Film Festival Volunteer Opportunities:

  • Sign-up Volunteers, 24+ hours, sign-up scheduling
    Volunteers can pick available shifts that fit within their flexibility. Volunteers can choose to volunteer more hours (all the way over 100, but no less than 24) throughout the Festival and receive benefits based on hours volunteered.

  • Full-time Volunteers, 80+ hours, fixed scheduling
    Volunteers commit to give their time for the entire duration of the Festival for eight to ten hour shifts, and receive set benefits based on their position, advance commitment to 80+ hours and willingness to volunteer as scheduled.

  • Types of Volunteer Opportunities: Festival Departments
    Volunteers are assigned to specific roles within Festival Departments, based on volunteer interests and Festival needs. Learning more about Festival Departments provides insight into what you could be doing day-to-day as a volunteer.

  • Extra-Fest Volunteer Opportunities
    Pre and post Festival volunteer opportunities run from November 1 - January 30th and provide an opportunity to see the inner workings of running an international film festival. No advance commitment required, just watch your email, sign-up, and come.

  • Year-Round Volunteer Opportunities
    The Sundance Film Festival is one of the programs of the not-for-profit Sundance Institute. The Institute needs volunteers for its operations and programs throughout the year.

Levels of Volunteer Involvement and Benefits

Volunteer Requirements:

Sign-up Volunteers:

  • Commit to a minimum of 3 to 6 shifts (depending on shift lengths) during the Festival, for a minimum total of 24 volunteer hours, sign-up for more hours as you desire.
  • Sign-up in advance for specific shift times of your choosing, as available
  • Provide own lodging
  • Attend pre-Festival trainings and New Volunteer Orientation
  • Review training information in advance of the Festival
  • Receive, read, and respond to email, this is our primary mode of communication

Full-Time Volunteers, Fixed Schedule: Advance commitment

  • Commit to a pre-assigned Festival schedule of 8-10 hours each day (approximate total of 80-90 volunteer hours)
  • Be available to work the entire Festival period as determined by job assignment
  • Attend pre-Festival trainings
  • Review training information online in advance of the Festival
  • Receive, read, and respond to email, this is our primary mode of communication

Full-Time Volunteers receive additional job-related Benefits:

  • Photo-credential, provides volunteer access to panels and films as space for volunteers is available
  • A pre-determined expense reimbursement to help offset costs related to participating at the Festival
  • Limited Festival lodging may be provided for non-Park City residents who are alumnus in need of lodging. Very, very few first-year Full-Time receive Festival lodging. Volunteers who do provide their own lodging will receive four guest ticket vouchers, for guest use in waitlist lines.
  • Discount for shuttle service to Park City form SLC Airport.

Volunteer Benefits:

Volunteers are essential to the Festival. We recognize the time they devote to the Festival and provide benefits to volunteers as a thank you for volunteer service. Benefits are provided in conjunction with the number of hours volunteered and the position held.

All Volunteers:

  • Festival Uniform: Jacket with liner and volunteer credential (no photo for volunteers with less than 80 hours; photo credential for 80+).
  • Festival Access: So that volunteers can experience the Festival they're helping to create, we work to give volunteers access to films and panels. The volunteer credential allows access to panels and some venues on a space available basis. Depending on hours volunteered, volunteers will receive either volunteer vouchers or a photo credential, redeemable for film tickets as space is available. Vouchers and credentials are nontransferable and must be used with volunteer credential. Volunteers may also attend two early volunteer screenings and all scheduled Staff and Volunteer Screenings during the Festival on a space available basis.
  • Unique Volunteer Events: Each volunteer receives a ticket to the Staff and Volunteer Opening Night Party to get things started off right. To keep the energy going, various events and gatherings are held for volunteers throughout the Festival. Volunteers can also enjoy the Volunteer Villa, an exclusive venue for volunteers to lounge, get hearty snacks, access the internet, and touch base with the Volunteer Department.
  • Recognition: Festival volunteers are listed by name in some Festival Materials in recognition of their dedication and service. Our most valued pool of volunteers are our alumni. Alumni receive special recognition after volunteering for 5, 10, 15, and 20 years.

Recognition (and Thanks!) for hours volunteered:

  • 24 hours: One volunteer voucher will be given for every 4 hours of volunteer service.

  • 40 hours: Volunteers continue to receive one volunteer voucher for every 4 hours of volunteer service and may exchange some volunteer vouchers for ticket vouchers for guests to use in the waitlist line.

  • 80 hours: Volunteer photo credential, allows the volunteer access to unlimited Festival screenings and panels on a space available basis (when not volunteering, of course!). Some outdoor volunteer positions may accrue hours on a 1 outdoor hour to 2 volunteer hours, because it's chilly out there!

  • 100 hours: 100 Club recognition, including recognition piece to display on credential, invitation to 100 Club reception, and special listing in printed Festival materials.

Volunteer Opportunities within Festival Departments

Festival Volunteers are assigned a specific position within a Festival Department, for which they receive related trainings and materials. Roles and opportunities within each department vary greatly - so read on to learn more about all that goes into creating the Festival.

There are so many ways volunteers can get involved at the Festival (we couldn't even list all of them here)! Read on to learn more about our many departments and opportunities, and decide how you'd like to be involved.

Accounting Department:
Do you find yourself lying awake at night counting beans instead of sheep? Does your heart leap for joy when a friend asks for your help in reconciling their checkbook? Do you silently celebrate when you come across a 33% off sale that requires you to calculate the discount on your own? Can you proudly wear your Scarlet Accounting "A" as you represent our uncharacteristically fun, witty, and energetic Accounting Department? Then we want you to be amongst our few and proud! 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.

Corporate Relations Department
The Corporate Relations Department provides support, client management, and benefit administration to all corporate supporters of the Sundance Film Festival, including Official Sponsors like Entertainment Weekly, HP, and Adobe Systems Incorporated. The Corporate Relations 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. Corporate Relations Festival staff serve as the direct link to all corporate supporters and are on-site to directly assist with branding and activation plans, client entertainment, and event management. As a Corporate Relations 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.

Credentials Volunteers:
Paparazzi welcome! 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). Locations as assigned in the Headquarters Ballroom, the Sales and Industry Office at Yarrow, and at the Pass/Package Sales Office near the Main Box Office at Gateway. The new manager will no longer look like a young Bob Dylan, but we're looking for another famous dead-ringer to replace him.

Development Department:
These volunteers support the Development Department in facilitating a positive Festival experience for Sundance Institute’s key stakeholders and high level donors. Our volunteers assist the Development staff in fulfilling donor ticketing requests and exchanges, credentials, and above all, help to provide a pleasant environment for them to sit and read the film guide, discuss films with fellow donors and staff, and warm up with a cup of coffee.

Feature Film Program, International - Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Award - Japanese Language Interpreter/Guides:
Are you enthusiastic, responsible, reliable, punctual, and like to have fun? Are you fluent in Japanese and a good driver? Do you like the challenge of thinking on your feet and making good judgment calls? If you answered yes to these questions, we are looking for someone like you to help interpret, transport, and guide the Japanese delegation from NHK around the Festival. Responsibilities include language interpretation for delegation members, getting them to movies, restaurants and meetings around Park City, helping with logistical support, and working as a team with the other interpreters to make the delegation’s Festival experience as comfortable and fun as possible. You will be with the delegation or on call for the entire week that the delegation is at the Festival, but the delegates are really cool, and it’s a great way to experience the Festival as an insider.

Filmmaker Office:
The Filmmaker Office is responsible for a variety of invited Festival guests, first and foremost being the film directors. We also take care of various cast and crew; cinematographers, screenwriters, editors, and producers as well as jurors and panelists. Contrary to popular belief, we do not take care of Paris Hilton.

Along with maintaining our cool at all times with a smile on our face and eye rolls only in the back office, we are responsible for coordinating travel, tickets and credentials for the above guests, gathering information for Festival publications, and wrangling guests once at the Festival.

Our volunteers at the Festival answer questions from bewildered filmmakers (knowledge of other languages is a helpful skill), fulfill ticket orders, assist onsite at first screenings, and say “yes” and “no” with equal kindness.

IT Department:
Enjoy the films and atmosphere at the Sundance Film Festival? Want to see how the Sundance IT Department impacts those films and atmosphere? As an IT Volunteer you'll be the hidden driving force behind all Sundance employees as they crank through the ten days of mayhem! You must have enough IT skills to set up pc's, trouble shoot simple problems, run network cable, and work under pressure. We prefer that you have or are currently working in the IT field.

As an IT Volunteer you will primarily be helping with the deployment, set up, and tear down of equipment used during the Festival. The time in between set up and tear down will be spent helping provide support for our end users. We operate a tight, smooth running ship where everyone brings their "A" game to work. Think you got the skills? We'd be glad to have you working with us!

Logistics Volunteers:
Did you love CB radios when you were young? Do you like keeping track of people, places, and things? Do you like giving or, well, distributing items? This department includes radios and accessories, cell phones, security, car rentals and sponsor vehicles, accident reports, parking passes, uniforms, staff and volunteer check-in, food boxes, and Festival pizza. Volunteers in logistics may be helping to distribute items, equipment, and food; 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.

Merchandise Department:
Interested in working in a lively and fast paced environment and interacting with our Festival patrons? Are you a souvenir hound yourself with shot glasses from every state you've visited on your shelves? Come join our merchandise stores! Cash handling experience a must, a background in inventory, stocking and/or building displays a bonus. Most important? Willing and able to help our customers!

Non-Theatre Venue Volunteers:
Help with set-up & decor, assist with deliveries, check credentials, crowd control, answer questions about the venue, help with recycling and trash, take daily counts of visitors, re-stocking sponsor product, coat check, and help with tear-down at one of the Festival venues. Meet both famous and infamous people and most of all, have a great time with Festival patrons, staff and fellow volunteers. You will be assigned to only one of the following venues:

Music Café - programmed by ASCAP, performances by emerging and established artists. Must LOVE music!
Filmmaker Lodge - a casual meeting space for filmmakers, industry and press, lively panel discussions daily, café, lounge, and gathering place. Must LOVE filmmakers!
Headquarters - the working hub at the Festival. Home of Press, Filmmakers, Corporate Relations, Patron Circle, Volunteer Villa, and Programming Offices.
Yarrow Venue - Home of the Industry Office, lounge and theatre, and press conference pavilion.
Sundance House - A hospitality venue for our Presenting Sponsors.
New Frontier On Main - Showcases artist installations, live performances, thought provoking panels and a café. Volunteers may additionally serve as docents for New Frontier.

Press Department:
Are your role models Anderson Cooper and Brian Williams? Can't get enough of AP, BBC, or CNN? Do magazine subscriptions crowd your mailboxes? Perhaps photography interests you...images, posters, or the organized chaos of flashing photographer's bulbs? Come join the Festival press team. 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 (saying no can be FUN!), making up information packs; logging and filing press coverage; office duties such as routing phone calls, photocopying, inputting data. At various theaters 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-pressured environment. Did we mention busy? You need to have an extremely high level of accuracy in your written work and be able to work on your own initiative. And be excited about being busy.

Production Department:
This is the behind-the-scenes team who works with all Festival departments to set up, maintain, and tear down the SFF. 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. This is a great way to see all of the venues of the SFF. To be a part of this great team, you must be able to drive in sometimes snowy conditions, and be able to do fairly frequent heavy lifting.

Works Crew - This elite division of the Production team is responsible for keeping SFF venues clear of snow and ice, maintaining outdoor heating, and working with Production in set up, maintenance, and tear down of the Festival.

Theatre Operations Department:
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. Ready for hundreds of people to come and rush you at the same time? Excellent with customer service and exceptionally reliable? Come be a key volunteer in the Theatre Operations department, helping prepare the theatres and getting patrons in their seats to enjoy the films!

Theatre Box Office Volunteers:
Be where all the action happens... and keep track of it all too! As a Theatre Box Office Volunteer, you'll distribute, collect, and account for all tickets at our theatres located in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Sundance Resort. Responsible for distributing all waitlist numbers, selling waitlist tickets, handling cash, inputting admission information into our ticketing system, and reconciling all sales. Must enjoy multi-tasking 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, Balloting & Attendance)
Do you like wrangling the masses and taming die-hard Festivalgoers who have been waiting in line (sometimes overnight!) just to get Day-of-Show Tickets? Are you a self-conceived know-it-all of the Festival? Do you enjoy being a part of the process? Then a volunteer position within the Ticketing Department is for you! Whether you're updating availability boards, assisting in filling ticket orders, answering patrons questions about films and theatres, or counting ballots for competition films, you'll be an integral part of assisting Festival attendees to participate and navigate the Festival. Best of all, you'll be able to schmooze with staff, volunteers, and other Festivalgoers to get the latest scoop on the "buzz" films of the Festival. Since most Ticketing positions require working with people, customer service skills and a good sense of humor are a must!

Transportation Volunteers:
Do you want to see EVERYBODY that comes to the Festival? Are you a natural leader, the kind of person that likes to tell people where to go? 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 over 350,000 good impressions on filmmakers and patrons from all over the world by helping them find their way between films. This job is fun, rewarding, and definitely cool!

Volunteer Department:
To coordinate and support volunteers, the Volunteer Department operates volunteer headquarters (the Volunteer Villa), answers volunteer questions, addresses scheduling issues, and fulfills Festival requests for volunteers. With flexible agility like a jungle cat and a love for meeting hundreds of people, volunteers in the Volunteer Department may help run the Volunteer Villa, fill various open positions as a floating volunteer, or assist behind the scenes with volunteer and schedule coordination.

Extra-Fest Volunteer Opportunities

While our greatest need for volunteers falls during the Festival, the work continues before and beyond the Festival. We welcome volunteers prior to and after the Festival, and encourage volunteers interested in pre and post Festival volunteer opportunities, known as Extra-Fest, to indicate their interest on the application when applying to the Volunteer Department. Extra-Fest Opportunities will be sent out to interested volunteers via email and volunteers sign-up for opportunities as they desire.

Only individuals who are volunteering 24 or more hours DURING the Festival will be eligible to receive Festival related benefits, such as uniforms, film access, and volunteer events. Volunteers often sign-up for Extra-Fest opportunities because 1. We really need your help! and 2. For every four hours worked (if you're ALSO a Festival volunteer) you can receive a volunteer voucher or build toward 100 Club status.

Year-Round Volunteer Opportunities

Sundance Institute often needs volunteers for its day-to-day operations and programs throughout the year. If you are interested in volunteering year round for the Institute in Park City, Utah or in Los Angeles, CA please check out the Sundance Institute website.