Get Involved
Find out how you can get involved with Sunrise Film Festival from joining our team as an officer, being part of our online Screening Committee or by becoming a festival steward.
Festival Departments
Communications & Design Team (2 Officers)
Our Communications and design team will help spread the word about Sunrise Film Festival (SFF) across all media forms, from our social media, website, newsletters, and festival marketing material.
You will shape the unique look of SFF 2024 guided by our brand guidelines, this team of officers will also have the responsibility of designing the festival programme (with the support of Sunrise Studios), posters, flyers, merchandise, and online branding; along with shaping a year-long marketing strategy and putting out content before and after the annual festival.
The roles for this team make for excellent career experience in the creative industries for someone who is looking to use their design and communication skills to support a growing film festival and have their work printed, displayed, and seen by thousands of people online and in-person.
Roles within this team would also be well suited for people keen to develop their PR and marketing skills.
Awards & Submissions Team (3 Officers)
Our Awards and submissions team offers are integral to the success of the smooth running of managing competition entries coming in, assigning films to our screening committee, festival producers/programmers and to our Judges/Jury.
These positions are perfect for someone passionate about supporting independent film, young and deviated filmmakers that are committed to making it more than a hobby, as well as playing a role in helping to make the film industry more accessible.
This team is responsible for managing film submissions that come in from the UK and internationally, organising films to be viewed by our screening committee, programming team/festival producers and then onto our professional Judges/Juries, corresponding with nominated filmmakers and where possible communicating with expected attendees.
These officers will also have the responsibility of organising potential prizes for the winners’ and planning the presentation and setup for the Sunrise Film Festival Awards Ceremony.
These are particularly rewarding roles due to the ongoing personal communication officers will have throughout the yearn with submitters and filmmakers.
Friendships are sure to be built which will last long after the festival is over.
Partnerships & Alumni Team (2 Officers)
Our partnerships and Alumni team are both ideal roles for people who with an entrepreneurial, persuasive impact as well those who are keen to continue our relationships with festival Amuni.
In-kind as well as cash sponsorships are the lifeblood of the festival and we’re looking for those who are excited about building relationships with our existing and new partners. This alone can give you Ideal experience if you’re hoping to build funding for your own projects in the future (e.g., start-ups, films or another venture), or for people keen to get experience for careers that involve persuasive skill, building strong professional relationships and deal-making.
The partnerships side of this team, role involves dealing with in-kind sponsorship (e.g. red carpet, decorations sponsor, flowers sponsor) and supporting the team of Festival Producers with the financial sponsorship and the Awards/Submissions team with prize sponsorship.
The festival as an ever-expanding bank of filmmakers and previous judges/jury members who have gone on to do amazing things since participating or supporting Sunrise Film Festival. From long-listing at the BIFAs to becoming BAFTA fellows and beyond. This role includes keeping in touch with festival Alumni, organising potential alumni events, and interviewing them for our festival blog (working alongside the communications & design team) and generally maintaining the Sunrise Film Festival Alumni community.
Programming Team (2 Officers)
Our programming team officers are ideal roles for someone looking to engage and gain experience within the experience industry. From shaping our festival schedule/screenings (while staying in keeping with our key themes) with our festival producers, planning Q&As and other enhanced screenings, booking speakers and potential workshops.
Programming team officers will be encouraged to keep up to date with the latest industry developments and build their professional network, with the extra perk of getting to meet and correspond with filmmakers, speakers and have the chance to attend Film Hub events year round.
The programming team will work to help shape the creative vision of our festival (fitting with our key themes); brainstorming, planning and running events, along with learning how best to promote Sunrise Film Festival in letters to speakers, and to the likes of finding fitting suitable music and entertainment which fits our festival atmosphere.
Applications to become one of our officers and join one of our selected team/s for the 2024 Sunrise Film Festival are now open and close on 20 February 2024 at 11:00pm, anyone from across the UK can apply to join our festival team.
Applications received from individuals based in the East of England (inc. Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire & Essex) will be prioritised.
You must be aged at least 16 years old to apply.
As an officer of one of our departments you’ll also get invited to our festival receive free entry.
Online Screening Committee
Committee Members
Volunteers part of our online screening committee receive 10-15 films to watch, and personally critique via a scoring system and give written feedback on each film.
They are vital to helping us fairly create our submissions long-list which ultimately will shape our final programme + you’ll get invited to our festival!
Applications extended until 22 March.
Festival Review
"It felt very supportive and celebratory, it felt very welcoming and inclusive, the festival programmers passion and enthusiasm for their town, film both locally and beyond was really evident."
Volunteer Stewards
At Sunrise Film Festival we recruit an enthusiastic team of volunteers to help with the running duties associated with the Festival.
It is fair to say we would be lost without the support of volunteers and we would love to welcome you to become part of the team for the 2024 festival.
Roles Available:
Ushering/front of house stewards | Box office/Merchandise sellers | Street/public reps | Supporting Tech crew | Photography/Videography crew.
Volunteering roles really do vary but are all equally great fun and are a wonderful way to meet like-minded individuals + possible new friends. You’ll develop new skills and gain experience within the exhibition/film industry.
- Network with students, filmmakers and some of the more accomplished filmmakers, writers and producers in the industry (conversations about uni, filmmaking, your niche etc).
- Improve your understanding of event organising, sound/tech for events, customer service, videography/photography, and crowd control (part of the Whatsapp group).
- You’ll be able to understand a lot more about what the small voluntary team do and have a big hand in decisions, creative direction and ideas.
- We have a variety of levels of commitment as a volunteer depending on what you can and can’t do.
- Unlock all the festival features that the public will have, as well as guest list passes to the award ceremony & after-party.
- You’ll also be offered a reference from us & potential future job opportunities.
Ranging from ushering/front of house stewards, box office & merchandise sellers, to handing out flyers in the street and informing the public.
Volunteering roles really do vary but these will be great fun and are a wonderful way to meet like minded individuals + possible new friends.
- Volunteers must be aged 16 or older.
- You also preferably need to be local to the event as we cannot provide accommodation or travel.
- Enthusiastic and eager to be part of our ever growing Film Festival in the UK.
We will provide a short training session and getting to know you session before the Festival, so it is useful if you can be available for these as well.
If you have any questions or are interested in being contacted about our volunteering opportunities please email info@sunrisefilmfestival.co.uk.
Submit A Film
Why not find out more information on our competition categories for our BIFA qualifying film festival by clicking the button below.
Corporate Sponsorship
Sunrise Film Festival is coming back in Summer 2024.
We work tirelessly to make film accessible and proudly showcase independent films to new audiences across overlooked communities.
Find out how you can partner with Sunrise Film Festival.