As part of its 25th anniversary year, Belfast Film Festival is inviting applications for four belfast-based  freelance film programmers to deliver a public screening programme catering for underserved areas of the cultural cinema audience.

These areas are:

• Belfast’s significant Global Majority and Eastern European communities.
• Working class communities and people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds
• Disabled People

We strongly encourage applicants from these underserved areas of the audience.

To apply, please submit a CV and cover letter to moyra@belfastfilmfestival.org 

We will also accept video CVs.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 11.59pm on Tuesday 26 August. 

The successful applicants will work approximately six days per month under the direction of the Belfast Film Festival Programmer to curate a series of public screenings to be delivered from September 2025 to March 2026. As early career Programmers, the successful applicants will be advised under a mentor scheme within Belfast Film Festival and Docs Ireland. As the project is geared towards engaging underserved areas of the audience, screenings will take place in both traditional theatrical cinema settings and community centres/ other non-theatrical sites.

Successful applicants will be required to:

• Attend regular meetings with the wider team.
• Generate ideas for screenings based on a prior knowledge of cinema.
• Deliver screening programmes from idea to exhibition.
• Research and acquire screening licenses within budget.
• Research and invite guest speakers and other personnel.
• Liaise with technical staff on specifications of screenings.
• Deliver introductions and post-screening Q&As.
• Contribute to marketing materials (ie. write copy).

Essential criteria:

• Proven interest in film programming and/or curation.
• Experience of event management.
• Ability to work independently and within a team.
• Ability to manage budgets and work within them.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Knowledge of global cinema and the international film industry.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Availability to work evenings and weekends where necessary.

Desirable criteria:

• At least one year’s experience in delivering public screenings.
• Experience of marketing, particularly copy-writing and social media.
• Experience of public speaking.
• Educated to degree level in film studies or a related field.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Experience of community, charity or public-facing work.
• Technical knowledge of screening formats.
• Knowledge of Belfast Film Festival and the wider exhibition landscape of Belfast.

If you require further information prior to applying or should you need any information in an alternative format or other access provisions please contact moyra@belfastfilmfestival.org

This project has been made possible with the support of the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding