A festival that gives North American exposure to French-language films from Africa and the diaspora
1000
Challenges
Recruiting volunteers for the film festival within five months came with several challenges. The roles were diverse, requiring people for both physical setup and dismantling of the launch party and the festival itself. There were key positions during the festival that I needed to consider, such as ticketing, assisting the projectionist, supporting the backstage production team, greeting guests at the airport, driving guests between the hotel and cinema, and managing the guest list at the hotel. Finding enough volunteers with the right availability, skill sets, and reliability to cover these multi-faceted needs while ensuring smooth coordination was a significant hurdle.
My Approach
I actively recruited volunteers from a community center, engaging new immigrants eager to get involved in their new home. I also connected with potential volunteers at networking events and organized an in-person meeting two months before the festival to introduce the event and set clear expectations. Since I knew that I would be wearing multiple hats once the festival began, I held virtual Zoom meetings with volunteer team leaders to prepare them for their roles and ensure they could assist me in managing the volunteer team effectively.
Outcomes
The most dedicated volunteers were those I recruited early from the community center—they were committed and exceeded my expectations. I only wished I had found more of them. Their impact was so strong that even the festival team took notice, considering some for full-time roles, and international guests were equally impressed by their professionalism.
Best Moment
Walking into the cinema on opening night while most of the attendees and guests were watching the film (video above). Seeing all the hard work the volunteers completed in decorating the cinema and seeing how happy they all were at that moment. That night and the whole 10 days of the festival were the product of five months of countless planning sessions, weekly production meetings, and deep discussions about key decisions. It all came together to make a memorable event.