5 Inclusive Film Festivals to Volunteer for the Second Half of 2019
Deadlines for most summer film festivals have passed. It’s usually a shared ambition of indie filmmakers to screen their movies at “little Tinseltown” in hopes of catching the eye of a major distributor. However, sometimes final edits go unfinished, and screenplays are unrevised.
Film festivals, however, are not just for patrons and participants. Volunteering behind the scenes can bring aspiring auteurs front and center with the action and face-to-face with fellow film enthusiasts and industry professionals. Film festivals are a positive communal experience for networking. You never know who may be in the theater on those days.
Prep your portfolios, give your social media profiles a quick look over and keep reading for inclusive film festivals to volunteer for at the end of this year.
Blackstar Film Festival
(August 1–4, 2019)
At the top of the list is the Blackstar Film Festival which kicks off the end of the summer in August.
With the punny tagline, “By indie means necessary,” the Blackstar film festival means business when it comes to celebrating independent films by black and brown visual storytellers across the globe.
In the heart of Philly, volunteers can join in the celebration of the eighth annual festival. In previous years, Blackstar hosted notable film figures such as Spike Lee, Michael K. Williams (When They See Us), and newcomer director, Stefon Bristol (See You Yesterday).
Hip Hop Film Festival
(August 1–4, 2019)
Hip Hop Film Festival pioneer, C R Capers, gave an in-depth peek into what makes this festival (in its upcoming fourth-year) so inspiring and unique. HHFF is one of the few festivals known for supporting filmmakers featured in the festival either financially or through mentorship.
C R hosts #BossChicks Bootcamp, an intensive two-day workgroup for women entrepreneurs. In addition to the boot camp, Act Up! Screenwriter’s Showcase and Master Cyphers are just some of HHFF’s siblings designed to help creatives secure the bag.
What better festival to support than one that was founded by a social justice warrior willing to stand in the gap for storytellers like yourself?
BronzeLens Film Festival
(August 21–25, 2019)
Atlanta is the new Hollywood (or so they say) — a mecca for Black art making it the place to be to showcase Black films. Enter: BronzeLens Film Festival.
Launched in 2009, BLFF has honored exceptional talents from in front of the camera to behind it such as Queen Latifah and Will Packer. This Academy Award qualifying festival (in the shorts category) is a force on its own to reckon.
The BronzeLens Film Festival has done wonders for the Black film community, especially in Atlanta, from networking opportunities to enriching Master Classes.
Cinephiles considering to submit entries or apply for press passes for future programs should look no further than BronzeLens and see the process behind the red curtain as a volunteer.
Black Film Festival
(September 26–29, 2019)
Kicking off festivals at the beginning of the fall season is the Black Film Festival Atlanta!
Being the Black Tinseltown of the South, Atlanta can never have too many festivals for Black and brown moviegoers. The Black Film Festival can also never have too many volunteers for the festival’s premier running year.
Submissions are open for film entries until July 31, 2019.
Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series
(October 19–20, 2019)
The Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival and Lecture Series dedicates to the service of representing women and gender non-conforming filmmakers of color since 1997.
Submissions closed on June 14, but the Reel Sisters are still seeking support for the festival from greeters to production assistants, ushers to social media mavens, and more.
This Academy-qualifying film festival hosts 25 films each year. Volunteering for the Reel Sisters Film Festival is a prime opportunity for those passionate about filmmaking to build connections with emerging talent and potential investors.
