FESTIVAL MANAGER
GAZE International LGBTQIA+ Film Festival
For over three decades, GAZE Film Festival has been a cultural pillar of the Irish LGBTQIA community. GAZE celebrates the finest LGBTQIA+ cinema, developing the art form for artists and filmmakers, and creating an annual shared cultural space for the community. Each year we present over 25 screenings including features, documentaries, short film programmes, panels, industry events, workshops and social spaces to discuss and celebrate film and the art of storytelling in an LGBTQIA+ context. GAZE is supported by the Arts Council, our lead sponsor Accenture, and many other diverse funders and sponsors. The board of GAZE has recently been expanded and is developing plans to increase the range and reach of the festival including increased sponsorship and an enhanced Friends scheme.
The Festival Manager is part of the senior management team of GAZE and leads on the production and administration of the festival, reporting to and working closely with the Festival Director, who leads on overall strategy and the artistic curation of the festival. The role is offered as a contract for services and would suit an emerging or established arts producer or manager, ideally with experience in film, festivals, and/or LGBTQ+ culture, as part of a wider portfolio of work.
The Festival Manager manages a range of contractors who work with the festival, including, a bookkeeper, volunteer management and production. For 2024, the team will expand to include a new Marketing and Sales Manager and Digital Content Manager.
The Festival Manager is responsible for the day to day running of GAZE, including oversight of agreed work plans of festival contractors, ensuring adherence to the festival production timeline. The Festival Manager will be expected to work closely and communicate with the Board and its subcommittees to ensure the smooth delivery of the festival within the Board-approved budget and in accordance with approved timelines. The Festival Manager also supports the Board and Festival Director on year-round fundraising and managing relationships with key supporters, as well as organising occasional year-round GAZE events, and will attend GAZE board meetings along with the Festival Director.
The festival dates for 2024 are Wednesday 31st July to Monday 5th August. The role is offered initially for one year as a contract for services, with a fee of €20,000, with the possibility of renewal. It is envisaged that year round work is part time, with increased engagement moving to full time in the lead up to, and during, the festival. A work plan will be agreed with the appointed candidate. This is an exciting opportunity to work with a festival which is looking to expand its depth and reach and with a wide range of individuals on its board and in its team. We are interested in discussing the opportunity with a wide range of candidates including those who may not have experience in all the roles and responsibilities set out below.
To apply, please send your CV to info@gaze.ie by 5pm on Friday 23rd February, including the names and contact details of two referees, and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role. You can contact us at the same address if you would like an informal chat about the role in advance of applying. You can find more information about GAZE at www.gaze.ie
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
FESTIVAL PRODUCTION
- Coordinate the project management of the annual film festival, acting as the main point of contact for sponsors, venue operators and GAZE staff.
- Maintain relationships with key production staff, including Digital Content Manager (new role), Marketing and Sales Manager (new role) and Volunteer Manager.
- Working with Marketing and Sales Manager, supervise Box Office in liaison with venues and provide regular sales reports to Festival Director and Board
MARKETING AND SALES – SUPPORTED BY NEW MARKETING AND SALES MANAGER IN 2024
- Line manage Marketing and Sales Manager and PR Consultants
- Develop new in-house festival box office and new website, working with Marketing and Sales Manager and web partners
- Work closely with Marketing and Sales Manager and festival team to oversee production of the printed and online festival programme, including editing, design, proofing, printing, and distribution.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
- Work with the Festival Director to create the overall festival budget for approval by the Board, including target sales and other income, reasonable fees for screenings and contractors, and other spending across the festival programme.
- Keep the financial records of the Festival updated using our bookkeeping system (Sage).
- Obtain quotes and estimates from suppliers for approval prior to commissioning work.
- Create festival spending spreadsheets.
- With support from the Finance and Governance sub-committees, prepare bank reconciliations and quarterly management accounts from the books and records and issue to the Board in advance of relevant Board meetings.
- Monitor spend in accordance with Budget, working with Festival Director and Finance and Governance sub-committee where necessary.
- Day to day banking.
- Organise invoices and payments.
- Prepare VAT returns.
- Monitor petty cash.
- Prepare annual financial report on festival income and expenditure as soon as possible following completion of festival.
SPONSORSHIP AND GRANT ALLOCATIONS
With input from Festival Director and relevant board subcommittees
- Prepare and submit all relevant grant applications on a timely basis and manage relationships with funders,
- Manage relationship with sponsors and work to identify and engage new ones.
- Deliver on agreed arrangements with sponsors, including billing and collection, supplying all sponsorship logos and other materials for programme print to designers, and reporting to funders post-festival.
- Manage relationship with Festival Friends, including communication with Festival Friends, maintaining database of Festival Friends, and identifying and engaging new Festival Friends.
- Organise events for funders, sponsors and Festival Friends outside the festival period,
- Prepare post-festival reports on full audience attendance figures, other festival engagement, and festival budget (spend and profits) for Board, Festival Director, and sponsors as appropriate.
GUEST LIAISON
- In collaboration with the Festival Director, liaise with filmmakers and other guests regarding availability and travel/accommodation arrangements
- Book accommodation and transport where required.
- Seek accommodation deals and sponsorship.
- Provide Welcome/Info Packs to guests.
HR MANAGEMENT
- Supervise the output, working hours, productivity and well-being of all GAZE staff, with support from Festival Director.
- Assign and delegate appropriate tasks, from this role description or any others arising, to festival staff or other contractors.
- Identify additional duties for interns and freelance staff and train and delegate as appropriate.
VOLUNTEERS
Support the Volunteer Coordinator to:
- Prepare brief and training for volunteers
- Recruit and select suitable Volunteer Coordinator and volunteers.
- Support and supervise scheduling of volunteers during Festival.
- Coordinate Audience Awards
- Coordinate Audience Research Sheets