Become a Volunteer

Running a festival is a tough business, with a multitude of tasks to be completed. As such, we rely on festival volunteers to help us out.

While this work is unpaid we're confident that it will be worth your while. Not only is it a good way to see an important side of the UK film industry, you'll have an amazing opportunity to meet like-minded people and to network with industry professionals.

We're after enthusiastic and dedicated people who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty as it were, and to help us create the festival spirit we're known for. Just about everyone who works at Raindance started out as a volunteer or an intern and it's helped many people to jumpstart their career in film.

We also fully understand that volunteers have other commitments, so we don't expect you to work full time. More so, we will work around your schedule.

There are 2 major venues where the Festival takes place: Apollo Cinema where most of the screenings take place and the Raindance Film Café where we organize panels, workshops and gigs throughout the Festival. The following volunteer assignments are currently available.

AT THE APOLLO CINEMA

Theatre Ushers

The key respomsability of ensuring screenings run smoothly. This involves everything from seating the audience to ensuring sound and picture quality in the cinema is optimum. For this role we require calm and focused enthusiasts. You may be asked to introduce a few screenings if it's needed. As such you will be seen as "the face" of Raindance.

Marketing Assistant

This involves letting everyone know that Raindance is taking place. This includes opportunities to participate in viral marketing via the Internet and street marketing. This typically takes place a few weeks prior to and during the Festival itself. An essential role as you will be the core link between the public and us. Knowledge of independent film, the Internet, and a welcoming smile are vital.

Projection Assistants

Working in the projection booth, assisting our projectionist Chris Thomas with whatever he needs.This high pressure but rewarding role utilizes multi-tasking and technical skills to ensure screenings run smoothly and on time. Prior projection experience would help for this position, though it’s not essential. The benefits of this position include gaining a knowledge of how the technical side of the festival works, as well as experience working within a projection booth. Please note that this role is preferably a full time commitment.

Front Of House

You will be the direct contact for customers and filmmakers who would like to attend screenings. As such, strong customer service skills are essential, as are friendly personality and efficient organizational abilities. The social nature of this role means that you will deal directly with filmmakers and industry personnel.

Office Runners

This role involves making essential runs from the office to the cinema or the café with film prints, boxes of goodies and other essential stuff. This role is perfect for anyone inspired by The Incredible Hulk or finds a gym membership just out of their price range, as you will be kept on your feet and consistently active throughout the Festival period. Those shy of handling 35mm prints need not apply, however those who aren’t will be rewarded with Festival benefits and bigger muscles.

Office Administration

A lot more interesting than it sounds, this job consists of helping the Raindance team in the office. This comprises answering phone calls, performing essential runs and providing general assistance to our then exhausted but still enthusiastic team. This is a great way to see how the Festival is constructed from within.

AT THE RAINDANCE FILM CAFE

Bar Staff

The Café offers a small range of hot and cold drinks during the day and in the evening. Working at the bar, you will be serving regular costumers and also filmmakers that hang out at the Café. You will also get to see workshops and gigs taking place over there.

Front Of House/Accreditation Desk

Like the Raindance Booth at Apollo, this position requires to be here to answer general questions about the festival. A FAQ document will be at your disposal at the desk. It is also here that filmmakers and professionals come to pick up their passes. You will be provided with a list of people awaiting for passes collection.

Raindance Shop Assistant

At this position you will be selling all the Raindance products (tee-shirts, DVDs, books…) and eventually other stuff like courses etc. You will be working very close to the information desk and should also be able to answer general enquiries about the Festival.

Events Set Up Assistant

There is a gig or a special event going on pretty much each night at the Café so we need people to help the bands setting up or any other stuff going on. So you will need to be there before and after the performance but you get to see it.

Marketing Assistant

We need people to promote the events at the Café throughout the Festival. So you will be basically asked to distribute flyers around Soho, especially in the evening when the streets get busy.

If you have any enquiries relating to volunteering at the festival, please call 0207 287 3833 and ask to speak to Amélie or send your CV to amelie@raindance.co.uk

Please download our volunteer application form.