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Northwest Film Forum is now hiring a full-time Education Director!

Mission
Northwest Film Forum incites public dialogue and creative action through collective cinematic experiences.

About Northwest Film Forum
A nonprofit film and arts center located in Seattle, Northwest Film Forum presents hundreds of films, festivals, community events, multidisciplinary performances, and public discussions each year. A comprehensive visual media organization, the Forum offers educational workshops and artist services for film and media makers at all stages of their development. Artist services include access to space, gear, fiscal sponsorship, and an edit lab. Northwest Film Forum is a member-based organization. Our slogan is: MAKE FILMS / MAKE FRIENDS / MAKE CHANGE!

Northwest Film Forum (NWFF) is seeking a visionary and experienced Education Director to set the vision for the organization’s education programming for youth and adults. Reporting to the Executive Director and working closely with all aspects of the Film Forum team, specifically the Youth Education Manager. The Education Director will oversee the education department, including the development of innovative, year-round, curated and guest curated educational offerings, workshops, apprenticeships, special events, and festival offerings. They will oversee the development of resources and support services for education, drive participation, expand partnerships, grow mentorship programs, and further build NWFF’s reputation as a regional film hub for filmmakers. This strategically-minded, engaged, and detail-oriented candidate should be passionate about NWFF’s mission, vision, and current organizational trajectory.

Northwest Film Forum believes in coalition-building and horizontal models of collaboration and leadership. The candidate for this position will be self-motivated and able to work in close collaboration with a larger team. All Film Forum staff wear many hats and are comfortable working in a passionate, shared environment of collaborative decision-making and visioning.

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Key Responsibilities

Northwest Film Forum believes in coalition-building and horizontal models of collaboration and leadership. The candidate for this position will be self-motivated and able to work independently as well as work in close collaboration with a larger team. All Film Forum staff wear many hats and are comfortable working in a passionate, shared environment of collaborative decision-making and visioning.

Please note that all roles and responsibilities will be executed alongside other members of the NWFF team, where appropriate.

Primary areas the candidate will be supporting and/or overseeing include:

 

• Filmmaking Fundamentals is a nine-week collaborative, cohort-based learning experience focused on scripted narrative projects.
• RG Pro Production Intensive Workshop Series is a seven-week intensive workshop series that allows participants to dive deep into intro level concepts of fundamental topics of filmmaking and video production.
• RG Pro Apprenticeship Program is a mentorship opportunity for individuals who complete the workshop series and who qualify for the program. Apprentices work on client projects alongside a mentor in their department, and deliver content to external clients.
• ACTION! Narrative Apprenticeship Program is an apprentice-style mentorship program that allows nine apprentices to work collaboratively on a new narrative short film.
• Festivals, Workshops, and Community Engagement – There are many opportunities for individual workshops and educational opportunities at film festivals and other external community events and venues.
• Youth Summer Camps – In collaboration with the Youth Education Manager, develop, promote, and oversee summer camps for youth.
• Grant Writing & Sponsorships – In collaboration with the Executive Director and Managing Director, seeking new sources of funding for the education department and programs.
• Admin & Project Management – Seeking, onboarding, and managing new instructors, mentors, and assistants for workshops, mentorship programs, and summer camps.
• Edit Lab and Gear Rental – Management of contractors, assistants, interns, and volunteers who will help with artist services and spaces.
• Data Management – Oversight and maintenance of student and instructor rosters and data within organizational CRM system.

 

PRODUCTION & MENTORSHIPS

• • ACTION! Narrative Apprentice Program: Manage all elements and resources for all departments related to the production.
    • Recruit, hire and manage all apprentices and mentors.
    • Provide project management and track all expenses as related to the production
  • Filmmaking Fundamentals
    • Recruit, hire and manage all instructors and activities including filming days.
    • Adapt and refine curriculum in collaboration with instructors.
  • Remove the Gap Productions (RG Pro): Support NWFF’s in-house film production company which removes gaps in race, gender, and sexual orientation within the film industry through job training and work opportunities.
    • Work closely with RG Pro Lead Producer to manage and onboard apprentices and mentors, as well as create community among mentees.
    • Raise awareness of the program within the community, especially among diverse constituencies.

• RG Pro Production Intensives Workshop Series: Manage a foundational suite of workshops which serves as a prerequisite for young people 17-28 entering the RG Pro program.
• • Hire and manage instructors, mentors, and assistant facilitators.
  • Adapt and refine curriculum in collaboration with instructors and industry trends.
  • Maintain communication with and community between successive student cohorts through regular check in events.
• Mentorship Programs: Continue to develop workforce pipeline through RG Pro as well as grow other mentorship opportunities, in narrative and documentary formats.
• Gabriel Miller Gear Grant: Develop free gear rental program for underserved communities.

 

WORKSHOPS & VISITING ARTISTS

• • Year-Round Programming:
    • Envision, develop, and produce a variety of film and media workshops that serve a range of demographics, professional levels, cultural identities, and creative approaches, with a focus on equity.
    • Schedule year-round education timeline for youth summer camps and adult programming on a quarterly basis.
    • Focus and grow our tentpole workshop series for adults, including Filmmaking Fundamentals, RG Pro, ACTION! Narrative Apprentice Program, and year-round workshops.
• Film Festival Programming:
• • Work with Film Forum team to curate educational offerings during NWFF-run film festivals, including:
    • Children’s Film Festival Seattle – Our largest festival of the year, for youth and adults
    • ByDesign Festival – Interdisciplinary design and architecture festival
    • Cadence Video Poetry Festival – The only one of its kind in the region
    • Local Sightings Film Festival – Pacific Northwest film and media festival; our second largest festival of the year
• Visiting Artists: Help curate special events and educational opportunities with visiting artists and filmmakers, as well as arrange travel, accommodations, and stipends as necessary, year-round and during festivals.
• Grant Writing & Sponsorships: Seeking new sources of funding  for the education department and programs.
• Management: Hire, onboard, orient, and set expectations for workshop instructors, as well as support in curriculum development.

 

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

• Cultural Sensitivity: Prioritize stories and creators that are told from authentic points of view while researching, to the best of their knowledge, that programmed films do not cause harm to BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disability, low-income, and/or other historically underserved or under resourced communities.
• Inclusive Programming: Ensure NWFF’s education programs and workshops include a wide range of perspectives, stories, creators, and educators, so that diverse students can see themselves reflected on-screen and throughout their workshops.

 

OUTREACH & MARKETING 

• Community-Building: Establish and maintain relationships with peer organizations, community partners, including local filmmakers, nonprofit groups, educational institutions, government agencies, production companies, and other content creators.
• Copywriting & Coordination: Develop and maintain cohesive standards for workshop descriptions, in collaboration with educators and filmmakers.
• Marketing: Work with the marketing team to create effective marketing strategies and outreach plans for education and workshop promotion.

 

DATA & TRACKING

• Feedback: Provide insight and leadership on how NWFF can best meet the needs of film and media makers, by actively soliciting and listening to feedback from students and community members, then incorporate feedback in program design and evaluation
• Data Management: Oversight and maintenance of student and instructor rosters and data within organizational CRM system and online file tree.
• Info Shares: Work with NWFF team to form cohesive structures for data management and documentation of educational programs.

 

Qualities, Qualifications, and Experience

• Ability to see, value, and adapt to cultural differences. Demonstrated and/or lived experience working with people of diverse ages, genders, sexualities, ethnicities, cultures, races, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds, including those from communities historically underserved by mainstream arts organizations.
• Passion for and dedication to NWFF’s history, mission, vision, values, and programs.
• Familiarity with and deep understanding of independent film and arts communities, especially those in the Pacific Northwest region and Seattle area.
• Experience with nonprofit organizations with multiple programs serving diverse constituencies in film, arts, and/or media.
• Lived commitment to and investment in racial and social justice and anti-oppression analysis.
• Familiarity and deep understanding with all departments, workflows, and best practices for film productions and post-production.
• Familiarity and deep understanding with Adobe suite is extremely helpful, including Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro, or After Effects, and/or similar experience project managing projects in the Adobe suite.
• Experience with Google Suite is extremely helpful.
• Ability to create or edit video and media, or project manage the work of other creators.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with excitement for working in a collaborative team environment.
• Self-starter, with an ability to multi-task and juggle distinct priorities and relationships gracefully.

Opportunity Website

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DirectorEducationFilmMediaNorthwest Film Forum