Thank you for your interest in volunteering with SIFF! Our volunteers predominately support our year round cinemas and during the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF). As a volunteer, you will support SIFF's Mission, engage with fellow film-lovers and, of course, earn access to great films! Whether you're new to SIFF or a seasoned attendee, anyone over the age of 16 years old is welcome to register to volunteer.

After the temporary closure of SIFF Cinema Egyptian, we have less year round venue crew shifts available due to operating one less venue. Keep checking back in with us for any open shifts. Our Festival Volunteer Manager joins SIFF from February-June and will send out more information on how this will affect shifts during the festival. We look forward to seeing you in the cinemas!

On this page:
How to Volunteer
Festival Volunteer Opportunities
Year-Round Volunteer Opportunities
SIFF’s eLearning Library
Volunteer Appreciation

HOW TO VOLUNTEER

Download the 2025 Volunteer Festival Guide

Volunteering with SIFF is as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Complete the brief Volunteer Orientation e-learning course via Thinkific that will provide you with essential knowledge to be successful as a SIFF volunteer.
2. Register for an account on our volunteer management site, Shiftboard. You can join specific teams, which will allow you to browse and claim available volunteer opportunities and get the latest volunteer news and updates, right to your inbox. Note that some teams are only active around May’s festival, and some teams are by application only, and individuals will be considered by SIFF staff. You must email the volunteer department and request to join the Events team and House Coordinator teams as they require special considerations. Roles for the Front Desk team are opened occasionally during the year and also require staff consideration. If you have volunteered with SIFF in the past, and already have a SIFF Shiftboard account, you do not need to re-register, but please take a moment to review and update your contact information.

EMPLOYER MATCHING GIFTS

Did you know some employers make charitable contributions to organizations you volunteer at? Use the search bar below to see if your employer will match your volunteer support.

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FESTIVAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Currently, we invite you to join our year-round volunteer opportunities at SIFF Theaters in Seattle.

In Spring 2025, You can support the 2025 Film Festival with opportunities to help within marketing, events, guest relations, or theater operations. We will have an annual volunteer meeting April 13th at SIFF Downtown to introduce roles, SIFF staff, and all the wonderful things ahead. You can read more about Festival specific roles below.

SIFF Festival Roles

SIFF offers festival volunteer roles in a variety of areas. 

Volunteers can complete a minimum of 1 shift to earn tickets, swag, and other perks. 

Theater Operations

Venue Crew: You are the face of the festival and create a welcoming experience for guests in theaters. Roles include ushering, ticket scanning, line management, theater turnover and tidying, and assisting with digital ballots.

House Coordinator: This is an exciting leadership role available during the Festival, and we ask you to complete a minimum of 20 hours to best support theater operations. The role is perfect for alumni volunteers who want an advanced role, and for individuals who have interest and background in leading teams, customer service, and/or working at a fast paced cultural venue. We also invite individuals with an interest in venue and event management for House Coordinator roles. You help are oversee the venue crew volunteers at theaters, and support the House Manager to prepare for screening load-in and load-outs. House Coordinators are also rewarded with additional benefits upon completion of 20 hours of service during the Festival. Individuals interested in this role require special consideration by SIFF Staff.

Ballot Counters: This group of volunteers is detail oriented and an important part of making sure our audience has its voice heard. Duties include organizing and inventorying ballots, tallying up votes, and inputting write-in voting results. You may be asked to aid with other administrative tasks to support the Festival. 

Universal: This dynamic group of volunteers is willing to try new things! They support different festival teams and help where needed. Besides supporting one-off shifts on any of the listed teams, it also includes pre-festival and during festival shifts with various admin tasks, SIFF Film Center front desk support, and helping with volunteer check-in tasks ahead of the festival. 

Events Team

Special Events: This is a small and mighty group of volunteers who support galas, parties and other events surrounding the festival. This team provides front-of-house service for events, including set-up and teardown, guest check-in, bartending, and serving/bussing. Members of this team are required to have an active MAST alcohol handler card for Washington state. Individuals interested in this role require special consideration by SIFF Staff.

Customer Relations

Drivers: This special crew helps transport special guests around Seattle, often travelling to/from the SeaTac airport and downtown Festival locations. You are required to have a valid driver's license, and may be asked to use your vehicle. This is great for people who are patient, punctual, have professional discretion, and enjoy driving around greater Seattle.

Guest Relations: Provides language interpretion, concierge, and information services for our filmmakers, press, and other guests. You provide excellent, hospitable service to all festival guests. 

Street Team: Handles promotions and outreach before the festival. This essential team spreads the word and distributes materials to increase visibility for the festival, and connect with film lovers and future volunteers.

YEAR-ROUND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

• CINEMA USHERS
  • These volunteers support theater operations staff at our three SIFF Cinemas by greeting patrons, scanning tickets and more.
• SPECIAL EVENTS
  • Support SIFF during various events with setup, food & beverage service, and check-in.
• MARKETING & PROMOTIONS
  • Volunteers provide photo and videography services, and spread the word about SIFF happenings by distributing flyers and posters at businesses and community events.
• FRONT DESK / ADMIN
  • Volunteers provide customer service at the front desk of the SIFF Film Center. This role includes giving guests information, and supporting SIFF’s office manager with admin tasks. Individuals interested in this role require special consideration by SIFF staff, with intakes as needed during the year.

SIFF'S E-LEARNING LIBRARY

Volunteers can access how-to guides, review policies, and complete prerequisite training virtually by accessing SIFF's eLearning Library!

VOLUNTEER BENEFITS

SIFF provides a variety of wonderful perks to volunteers. The more service hours you collect, the more benefits you can earn.

On Shift Perks at Theaters

During your volunteer shift at a theater, you are eligible to enjoy complimentary fountain drinks, coffee, and popcorn. 

APPRECIATION EVENTS

SIFF Volunteers receive exclusive invitations to special film screenings and events throughout the year!

VOUCHERS

SIFF volunteers receive vouchers that are redeemable during the Seattle International Film Festival, for SIFF Cinema, or SIFF membership. 

For every two hours of service, volunteers receive one voucher for a film screening. One voucher can be redeemed for one regularly priced ticket. Vouchers are transferable to friends or family, but the sale of vouchers is strictly prohibited. Some programs and films prohibit the use of vouchers; please check listings. For full volunteer benefit information, please see the Volunteer Guide (PDF).

VOUCHERS TO SIFF MEMBERSHIP

In addition to redeeming vouchers for tickets, volunteers may redeem six volunteer vouchers for a SIFF Membership. A SIFF Membership grants you discounts on tickets and passes, reciprocal benefits at several local organizations, and invitations to member-only events and screenings. You can fill out the Vouchers for Membership Form, and learn more about the benefits of a SIFF membership on our Membership page.

VOUCHERS FOR CINEMA PASS OR FESTIVAL PASS REDEMPTION

Whether you volunteer year round, or during the Festival, SIFF volunteers can redeem unexpired vouchers for Festival Film Passes, or Annual Cinema Passes.

30 year round volunteer vouchers can be redeemed for a Festival pass, which is done at the SIFF Film Center. 

20 Festival volunteer vouchers can be redeemed for an Annual Cinema pass, which is done at the SIFF Film Center.

FESTIVAL HOURS FOR SIFF SWAG

During the festival, and on top of vouchers, we additionally reward your completed hours of service with swag created for volunteers only. We reward the volunteer with the most hours completed during the festival is rewarded with a special prize.