Volunteer Program Details

Program Details

Requirements and Benefits

Commitment may be a touchy subject, but we're only asking for a few days in January. Volunteers can choose between two different levels of commitment: Sign-Up or Full-Time. In short, the Sign-Up program offers flexible scheduling you choose, with one film voucher for every four hours worked. Full-Time Volunteers work every day on an assigned schedule, but can see an unlimited number of films while not on shift. Here are more details:

Volunteer Requirements

1. Sign-Up Volunteers, 24+ hours, you sign up for your schedule:

  • Commit to a minimum of 24 total hours during the Festival; sign up for more hours as you desire.
  • Sign up in advance for specific shift times of your choosing, as available. Shifts on weekends are in short supply, you will need to plan on about 3-4 days, at LEAST two of which are weekdays or a portion thereof, to meet the minimum requirement. Also note that new volunteers will not have access to first weekend shifts due to limited availability and alumni priority.
  • Complete online and attend pre-Festival trainings (including New Volunteer Orientation).
  • Receive, read, and respond to email, our primary mode of communication.

2.  Half-Fest Volunteers, 40+ hours, you pick first week or second week to volunteer on an     assigned schedule:

  • Commit to a preassigned Festival schedule of 40-45 hours during week option #1 or week option #2
  • Be available to work by 4pm of the start day and available every day until noon on the end date
  • Complete online and attend pre-Festival training (including New Volunteer Orientation).
  • Receive, read, and respond to email, our primary mode of communication.

3. Full-Time Volunteers, 80+ hours, we assign a Full-Time schedule:

  • Commit to a preassigned Festival schedule of 8 to 10 hours each day (approximate total of 80-90 volunteer hours).
  • Be available to work the entire Festival period as determined by job assignment (varies).
  • Complete online and attend pre-Festival trainings.
  • Receive, read, and respond to email, our primary mode of communication.

Volunteer Benefits

Volunteers are essential to the Festival. We recognize the time they devote to the Festival and provide benefits to them as a thank-you for their service. Benefits are provided in conjunction with the number of hours volunteered, and for Full-Time Volunteers, the skills needed for the position held.

All Volunteers

  • Festival Access: Volunteer Credentials allow access to non-theatre official Festival venues on a space-available basis (similar credential costs $200). We also offer a few screenings just for volunteers. Most of all, we want to be sure volunteers can see films. For almost every screening, we set aside a certain number of tickets only for volunteers. Film access depends on the number of hours volunteered:
    • 24 hours: Receive one volunteer voucher for every four hours volunteered. Volunteer vouchers are redeemable for one film ticket for the volunteer through the volunteer or waitlist line on a space-available basis. Vouchers and credentials are nontransferable and must be used by the volunteer with his or her credential.40 hours: Benefits above, plus two guest waitlist ticket vouchers. Another guest voucher can be earned at 60 hours.
      • Note: Volunteers at this level can exchange two volunteer vouchers for one guest voucher. They can do so at volunteer check-in and/or the volunteer hub during the Festival with as many vouchers as they want to use.
    • 40 hours/ Half-Fest: Benefits above, plus an awards night ticket.
    • 80 hours/ Sign-Up: Vouchers are replaced by a Volunteer Photo Credential, allowing the volunteer access to unlimited Festival screenings through the volunteer line on a space available basis (when not volunteering, of course!) also four guest waitlist ticket vouchers, if local/providing own lodging
    • 80 hours/Full-Time: Vouchers are replaced by a Volunteer Photo Credential, allowing the volunteer access to unlimited Festival screenings through the volunteer line on a space available basis (when not volunteering, of course!); four grub stubs, a ticket to the awards night ceremony and four guest waitlist ticket vouchers, if local/providing own lodging.
    • 100 Club: Volunteers giving 100 hours or more are members of our 100 Club. They receive the same benefits as above (sign up or full time) as well as being recognized for their commitment on their credential along with a name listing at the Festival's Awards Ceremony.
  • Uniform: Jacket and Volunteer Credential.
  • Party: Ticket to the Staff and Volunteer Opening Night Party.
  • Refreshments: We offer light snacks and refreshments in our Volunteer Hub for volunteers to come get when not on shift. These snacks are not meant to replace meals which volunteers are responsible for providing themselves. Airport Shuttle Service Discount: Available to Park City from SLC Airport.

Full-Time Volunteers (those with a schedule assigned to them by the Festival) also receive:

  • Limited Festival lodging may be provided for non-Utah residents who are alumni volunteers in need of lodging. Festival lodging is highly unlikely for first-year volunteers.
  • For a minority of Full-Time positions - typically those requiring management experience, very specific skills, or commitments longer than 13 days - a predetermined expense reimbursement will be provided. If volunteers are eligible for this, their volunteer coordinator will discuss these details with them over the phone.

What You'll Be Doing as a Volunteer

Locations

The majority of volunteer opportunities occur in various locations throughout Park City, Utah. Volunteers should plan to use the FREE Festival Shuttle System as there is no designated volunteer parking available. Volunteers from Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas often volunteer in Park City. We welcome and need you but unfortunately cannot provide lodging! If you plan to drive to Park City, we recommend selecting volunteer positions at Eccles, Holiday, Headquarters, Prospector, or Redstone Theatre. You'll need to park in a designated festival lot (lots vary by price) and take a shuttle to your assigned venue, and these five theatres are most conveniently located to shuttles from parking areas.

Outside of Park City, the Festival operates theatres in Salt Lake City, Ogden, and at Sundance Resort as extensions of the Festival. These positions are mainly sign-up positions, which do not include lodging for alumni or new volunteers. Almost all volunteer positions outside of Park City are in our theatre and ticketing departments.

Festival Departments with Volunteers

There are so many ways volunteers can get involved at the Festival that we couldn't even list all of them here! Read on to learn more about our many departments and opportunities.

Theatre Operations Department

Positions are located in  Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and at Sundance Resort

Be at the front lines of the Festival! The Theatre Operations Department operates each theatre, from ticket-taking to crowd control, as an organized and cohesive team. These positions are fast-paced and require excellent customer service skills. Must be reliable and able to stand on your feet for long periods of time.

Theatre Operations: Theatre Box Office Volunteers

Positions are located at box offices in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and at Sundance Resort

As a Theatre Box Office Volunteer, you'll distribute, collect, and account for all tickets at our theatres. These volunteers are responsible for distributing all waitlist numbers, selling waitlist tickets, handling cash, inputting admission information into the ticketing system, and reconciling all sales. Must enjoy multitasking in a fast-paced environment, computers, cash handling, and keeping people in line! If you like keeping busy, this is the spot for you.

Ticketing: Main Box Office, Pass & Package Office, Internal Ticketing, Info Booths, and Attendance

Positions are located throughout Park City

Whether you're updating availability boards, assisting in filling ticket orders, or answering patrons' questions about films and theatres, you'll be an integral part of assisting Festival attendees to participate and navigate the Festival. Since most Ticketing positions require working with people, customer service skills and a good sense of humor are a must.

Ticketing: Credentials Volunteers

Positions are located at some box offices and Headquarters

Take pictures of future stars for their credential badges and handle the hordes with a smile as they all arrive to say "Cheese." Computer skills and minimal photography skills a plus (this means you don't cut off their heads in the photos).

Merchandise Department

Positions are based at Festival stores throughout Park City

Interested in working in a lively and fast-paced environment and interacting with our Festival patrons? Join our merchandise stores! Cash handling experience is a must and a background in inventory, stocking, and/or building displays is a bonus. Most important? Be willing and able to help our customers.

Production Department

Full-Time positions only mostly roving or based at warehouse

The Production Department is the behind-the-scenes team that works with all Festival departments to set up, maintain, and tear down the Festival. We are movers and shakers, buyers and makers, doers and fixers. If you are active and independent, don't want to be stuck in one place behind a desk, and don't mind hard physical work, then these are the jobs for you. The Production Team is looking for volunteers in the following areas:

  • Warehouse Runners - Assist the warehouse manager in receiving and distributing Festival materials and publications. To be a part of this great team, you must be able to drive in snowy conditions and do fairly frequent heavy lifting.
  • Works Crew - This elite division of the Production Team is responsible for keeping Festival venues clear of snow and ice, maintaining outdoor heating, and working with Production in setup, maintenance, and teardown.

Transportation Volunteers

Full-Time positions roving throughout Park City

Are you the kind of person who likes to help people find their way? Do you love to meet people and talk film? This job might be for you. Do you want to work shorter shifts and see more films? Are you impervious to cold? Then this job is definitely for you. Our people are the face of the Festival to our patrons. Last year, we made more than 350,000 good impressions on filmmakers and patrons from all over the world by helping them find their way between films.

Volunteer Department

Full-Time and Sign-Up positions based at Headquarters or floating to jobs and locations everywhere

  • Volunteer Department- Flex Volunteer - Formerly called Volunteer Floater, the Volunteer Flex position will have you on a set schedule but without a set assignment. You will be checking in with the Volunteer Department at the beginning of your shift to get your assignment each day. Often, you will be filling in for volunteers who have called in sick or lending an extra hand to teams who have requested help. You MUST be willing to work in any volunteer position, inside or out. This is a great way to experience various sides of the Festival and get to meet a lot of new faces!
  • Volunteer Department: Hub Assistance - Volunteers at the hub will help with the day-to-day operations, which include maintaining the food table and drink stations, restocking sponsor giveaways, making sure the area is clean and presentable, answering general Festival questions, interacting with volunteers, and checking credentials at the door. You will act as the liaison between the Volunteer Department and the hub.  Must be comfortable with talking to numerous people, friendly, and knowledgeable about the Festival.

Non-Theatre Venue Volunteers

Positions located at specific Festival Venues in Park City

Help with setup and decor, assist with deliveries, check credentials, monitor crowd control, answer questions about the venue, help with recycling and trash, take daily counts of visitors, restock sponsor product, coat check, and help with tear-down at one of the Festival venues. You will be assigned to only one of the following venues:

  • Filmmaker Lodge - A casual meeting space for filmmakers, industry, and press, and lively panel discussions daily. Featuring a café and lounge. Must LOVE filmmakers!
  • Sundance House Presented by HP - A hospitality venue presented by our Presenting Sponsors HP.
  • New Frontier - Showcases artist installations, live performances, thought-provoking panels, and a café. Volunteers may additionally serve as docents for New Frontier. Must LOVE art!

Press Department

Positions located at Headquarters and as assigned

In the Press Office at Festival Headquarters you may be involved in creating and maintaining a welcoming space in the press room; assisting with the accreditation process and making information packs; logging and filing press coverage; and office duties such as routing phone calls, photocopying, and inputting data. At various theatres and venues, you may be wrangling camera crews and photographers (a bit like wrangling cats) or assisting journalists with seating, ticketing, and the like. We are looking for people who are positive, energetic, and willing to get involved in a very busy, high-pressure environment. Did we mention busy? You need to have an extremely high level of accuracy in your written work, be able to work on your own initiative, and be excited about being busy.

IT Department

Positions are located at Headquarters and as assigned

As an IT Volunteer you'll be the hidden driving force behind all Festival employees as they crank through the 10 days of mayhem! You must have IT skills to competently set up PCs, troubleshoot simple problems, run network cable, and work under pressure. We prefer that you have or are currently working in the IT field.

Logistics Volunteers

Positions are based in Headquarters and as assigned

This department includes radios and accessories, cell phones, security, car rentals and sponsor vehicles, accident reports, parking passes, uniforms, check-ins and more. Volunteers in Logistics may be helping to distribute equipment; answer phones, troubleshoot cell phone and radio problems; retrieve and package equipment; and learn the behind-the-scenes workings of the Festival while having fun.

Accounting Department

Full-Time positions only based out of the  Silver Star Offices

Volunteers in the Accounting Department collect, audit, reconcile, and prepare deposits for all merchandise and screening receipts during the Festival. Accounting Volunteers split their time between the Finance Office and theatre venues in Park City and Salt Lake City where they provide support to the Box Office staff. Accounting Volunteers must possess strong reconciliation skills, be willing to handle/transport cash, and be able to work and communicate effectively with multiple departments.

Film Office

Full-Time and sign up positions based at Headquarters and as assigned

The Filmmaker Office is responsible for a variety of invited Festival guests--first and foremost, the film directors. We also take care of various cast and crew; cinematographers, screenwriters, editors, and producers; as well as jurors and panelists. Our volunteers at the Festival answer questions from bewildered filmmakers (knowledge of other languages is a helpful skill), fulfill ticket orders, assist on-site at first screenings, and say "yes" and "no" with equal kindness.

Corporate Department

Full-Time positions only based at Headquarters

The Corporate Department provides support, client management, and benefit administration to all corporate supporters of the Sundance Film Festival. The Corporate Festival Headquarters office serves as the hub for on-site ticketing for all corporate supporters and is the main source of information regarding the Festival event calendar. As a Corporate Volunteer, you will provide superior customer service to all corporate supporters and their guests, assist with reserved seating roping in theatres, and provide support for on-site activations and events, as needed.

Additional Ways to Volunteer

Year-Round Volunteer Opportunities

If you are available to help out before and/or after the Festival, you might be interested in joining our Year Round Volunteer Team. To find out more about how to get involved with this program (which includes Extra Fest), please click here:

http://www.sundance.org/about/other-volunteer-opportunities/