Emerging Festival Producer

Salary: £1,200 fixed fee

Folkestone Documentary Festival is looking for an enthusiastic Emerging Festival Producer to help deliver this year’s edition

Are you passionate about film? Curious about how festivals are put together? Looking for your first step into the film industry?

Folkestone Documentary Festival is looking for an enthusiastic Emerging Festival Producer to join its small, friendly team and help deliver this year’s festival, taking place 22-25 October at Silver Screen Cinema and venues across Folkestone.

This is a paid freelance opportunity for someone who wants to gain practical, hands-on experience behind the scenes of an established documentary film festival. You’ll work alongside an experienced team, develop new skills, meet filmmakers from around the world and play an important role in creating an unforgettable festival experience for audiences and guests.

No previous festival or film industry experience is required – just enthusiasm, curiosity, good organisational skills and a willingness to get involved.

About the opportunity

This role is supported by Film Hub South East as part of its commitment to developing the next generation of people working in film exhibition and festivals. Alongside practical experience across all aspects of festival delivery, you’ll receive guidance and mentoring from an experienced team, making this an ideal first step towards a career in the film industry.

What you’ll do

Working with the Festival Producer and Directors, you’ll help with a range of activities, including:

• Assisting with festival publicity and marketing
• Liaising with filmmakers about travel and accommodation
• Supporting workshops, talks and special events
• Helping coordinate festival activity in the lead-up to the event
• Welcoming filmmakers, guests and audiences throughout the festival weekend.

No two days are the same, giving you experience across many different aspects of festival production.

What we’re offering

• 10 paid freelance days at £120 per day
• Work from 10 September, including the four festival days (22–25 October)
• Practical experience producing a documentary film festival
• Informal mentoring and support from an experienced festival team
• The opportunity to develop transferable skills, build confidence and make connections within the film industry.

Who we’re looking for

The role is based in Folkestone, and we’re looking for someone who lives in Folkestone or East Kent with easy access to the town.

This opportunity has been created to help open up pathways into the film industry for people who have historically faced barriers to access, visibility and leadership within the cultural sector. We particularly welcome applications from people from working class backgrounds and from groups that are currently underrepresented in the film industry, including people of diverse racial and cultural heritages, LGBTQ+ communities, Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people.

We’re interested in your enthusiasm, potential and commitment rather than your previous experience. The role is flexible and designed to fit around work, study, caring responsibilities or other commitments.

You’ll need:

• To be available daytime and evenings during the festival 22–25 October 2026
• Access to a computer and a reliable internet connection
• Around seven hours per week between 10 September and 22 October, plus the festival weekend.

How to apply

Please send us your CV (if you have one) with an email explaining why you’d like the role to: info@folkestonedocumentaryfestival.co.uk

You can do this in whichever format suits you best: A covering letter (around one page) or a link to a short video (around three minutes).

We’d like you to tell us:

• What interests you about this opportunity
• What excites you about documentary film
• Why you think you’d be a great Emerging Festival Producer.

If you don’t have previous work experience, don’t worry. Tell us about volunteering, education, projects, hobbies or life experiences that demonstrate your enthusiasm, skills or potential. We’re interested in hearing about you, not just your CV.

Questions?

We’d be happy to have an informal chat about the role before you apply. If you’d like to find out more, or want to discuss whether this opportunity might be right for you, get in touch at info@folkestonedocumentaryfestival.co.uk and we’ll arrange a convenient time to talk.

Interviews will be held in-person on Friday 14 August 2026 in Folkestone. We look forward to hearing from you.

#LI-DNI

The closing date for this position is 29/07/2026 at 17:00