The Portland International Film Festival depends on the contribution of its volunteers to produce a world-class festival. As a not-for-profit organization, we know that we couldn't hold the Festival without you and are grateful for your generosity and time. Thank you in advance for being part of the volunteer team and helping to make this one of the very best annual events in Portland. For more information, call the Northwest Film Center at 503-221-1156.

VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM | CLICK HERE <

VOLUNTEERS ORIENTATION AND SIGN UP MEETING:
1/27/2005 6PM Wells Fargo Impromptu Ballroom
(off the courtyard of the Portland Art Museum at 1219 SW Park Avenue)

Attendance & Shifts
We depend on your commitment to work the shifts that have been scheduled for you. Standard weekend shifts are from 12:00PM to 5:00PM and 5:00PM to 10:00PM. Standard weekday shifts are 5:00PM to 10:00PM. Shift times for some areas may vary. If you have an emergency or need to reschedule your shift, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator.

Arrival
Plan on arriving at the Volunteer Check-in area, located in the participating theatres, about 10 minutes before your shift is scheduled to begin. There you will receive a name badge that you will wear throughout your shift.

Volunteer Information Sessions
Volunteer Information Sessions will be held on Thursday, January 27th, 6PM. The session will give you a chance to meet the organizers, provide you with the details and logistics of the film festival, and give you more specific information about each area needing volunteers. If you are a first time volunteer you must attend this information session. The volunteer orientation will take place at the Guild Theatre located at SW 9th and Taylor in downtown Portland.

Perks
Volunteering for PIFF will give you the opportunity to meet and talk with people involved in the film industry and to be a part of a fun and rewarding environment. Volunteers will receive one standby ticket for every 4 hours worked. The ticket can then be redeemed for a film at the Portland International Film Festival. The tickets are on a "space available" basis. Also, you will be invited to a Volunteer Appreciation Party in early March. Date, location and time to be announced.

Potential volunteers must agree to the following:
- Volunteers are responsible to their own transportation;
- Volunteers must be available to attend pre-festival training;
- Volunteers understand they are freely donating their time and skills to PIFF;
- Volunteers understand that they are not employees of the Northwest Film Center. They are not covered by any type of insurance including but not limited to: personal liability, health or life insurance, worker's compensation, or unemployment compensation.
Volunteer positions will be filled on a first-come first-serve basis.

Clicker at theater entrance
You will be stationed at the entrance to the theater and should not permit entry until the manager tells you. You will have a numerical hand clicker and will count ALL patrons coming into the film, including pass and ticket holders. Be as careful as you cannot to double count people or count staff. The Theater Manager will use this clicker number to help determine how many tickets can be sold to fill the auditorium. It is important you stay at your post until the manager releases you.

Ticket Taker at theater entrance
You will be stationed at the entrance to the theater and should not permit entry until the manager tells you. Prior to starting, examine the samples of passes and make yourself generally familiar with them. You will be stationed next to a volunteer who is tallying the type of passes. When the manager tells you to begin, check the patrons' pass and tell the tally taker how many and what type of pass to tally. Work together. Single admit passes should be collected in one piece. Remember, Silver Screen Club members are allowed up to TWO people including themselves per each card. After the pass holders enter, you will rip tickets.

Tally Person at theater entrance.
You will be stationed at the entrance to the theater and should not permit entry until the manager tells you. Prior to starting, examine the samples of passes on your clipboard and make yourself generally familiar with the various types of passes. Fill out the tally sheet with the appropriate information (date, film title, show time, etc.). You will be stationed next to a volunteer who is examining passes and telling you how many and what type of passes to tally on your sheet. When the manager tells you to begin, you will make a hash mark on the sheet under the appropriate column for each patron as the ticket taker examines their pass and tells you what to write. Work together. After the pass holders enter, the ticket taker will rip tickets and you will continue to tally the arriving pass holders.

Ballots and Program Notes
Stand inside the entrance to the auditorium and pass out ballots (and program notes if necessary) to each patron entering. At about five minutes before show time, if the show is busy, help patrons find seats in the auditorium. The manager will help with this process.

Extra volunteers
Double up on line control
Double up on ballots/program notes
Assist manager in finding empty seats in auditorium

Office Volunteers
Need to be available also in the weeks before the Festival to help with advance tickets sales - Advance ticket sales start Feb. 3rd at the PIFF Headquarters, located at 901 SW Taylor. All office volunteers will report to this location. Shifts will be of two hours each, starting from 10am and ending at 7pm. Office volunteers will be asked to assist the operations coordinator, run errands, take ticket phone orders, and help with set-up and maintenance.