Timing: Approximately February 1-April 15, 2024
Employment Status: Seasonal Consultant, primarily remote with required in-person attendance, March 25-April 15, 2024
Compensation: $11,000 Stipend and additional reimbursement for travel and accommodations
Reports to: Artistic Director, Programming Teams, and CIFF Full-time Staff
Festival Information: CIFF48 (April 3-13, 2024) at Playhouse Square
OVERVIEW
The Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) is seeking a welcoming, helpful, self-sufficient, and detail-oriented person with strong communication and organization skills, to oversee Festival guest communications and coordinate their travel itineraries, accommodations, Festival schedules, and all other logistics for attending CIFF48 (April 3-13, 2024). The CIFF48 Guest Relations Manager will also oversee all aspects of managing the CIFF48 Guest Relations staff team.
WHO WE ARE
Founded in 1977, the Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) strives to fulfill its mission, which is to promote artistically and culturally significant film arts through education and exhibition to enrich the life of the community. The Cleveland International Film Festival's vision is to be a leader in helping the world discover the power of the film arts to educate, entertain, and celebrate an inclusive human experience. In other words, CIFF presents the newest and best films from around the world, and does everything in its power to make sure that its audience learns something along the way - about other cultures, about the topic at hand, about the experience from the filmmakers themselves.
CIFF's Guiding Principles include:
- Setting high standards for quality film education and exhibition, placing artistic and cultural merit above commercial appeal;
- Working collaboratively to provide access to quality film arts;
- Providing the best audience experience possible
- Championing diversity, equity, and inclusion while fostering understanding and appreciation of myriad cultures and values;
- Cultivating an innovative and forward-thinking organization that catalyzes community and partner neighborhoods;
- Promoting among board, staff, and volunteers a work environment based on integrity, professionalism, teamwork, trust, and respect; and
- Ensuring the organization's financial stability and increasing its financial self-sufficiency.
WHO YOU ARE & WHAT WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL:
- Relationship-building: You develop and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with a diverse group of constituents and know how to build alliances even when there are competing interests and perspectives.
- Drive to achieve results: You have a strong work ethic-a track record of accomplishing goals and getting results even when there are obstacles. You set a high bar and meet it, because you think ahead, anticipating hurdles and coming up with thoughtful solutions.
- Commitment to racial equity and social justice: You recognize the role of race, income, age, immigration status, and other identities in shaping our cultural landscape and access to the arts. You recognize how your own identities show up in the work, and welcome, reflect on, and act on feedback with an eye toward continuous learning about race, ability, and other lines of difference.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
- Take over guest correspondence from the Programming Team and serve as CIFF's single point of contact for Festival guests, including feature filmmakers, industry personnel, and jury participants
- Liaise between Festival guests and other CIFF constituents including but not limited to: the CIFF Full-Time staff, Programming Teams, Marketing & Media Team, and the Festival Operations Team
- Implement and maintain systems of communication and information-sharing to track and disseminate all details of a Festival guest's visit and itinerary, including screening times and locations, in-person and online Q&A sessions, and arrival and departure details, as well as flight, ground transportation, and accommodation information
- Create and maintain Google and/or Airtable applications with relevant Festival guest information
- Create and distribute individualized welcome letters for each guest with the following details: Flights, Accommodations, Transportation, Screenings, Q&A Sessions, and any other pertinent information
- Process and fulfill guest travel stipends, reimbursements, and industry credential requests
- Solicit vendors for swag items and coordinate the collection and storage of the swag bag materials
- Create, assemble, and distribute guest welcome materials including individualized itineraries, pass and ticket credentials, and swag bags for guests
- Oversee all aspects of CIFF's Guest Relations, ensuring Festival guests have a welcoming and seamless experience leading up to and during the Festival
- Plan filmmaker events during the Festival and offer guidance to filmmakers organizing private events
- Manage the Guest Relations staff team, including the hiring/confirming process, scheduling, supervising, and submitting payroll for Guest Relations staff
- Collaborate with and assist all Guest Relations staff including the Guest Relations Assistant Manager, Short Films Lead Programmer, Short Films Programming Manager, Jury Coordinator, Ambassadors, and third-party ground transportation services as needed
- Attend appropriate meetings, including team meetings, Festival staff meetings, and the CIFF48 Staff Orientation
- Produce a wrap-up report and attend post-festival meetings with supervisors and/or the Guest Relations team
QUALIFICATIONS:
- High School Graduate or GED
- Knowledge of Guest Relations and/or Hospitality best practices, preferably at other film festivals
- Familiarity with booking travel, transportation, and accommodations, preferably at other film festivals
- A minimum of one to three years of Guest and/or Customer Service experience required
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Exchange/Office 365, Google Workspace, Airtable, Eventive, and Shiftboard
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:
- Professional oral and written communication skills
- Attention to detail and a high level of accuracy
- Impeccable planning and organizational skills
- Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritize to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Flexibility and adaptability to manage stress, multi-task, and problem-solve
- Collaborative spirit focused on diplomacy and teamwork, including the ability to work with diverse groups and people
- Willingness to take initiative and to take and give instruction
WORKING CONDITIONS:
This position will require sitting, standing, and moving during working hours and may require evening and weekend hours leading up to and during CIFF48 (April 3-13, 2024).
TO APPLY:
Email your resume and cover letter to ciff@clevelandfilm.org. The deadline to apply is November 15, 2023.