What is the deadline for applications to volunteer for MIFF 2019?

I have submitted my volunteer application – what happens next?

When will I know if my application is successful?

How do I submit my availabilities for the festival period?

What type of jobs will I be doing as a volunteer?

What are the basic requirements to be a MIFF volunteer?

Am I qualified to be a MIFF volunteer?

How long is each volunteer shift?

What should I wear when I am volunteering?

Will I be able to watch films while I am volunteering?

Will MIFF reimburse my expenses?

What happens at the volunteer briefing? Do I really have to attend?

What are the benefits of being a MIFF volunteer?

What is the deadline for applications to volunteer for MIFF 2019?

All applications must be submitted by 11.59pm on Sunday 23 June 2019.

I have submitted my volunteer application. What happens next?

After submitting your online application form you will be re-directed to a message confirming that we have received your application.Receiving this message does not mean you have successfully been chosen as a MIFF volunteer; it simply confirms that your application has been received. If you have further enquiries about your application or wish to change any details in your application, please email volunteers(at)miff.com.au.

When will I know if my application is successful?

Applicants may be asked to attend a group interview in mid to late June with other prospective volunteers and the Volunteers Manager. Please make sure you have a valid email address and that you save @miff.com.au as a safe email address so our correspondence does not go into your junk folder. If you have not volunteered at MIFF before, you must be available to attend both a group interview AND the compulsory volunteer briefing to be accepted into the program.

Following these interviews, MIFF will be in contact to inform you if you have been successful with your application.

Please be aware that we receive a very large volume of applications each year – more than the positions we have to fill. If you are unsuccessful we encourage you to apply again in the future and thank you for your interest!

How do I submit my availabilities for the festival period?

You must be available for a minimum of 14 shifts across the festival period to be eligible to volunteer with MIFF.  In most cases, you will only be rostered for seven of these across the festival.

MIFF uses an online rostering system called Deputy, which makes rostering easy and user-friendly for everybody. If successful, you will be asked to submit you availabilities for the festival period at a later date. If at any point your availability changes and you are no longer able to commit to a minimum of seven shifts, you will be ineligible to volunteer with the festival.

If you are successful with your application, the Volunteers Manager will email the roster in early July. If you need to make any changes (due to work, study, travel commitments etc) you can request this from the Volunteers Manager after you receive your roster.

What type of jobs will I be doing as a volunteer?

The 350+ volunteers engaged for the festival each year work at the festival screening/event venues across Melbourne. Volunteers are generally engaged as ushers, ticket scanners, queue managers and information staff, as well as in other venue-support roles.

What are the basic requirements to be a MIFF volunteer?

As a volunteer you must be over 18 years of age. You will be required to work seven shifts across the 17-day festival; most shifts are approximately four to five hours so it is a total commitment of approximately 30 hours over the festival. A minimum availability of 14 shifts is required (even though you will only be rostered on for seven shifts). Applicants with good availability will be given preference.

You will also be required to attend the compulsory volunteer briefing day.

Am I qualified to be a MIFF volunteer?

Volunteering at MIFF requires:

• that you be at least 18 years of age
• energy and enthusiasm for MIFF and the MIFF program
• the ability to communicate with the general public in a friendly and professional manner
• an aptitude for working calmly and efficiently in very busy environments
• punctuality
• a willingness to follow directions and work as part of a team
• fluency in English
• a commitment to making the festival a fantastic experience for the public, guests and staff.
  
  

MIFF is committed to an inclusive volunteer team, and welcomes applications from everyone. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander, LGBTIQ and culturally diverse people as well as those living with a disability. If you have concerns about the specific tasks required as a volunteer, please feel free to contact volunteers(at)miff.com.au.

How long is each volunteer shift?

The average shift is approximately four (4) to five (5) hours.

What should I wear when I am volunteering?

You will receive a MIFF Volunteer t-shirt and Volunteer Pass to wear when you’re working. This is your uniform and it is mandatory to wear it at all times during your volunteer shifts. To avoid confusion, we ask that you wear this only while you’re on duty, not when you’re attending the festival as a patron.

Other than your volunteer t-shirt, you should present yourself in a neat and tidy manner, and wear comfortable, enclosed-toe shoes. You may be required to work outside at times too, so please bring something warm to wear underneath your t-shirt.

Will I be able to watch films while I am volunteering?

It will depend on the position you are delegated on your shift. If you are inside the cinema helping patrons find their seats you will be able to watch the film, but only after all latecomers have been admitted. It is extremely important that all audience members are helped to find seats in a safe and calm manner, and that ushers who stay inside the cinema during the film continue to keep an eye on the audience and notify Front of House staff of any incidents that arise inside the cinema while a film is screening.

You can ask your Venue Coordinator if you can be inside the cinema for a film you really want to see during your shift, but it's not guaranteed that this will be possible: your primary role on shift is to usher, not to view a film, so looking after MIFF patrons must be the priority.

Will MIFF reimburse my expenses?

MIFF does not provide volunteer meals. All volunteers must arrange their own meals.

Any costs associated with transport to and from MIFF shifts are the responsibility of the individual and will not be reimbursed.

What happens at the volunteer briefing? Do I really have to attend?

Unfortunately, if you cannot attend the volunteer briefing, it will not be possible for you to volunteer with MIFF. Vital information and training will happen on this day.

What are the benefits of being a MIFF volunteer?

Each volunteer will receive four single session Admit One passes on the briefing day, then at the end of each shift will receive a further single session Admit One pass.

Admit One passes are not linked to individual volunteers. This means that you can use multiple single session Admit Ones to attend films with friends or family, rather than being limited to attending films by yourself or with a paying friend. This also means that if you work more than the required seven shifts, you receive more Admit One passes and have the opportunity to see more films.

If you work more than 10 shifts, you will also be offered a MIFF Membership for the coming year.

By being involved with the festival you will also have the chance to meet lots of new people, make new friends and learn new skills in a creative, fun environment.

If you are interested in working in the film industry, it’s also a fantastic way to be a part of a world-renowned festival, and a great way to get a foot in the door; many people who previously or currently work with MIFF started as volunteers.