Festival Director
/Organization:
Vancouver Asian Film Festival
Deadline:
Jun. 30, 2024
Organization Description:
The Vancouver Asian Film Festival Society is a not for profit organization that produces the Vancouver Asian Film Festival (VAFF) during the first week of November. VAFF is the oldest Asian film festival in Canada and will be celebrating its 28th year with programs aimed at elevating Asian Canadian and Asian diaspora realities and stories on screen.
Website:
Job Description:
The Vancouver Asian Film Festival (VAFF) is seeking a forward-thinking, creative, innovative, business savvy and collaborative leader to serve as the Festival Director (FD) to head the festival in collaboration with the Director of Industry and Operations as well other Program Directors.
Reporting directly to the President and to the Board of Directors in collaboration with the Director of Industry and Operations. The FD will be responsible for achieving annual strategic, programming, fundraising, audience development and operational objectives. Leading a dedicated and creative team, the FD will possess an entrepreneurial spirit and a strong vision to successfully create and execute strategic initiatives for artistic and organizational growth, which will include both professional and community programming opportunities. Ensuring the financial viability of the organization is critical to success in this role. This includes budgetary planning and management alongside the experience to raise funds for VAFF’s programs and initiatives.
The Festival Director is one of the primary external executive ambassadors, alongside the Industry Director, the Festival Director will steward current relationships, especially with our long-time sponsors while developing new opportunities with the goal of deepening sponsorship engagement in VAFF’s mission and mandate.
As a team builder who values collaboration, the Festival Director will have responsibility for all organizational aspects of VAFF. The Festival Director will attract, retain, and inspire the team members and liaise with the board to help create an organizational culture that prioritizes inclusivity, kindness, respect, equity, communication, accountability, integrity, empathy, and mutual care.
This is an exciting and unique opportunity for a forward-thinking executive leader who can bring together vision, experience, and passion to support the realization of unique, innovative, and diverse, projects and programming. The ideal candidate will be a creative and energetic individual who will help lead VAFF into the future.
Responsibilities:
Festival Director Responsibilities and Tasks:
VAFF’s Festival Director’s core responsibility is to develop and implements VAFF’s vision and priorities when executing strategic programming with direction from the Board, and input from key stakeholders. This person will also provide collaborative leadership to all Executive Team members to complete tasks in the following areas:
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, DELIVERY AND FOLLOW UP
• Oversee programming team, film selections and negotiates screening fees. theatres and other event venues including Opening, Centrepiece, Luncheon, Kickoff and Closing/OVAsian parties/receptions;
• Oversee all production and execution of the November film festival
• Maintains and coordinates VIP and community guest lists, Invitations and Passes as well as Corporate/VIP Guests Invitations, Thank You Letters, Gifts/Passes and Receipts;
• Oversees all the VAFF Awards production and adjudication process
• Letters of support/congratulation from relevant municipal, provincial and federal agencies.
• Contract and ovesee editing, production, printing and distribution of Program Guide
• Ensures smooth running of operations; prior/during/post event
FUNDING DEVELOPMENT AND TARGETS
• Develops and administers fundraising strategies and Sponsor/Donor relations programs, in conjunction with the Board of Directors
• Identify eligible Grant application prep & follow-up: Government; Private & Other, Submit Final Reports
• Actively pursues new opportunities for support from private sector and foundations
• Supports growth of the VAFF Film Fund
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
• Prepares and monitors the general operating budgets in conjunction with the President, Industry
Development Director and Elimin8hate’s Executive Director
• Supports the reparation of monthly financial reports for the Board and annual year-end reports for Treasurer and Board
• Reviews and authorizes spending up to the limits approved by Board
• Reviews Invoices for VAFF to pay and submit to VAFF Bookkeeper
• Prepares and send Invoices to vendors to submit to VAFF, notify Bookkeeper of these
HUMAN RESOURCES
• Oversee and identify project and task workflows, identify, recruit and onboard Senior Executives, Team Leads, Special Skilled and General Volunteers as well as short term contractors to meet the production and execution of the festival events throughout the year and within budget;
• Manage overall festival operations and directly negotiates and prepares all draft contractor and artist contracts for Board legal to review, amend and approve
• Engages box office and front-of-house team and volunteers and ensures training and support is planned and executed
• Identifies and resolves any contractor relations and executive or volunteer issues and escalates them to the attention of the Board as necessary
• Schedule and attend regular Executive Team, and other committee meetings as required and Lead and manage the team in a manner that ensures seamless administration of the organization and its programs
MARKETING, PR AND AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
• Directly oversees the Marketing, Creative and PR departments.
• Develops and implements marketing strategies to increase ticket sales, brand awareness, sponsorship
• Supervises the creation and distribution of print material and digital content, with input from Industry Development Director
• Supervises social media and website content to increase VAFF profile and target audience engagement and outreach
• Writes and distributes press releases, maintains database of relevant media, and arranges media interviews
GOVERNMENT LIAISON AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
• Prepares government grant applications, in conjunction with the Industry Development Director, President and Grant writer, if one is engaged
• Advocates on behalf of VAFF at all levels of government, federal and provincial programs and agencies
• Prepares all interim and final reports, and maintains positive relations.
BOARD RELATIONS
• Collaborates with the President/Board Chair in the development of monthly meeting notices, agendas, and materials
• Participates in monthly Board Meetings for VAFF
ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY
• Fosters and encourages the continued growth and development of film, tv, content creation in the community, promoting VAFF locally and provincially, and to the larger screen and entertainment sector
• Advocates for and represents VAFF with local, provincial and national service organizations and other outside groups
• Liaises with key stakeholders
Other duties may be required, within the scope of the Festival Director role.
Qualifications:
Minimum - 2 years post secondary education
Asian language proficiency would be useful, but not required.
Traits and Characteristics
The successful candidate will have leadership experience and demonstrated experience and success in film/tv/content or other arts related field as well as related non-profit organization work and have a commitment for Asian representation in the screen industry.
With high emotional intelligence and diplomacy, VAFF’s Festival Director will be a motivated ambassador and advocate for an organization in a dynamic diverse cultural environment. The ideal candidate will be comfortable engaging in conversations that build effective partnerships, raise levels of engagement, and advance innovative approaches to artistic, educational, and community needs.
Embodying integrity and authenticity, the Festival Director will embrace a healthy organizational culture based on collaboration and strategic partnerships. Insightful and resourceful in leveraging financial, human, and technological resources, the Festival Director will be a highly evolved communicator both internally and externally who is skilled at fundraising, sponsor experience, advocacy, and government relations.
The Festival Director will be an inspirational leader, proven business manager, and skilled relationship builder - with a commitment to exceeding expectations.
Adept at budgeting and proficient with Microsoft 365 and other productivity tools, this individual will bring additional support for VAFF’s mission and vision and a passion to positively impact the organization’s long-term success.
Other key Traits and Characteristics of the role include:
• Leadership – Organizing and influencing people to believe in a vision while creating a sense of purpose and direction.
• Flexibility - Readily modifying, responding, and adapting to change with minimal resistance.
• External Stakeholder Focus – Anticipating, meeting and or/exceeding stakeholder needs, wants and expectations
• Negotiation and Diplomacy– Listening to varying points of view and facilitating agreements between two or more parties while effectively and tactfully handling difficult or sensitive issues.
• Project Management – Identifying and overseeing all resources, task, systems, and people to obtain results.
• Self-Starting - Demonstrating initiative and willingness to begin working.
• Planning and Organizing - Establishing courses of action to ensure that work is completed effectively.
• Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills – Cooperating with others to meet objectives.
• Team Member Development/Coaching - Facilitating, supporting, and contributing to the professional growth of others.
• Equity, Diversity Inclusion and Accessibility – Being knowledgeable and sensitive to the issues and opportunities with EDIA in the organization.
How to Apply:
Send cover letter and resume to info@vaff.org
Subject Line - Applying for Festival Director
Deadline - June 30, 2024
Remuneration:
Annual salary of $50,000. Flexible hours Position – The Role of Festival Director for the Vancouver Asian Film Festival is a 12 month Contract Position with the flexible hours as required. Below are general hours needed over the calendar year (may be higher/lower based on program needs). Dec. 1 – March 31 – 15 - 20 hrs/week, April 1- Augist 31 – 25-35 hrs/week, September 1 – November 30 – 40-45hrs/week Remuneration: The position of Festival Director with VAFF offers a flat contract fee of $50,000 for the 12-month seasonal contract. This does not include GST and there will be regular monthly monitoring of the contract to continue based on review of performance and deliverables.
Contact Name: Barbara Lee
Contact Email: info@vaff.org
