TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Lights! Camera! . . . . Inaction? Without a cadre
of dedicated volunteers, the Toronto International Film
Festival wouldn’t be able to screen a single film.
Barbara Bryan explains how volunteering is a mutually beneficial
experience in creating a highly influential event that enriches
not only the city’s cultural base but the lives of
those who freely participate.
30 years on, TIFFG’s five-star volunteer program!
By Barbara Bryan
Why volunteer?
“We provide a positive, respectful and friendly atmosphere
for people who love film and want to help create an exciting
event that celebrates cinema.”
Source: The Toronto International Film
Since its humble beginnings more than 30 years ago, the
Toronto International Film Festival Group (TIFFG), a not-for-profit
organization has rallied volunteers to bring the Toronto
International Film Festival (TIFF), its major film experience
to Toronto’s patrons and guests each and every September
amidst screenings in and around the GTA, lavish soirees,
and opening night events. There is a synergy between TIFFG
volunteers to give their best and TIFFG’s repayment
in kind, with its gratitude, praise and a self-satisfying
volunteer experience that keeps many returning year after
year.
This fall will mark the 31st anniversary of TIFF, a major
iconic event that thrives on its volunteerism, an accolade
of accomplishment in itself (with an average of 65,466.5
hours worked by volunteers and 11,903 volunteer shifts during
the festival). For more than three decades, TIFF has not
only added to its roster of dedicated volunteer returnees,
but it has created a recruitment practice that many an arts
organization could learn and benefit from.
“What is the most important incentive to us is what
TIFFG does for the volunteers,” said Mzababi Kerasa,
TIFFG’s volunteer coordinator for the past two years.
“We are really happy for them because it really encourages
volunteers to be able to see films during the festival.”
Kerasa has experienced the comings and goings of peak festival
operandum and is retrospective about why the volunteer planning
sessions only lead to success. The sessions, she adds, bring
volunteer committees together to discuss and plan for the
following year and it appears management is keen on offering
volunteers a sort of part ownership through their participation.
Groups of volunteers are given the opportunity to put forth
their suggestions during volunteer planning sessions. Having
had volunteers since day one, TIFFG boasts an engaging 2,000
of 10,382 registered volunteers to date, to help run and
organize its 10-day TIFF marathon, with approximately 200
of those volunteers being utilized for the training of other
volunteers. Hence, mentorship is an important aspect for
the newly recruited.
Kerasa emphasized the importance of having volunteers
come back because, “As TIFF is a service industry,
it’s important to have repeats so that they can in
turn help to train new (TIFF) volunteers, since there is
a lot of information they are expected to learn to impart
to patrons, and they are expected to know the system which
is very important.”
As repeat volunteers are already familiar with what is
being expected of them, TIFFG maintains an open door policy
at a level that needs people to help train volunteers, by
knowing the system that includes a year round program to
get involved in. Kerasa explains there are a number of different
programs where patrons subscribe to it and a set number
of volunteers are needed on a regular basis for customer
service and ushering.
For every volunteer shift during TIFF, added Kerasa, volunteers
receive a film voucher to give them an opportunity to see
films during the festival. If for some reason they are unable
to attend during the actual festival, (volunteers work an
average of 38.5 hours during 10 days), they are given vouchers
to attend films, even after the film festival that are year
round. Other TIFFG volunteer opportunities include Sprockets
Toronto International Film Festival for Children, bringing
film to all parts of Canada with Film Circuit, and Cinemateque
Ontario, TIFFG’s screening program at AGO’s
Jackman Hall. Last winter for example, there was a screening
of Naruse, a very famous Japanese filmmaker, also James
Dean and retro films from Thailand. The rest of TIFFG’s
volunteering is to assist on an administrative basis weekly
to transcribe or archive material in TIFF’s film reference
library, press office, etc.
Many people volunteer because TIFF is a great event and
they like the environment of the film festival while film
buffs find the festival is a means to see a large variety
of films over a short period of time. Through sponsored
agreements, TIFFG hands out t-shirts every year as its standard
uniform and as an incentive, (it does require a minimum
number of shifts, and shows consistency of being a committed
participant.) although many volunteers consider these a
keepsake that says they were a part of it
Kerasa pointed out that in the past there have been volunteers
who have really done a spectacular job for TIFFG. “We
try to recognize those who have gone way beyond the call
of duty by giving feedback and telling them they did a job
well done. For example, by providing extra help for patrons,
staying extra long hours, etc., TIFFG has even gone out
of its way to get them tickets to a gala party. We do try
to gauge it by performance, and reward our volunteers accordingly
for doing a such a great job for us.”
As all good things must come to an end, there’s also
a volunteer party at the end of the festival so people are
able to get together with other volunteers that they may
have worked with during the festival. “It’s
a fantastic way for all the volunteers to reminisce with
all of their friends that they’ve made during the
last 10 days.”
For further information about the Toronto International
Film Festival Group’s volunteer program, please visit:
http://www.tiffg.ca.
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