Festival Assistant

Position: Festival Assistant

Organisation: Alliance Française French Film Festival (AF FFF)

Location: Sydney, NSW (CBD) with hybrid work arrangements available

Employment Type: Full-time, Fixed Term Contract

Contract Period: Between November 2026 and April 2027

Reports To: National Festival Manager

About the Alliance Française French Film Festival (AF FFF)

The Alliance Française French Film Festival is Australia’s premier celebration of French cinema and culture. Presented annually across major Australian cities it attracts more than 200,000 attendees.

As we prepare for the next edition of the Festival in March 2027, we are seeking a highly organised and proactive Festival Assistant to support the planning, coordination and delivery of this nationally recognised cultural event.

Position Summary

Reporting to the National Festival Manager, the Festival Assistant is responsible for supporting the successful delivery of the Alliance Française French Film Festival across all areas of the business, including film distribution, cinema relations, marketing, sponsorship, events, reporting and administration.

Acting as a central point of coordination between distributors, cinema partners, Alliance Françaises, sponsors, agencies, suppliers and internal stakeholders, the role ensures that all Festival activities are delivered efficiently, on time and to a high standard.

This is a hands-on role that transforms strategy into execution. The Festival Assistant helps bring the Festival to life by managing timelines, coordinating stakeholders, overseeing key deliverables and supporting the delivery of marketing campaigns, partnerships and events. Their contribution is essential to creating an outstanding experience for audiences, partners and industry stakeholders alike.

Key Responsibilities

1. Distribution Support

• Liaise with distributors and industry partners.

• Coordinate the collection of film assets and promotional materials, including trailers, stills, synopses, posters, review quotes and marketing copy.

• Compile and maintain film information for the Festival programme, website and marketing materials.

• Obtain film classifications from the relevant authorities and ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements.

• Work closely with the Film Logistics Coordinator to track the delivery of screening materials and ensure all content is received on time.

2. Cinema Relations & Exhibition Support

• Support relationships with cinema partners, including the Festival's principal exhibition partner, Palace Cinemas.

• Attend weekly meetings with Palace Cinemas.

• Coordinate the production and installation of front-of-house branding, banners, holding slides and other venue assets.

• Provide marketing toolkits and promotional materials to cinema partners to support local promotion of the Festival.

• Maintain programme information, session schedules and screening updates.

3. Marketing & Communications

• Support the planning and execution of national marketing campaigns, including media, outdoor and digital advertising.

• Coordinate content for the Festival programme and other printed materials.

• Coordinate with the Festival's graphic designer on the creation, approval, production and distribution of all marketing collateral including the trailer, poster, programmes, invitations, passes...

• Proofread and fact-check all copies before publication.

• Liaise with Alliance Françaises nationally to coordinate local marketing requirements and customised promotional materials.

• Coordinate website updates and ensure content accuracy across all Festival platforms.

• Assist in managing external PR agency and support media launches, press activities and publicity opportunities.

4. Sponsorship & Partnerships

• Support sponsor relationship management and fulfilment of partnership agreements.

• Collect sponsor logos, promotional assets and marketing materials.

• Assist with the coordination of sponsor benefits, branding opportunities, ticket allocations and event activations.

• Assist with the preparation of sponsorship reports.

5. Events & Operations

• Support the planning, coordination and delivery of private screenings.

• Assist with the organisation of school screenings and the preparation of educational kits.

• Coordinate logistics for media launches.

• Provide operational support during the Festival period as required.

6. Reporting & Evaluation

• Assist with audience, marketing, ticketing and sponsorship reporting.

• Compile Festival statistics, attendance figures and post-event evaluations.

• Track project deliverables, campaign performance and stakeholder outcomes.

• Contribute to the preparation of sponsor reports and the Festival's final performance report.

7. Festival Administration

• Provide administrative support across all areas of Festival operations.

• Maintain project plans, timelines and tracking documents.

• Support the National Festival Manager with day-to-day project coordination and general administrative tasks.

Skills & Experience

• 2+ years experience in events, festivals, marketing or administration.

• Strong organisational and project coordination skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• High attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Outlook and Canva.

• Ability to work both independently and within a small team.

• Fluent English required; French language skills highly regarded.

Personal Attributes

• Passion for arts, culture and cinema.

• Proactive and solution-oriented.

• Strong interpersonal skills and stakeholder management abilities.

• Calm under pressure and able to meet deadlines.

• Flexible and willing to support festival activities outside standard business hours when required.

To Apply

Please submit:

• Your resume

• A brief cover letter (maximum 1 page) outlining your interest in the role and relevant experience

To apply, please send your application to coordination@affrenchfilmfestival.org with the subject line:

Festival Assistant Application – [Your Name]

To be eligible for employment you must be an Australian Citizen or a permanent resident of Australia, or hold an appropriate visa that allows you to work unrestricted in Australia.