The BOSTON ASIAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL (BAAFF) is a volunteer-run program that depends on its dedicated committee members. Staff helps planand support the annual festival, projecting connections, shared stories, and other year-roundactivities. Get involved—Join the BAAFF family and have some fun.
MISSION
Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF) empowers Asian Americans through film by showcasing Asian American experiences and serving as a resource to filmmakers and the Greater Boston Community. BAAFF is a co-production of the Asian American Resource Workshop and ArtsEmerson.
Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF) is the largest Asian American film festival in New England. Our interest resides in the passion to bring Asian American films to the public and to educate them on the experiences that Asian Americans face in society. There are many issues in our society that are not being recognized such as gentrification and discrimination; and we are here to help raise awareness to these concerns.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email [email protected] .
COMMITTEE MEMBER
● Attend monthly meetings to keep up-to-date
● Flexibility to contribute 10+ hours a month, more as the festival approaches (may vary for every position)
● Volunteer at at least one community event throughout the year
● Join and participate in BAAFF Staff’s Facebook private group
● If volunteering during the festival, you must attend the volunteer orientation
BENEFITS
● Priority in volunteer shifts
● Opportunity to meet film industry professionals and fellow film enthusiasts
● Official Festival Shirt
● Invitation to the Volunteer Appreciation Celebration
● Invitation to special events
● Food at in-person meetings
Each of these roles require interest in film and Asian American culture/media, ability to meet or beat deadlines; accessible and quick to respond experience or interest in community development/outreach; report event details to admins and other teams; and ability to spend 5-10 hours a week in these roles.
Development Staff Positions
Director of Development
The Director of Development oversees the team, leads team meetings, create schedules/deadlines for development projects and responsible for development staffs to stay on schedule to meet deadlines. Maintains communication with administrators, other team directors, and team members. Set up ticketing engine and prepare to sell tickets.
Sponsorship Manager
Maintain communication with sponsors and seek new sponsors. Seek advertising opportunities. Ask local restaurants, companies, organizations, if they want to buy an ad in our program book.
Sponsorship Staff
Assist the Sponsorship Manager. Assist in seeking new sponsors. Seek advertising opportunities. Ask local restaurants, companies, organizations, if they want to buy an ad in our program book.
Community Outreach Manager
Reach out to communities to seek interest in partnering with BAAFF, certain film or festival as a whole. Maintain relationships and let organizations know of upcoming events and opportunities. Provide any promotional materials for them.
Community Outreach Staff
Assist the Community Outreach Manager. Reach out to communities to seek interest in partnering with BAAFF, certain film or festival as a whole. Maintain relationships and let organizations know of upcoming events and opportunities. Provide any promotional materials for them.
Student Outreach Manager
Reach out to local schools/school clubs to promote to their students. Maintain school relationships and provide any promotional materials for them.
Student Outreach Staff
Assist the Student Outreach Manager. Reach out to local schools/school clubs to promote to their students. Maintain school relationships and provide any promotional materials for them.
Volunteer Coordinator
Organize volunteer list as new volunteers sign up. Assign volunteers to requested groups. Train volunteers and provide them anything they need to prepare. Coordinate festival volunteer orientation for one-time festival volunteers and staffs prior to the festival.
Each of these roles require interest in film and Asian American culture/media; ability to meet or beat deadlines; accessible and quick to respond; experience or interest marketing; report event details to admins and other teams; and ability to spend 5-10 hours a week in these roles.
Marketing Staff Positions
Director of Marketing
The Director of Marketing oversees the team, leads team meetings, and manages the deadlines of marketing materials, such as printing materials, press releases, social media, and website updates. Develop a marketing strategy plan that works for the film festival. Responsible in ordering and distributing marketing materials and maintain Marketing’s budget/reimbursements. Maintains communication with administrators, other team directors, and members.
Graphic Designer
Set and maintain brand identity, set the theme and create printing/marketing materials (Save the Date Cards, 5x8 Postcards, 11x17 Posters, 8x11 Flyers, Program book, T-shirts, Pens, backdrop, Signs, etc.).
Press/Public Relations Manager
Create press releases for various BAAFF activities and send to different media outlets (Local newspapers, Websites, Radios, Sponsors, etc.) In charge of creating Bi-weekly newsletters to send to BAAFF subscribers to keep them up to date with AARW and/or BAAFF upcoming events/activities.
Press/Public Relations Staff
Assist the Press/Public Relations Manager. Create press releases for various BAAFF activities and send to different media outlets (Local newspapers, Websites, Radios, Sponsors, etc.) In charge of creating Bi-weekly newsletters to send to BAAFF subscribers to keep them up to date with AARW and/or BAAFF upcoming events/activities.
Digital Media Manager (Website / Social Media)
Update and maintain the BAAFF website, maintain social media engagement (Facebook, Twitter) Schedule frequent updates via Hootsuite. Research films for tweets and posts for Facebook.
Digital Media Staff (Website / Social Media)
Assist the Digital Media Manager. Update and maintain the BAAFF website, maintain social media engagement (Facebook, Twitter) Schedule frequent updates via Hootsuite. Research films for tweets and articles for Facebook.
Website Manager
Update and maintain website throughout the year with new and updated content. Coordinate with social media manager for consistency.
Talent Relations Manager
Talent relations Manager’s responsibilities include scheduling talent relations staffs, with booking flights and lodging, scheduling rides, creating talent itineraries and goodie bags, and escorting the talent during the festival. This process begins after the film selection has ended.
Talent Relations Staff
Assist Talent Relations Manager with booking flights and lodging, scheduling rides, creating talent itineraries and goodie bags, and escorting the talent during the festival (chauffer). This process begins after the film selection has ended.
Special Events Manager
Research venues, vendors, and incorporating sponsors for various special events. The special events include a launch party, reception after-party, closing party, volunteer party, and various meals for the talent and sponsors.
Special Events Staff
Assist Special Events Manager. Research venue, vendors, and sponsors for various special events. The special events include a launch party, reception after-party, closing party, volunteer party, and various meals for the talent and sponsors.
Each of these roles require interest in film and Asian American culture/media, ability to meet or beat deadlines; accessible and quick to respond experience or interest in film/production; report event details to admins and other teams; and ability to spend 5-10 hours a week in these roles.
Production Staff Positions
Director of Production
The Director of Production oversees the team, leads team meetings, create schedules/deadlines for production projects and responsible for production staffs to stay on schedule to meet deadlines. Facilitate the scheduling of certain phases of production for videos (preproduction, production, postproduction). Maintains communication with administrators, other team directors, and team members. Create schedule of video content for throughout the year.
The Director of Production will also act as the Director of Photography --- will film any video content needed for BAAFF. Make sure scenes are framed correctly, well-composed, and well-lighted. Provide footage to editor for post-production.
Production Host
The Host will be the face of BAAFF videos. The Host will be introducing show and guests, and conducting interviews with filmmakers. Must be able to conduct interviews. Very professional.
Production Assistant (PA)
The Production Assistant will assist in any video production during shoots, upload videos onto YouTube channel per schedule, maintain/set up trailers, maintain engagement with YouTube. Production assistant will work with Digital Media Manager (Website/Social Media) to promote anything that is uploaded.
Post-Production Editor
Responsible for Video post-production, editing, provide any motion graphics, if possible.
A/V
A/V is in responsible of encoding and compiling files for short programs onto media player. He/She will be the keeper of individual short program DVDs for backup. Must be available during short program screenings to run/troubleshoot media player
Photographer
The photographer will take photos during the festival (Audiences, Q&A discussions, Special Guests, Special Events) and any behind-the-scenes activities. Engage festival attendees to take pictures for our website/Facebook exposure. Photographer will work with Digital Media Manager (Website/Social Media) to get anything uploaded to website and/or social media.
Videographer
The videographer will assist the Director of Production with video content needed for BAAFF, such as trailer, opener reel, sponsor commercials, filmmaker Q&A, filmmaker interviews, and additional festival content.
Each of these roles require interest in film and Asian American culture/media, ability to meet or beat deadlines; accessible and quick to respond experience or interest in talent/special events; report event details to admins and other teams; and ability to spend 7-15 hours a week in these roles.
Programming Staff Positions
Director of Programming
The Director of Programming oversees the team, leads team meetings, create schedules/deadlines for programming projects and responsible for programming staffs to stay on schedule to meet deadlines. Maintains communication with administrators, other team directors, and team members.
Assistant Director of Programming
Assist the Director of Programming with overseeing the team, leading team meetings, and creating schedules/deadlines for programming projects. Maintains communication with administrators, other team directors, and team members.
Screening Committee Manager
The Screening Committee Manager oversees the screening committee, leads team meetings/discussions, and holds screening committee staff accountable to stay on schedule. Ensure staffs follow directions on screening and reviewing films.
Screening Committee Staff
The Screening Committee Staff screens and reviews about 10-15 films (most are short films) and grades each film. After screening all of the films, the programming team works together to select and organize the films to be in the festival. This process occurs between May and the first week of August. Watch, understand, and review film submissions from open call. Comment and grade films using Google Forms. Meet all deadlines to submit film reviews.
The Boston Asian American Film Festival’s screening committee is made up of volunteers whose role is to watch and review submissions, providing notes and recommendations for programmers to review when they evaluate submissions. While screeners may not make direct final decisions regarding programming, your feedback on the films is invaluable to the programming team and plays a crucial role in our decision-making for the final festival lineup.
Requirements to join the committee is listed below:
– You have a computer to watch the films on (watching films can be done at your own pace during the week)
– A minimum commitment of 3 hours per week to screening films
-Availability to attend weekly meetings over Zoom to discuss films.
-You need to be responsible with the film submissions and respectful of filmmakers’ privacy; screeners will neither discuss entries nor share with those outside of the screening committee the films and/or any information about the films.
If you’re interested in becoming a part of the programming team and helping us identify strong candidates for the main festival program, please fill out the form below. We welcome anyone to apply, no film degree required!
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