VIFF Centre, Remote)
Commitment: Once to Twice per month, on-call basis
Age requirement: 16+
Description & Responsibilities:
The Newsletter Team supports the production and distribution of the monthly volunteer newsletter, keeping the volunteer community informed, engaged, and up to date. The team works collaboratively across several specialized roles — from template preparation and content writing to scheduling updates and final distribution — ensuring each edition is polished, accurate, and sent in a timely manner.
This is a remote, flexible volunteer position. Shifts are not regularly scheduled; instead, team members are called upon on a once-to-twice-monthly basis as newsletter editions are readied and prepped for sending. All work is completed remotely using your own laptop and a reliable high-speed internet connection, with the option to discuss working in-office during office hours.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Newsletter Writing & Editing
- Adding upcoming no-fly list events to the newsletter each month
- Maintaining and keeping the no-fly list current and accurate from the time of first draft to final send
- Writing and editing assigned sections of the monthly newsletter, producing clear, engaging and on-brand copy for the volunteer audience
- Monitoring relevant inboxes to stay current on items, updates, and announcements that need to be addressed in the newsletter
- Coordinating incoming content contributions (such as film reviews and notes) and communicating with contributors regarding edits, formatting, and inclusion decisions
- Collaborating with other team members to ensure all sections are complete, consistent in tone, and ready for final review (Slack)
Content Contributions & Engagement
- Option to submit written contributions such as film reviews or film notes on a monthly basis for inclusion in the newsletter
- Option to submit polls, games, trivia, or other methods of engagement on a monthly basis for inclusion in the newsletter
The role is good for someone who:
- Has strong writing skills, with an eye for detail, tone, and clarity
- Has experience writing creative or communication content, ideally for an internal audience or community newsletter
- Is comfortable working independently and managing their own time on a flexible, on-call schedule
- Is familiar with email marketing platforms such as Mailchimp
- Is organized, reliable, and able to meet deadlines in a collaborative remote environment
- Has a genuine interest in film, the arts, or community engagement
- Is comfortable working from home with their own laptop