BFI NETWORK Officer

Salary: £27,310 per annum pro rata

The Independent Cinema Office (ICO) is the national organisation for the support and development of the independent cinema exhibition sector in the UK.

We offer film programming services to cinemas, bring films into distribution and are the main provider of events, training and advice for the independent cinema sector. We work with the main funding bodies in film exhibition, are a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity.

Our film programming clients include cinemas as diverse as the Watershed in Bristol, the Broadway in Nottingham and Hebden Bridge Picture House. In 2020 we delivered a national film tour, Second Sight, exploring the legacy of the UK’s Black Film Workshop Movement. The ICO also delivers Screening Days, a national and regional showcase for cultural cinema for film societies, community cinemas and cinemas; and runs a portfolio of national and internationally renowned training programmes for exhibitors. The ICO is also the lead organisation for Film Hub South East.

Film Hub South East and BFI NETWORK

Film Hub South East is part of the British Film Institute’s Film Audience Network (BFI FAN).

Supported by National Lottery funding, BFI FAN is a unique collaboration made up of eight Hubs managed by leading film organisations and venues strategically placed around the UK, and is the backbone of the BFI’s strategy to ensure the greatest choice of film is available for everyone.

Providing resources, training and funding for film exhibition, with an emphasis on growing new audiences for British independent and international film, Film Hub South East also delivers talent development activity for aspiring filmmakers and raises awareness of film culture in the region though our BFI NETWORK activities.

BFI NETWORK is a UK-wide collaboration between the BFI and the Film Hubs, with a mission to discover and support talented writers, directors and producers at the start of their careers. Our BFI NETWORK talent executive discovers, supports, develops and champions new and emerging filmmakers across the South East, in the counties of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Kent, Norfolk, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Surrey and Sussex.

The role

Our current fabulous BFI NETWORK Officer Abi is off to work on a production, so we have a vacancy for someone for six-seven months whilst she is on sabbatical.

You will be responsible for delivering our events and professional development programmes for new talent in the South East region. You will be liaising with a range of partner organisations across the South East and delivering a range of events and activities from screenings to training courses and script development programmes. You need to be passionate about new talent, supportive and good at outreach; a self-starter with great administration skills and an understanding of the needs of emerging talent. You might have worked in the industry section at a film festival, for a cinema or in production across film or television. You might also work as an independent producer or other production professional in your own right. You must be willing to work hard, be able to juggle competing workloads, and work to deadlines.

In return, we can offer responsibility, opportunities for training and development and the chance to work with a friendly, creative team at the forefront of independent cinema exhibition and talent development in the UK. We provide access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – a confidential information and counselling service for employees and to Occupational Health services; a dedicated HR consultant for staff support; access to a SMARTPensions scheme; annual train ticket loans; flexible working practices; flexibility around childcare hours/needs; invites to events and festivals, and other benefits.

Our offices are in London and in line with our new hybrid working policy we would expect you to come into the office one day a week but otherwise you can work from home (you can work from the office more days if you prefer). It would be an advantage if you are familiar with the South East region and some of the organisations that support talent located there, but not essential.

The post is currently delivered three days a week, working eight-hour days (including one hour for lunch) but we are open to it being delivered across a greater number of days.

Equality, diversity & inclusion

The ICO is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more creative, innovative and gets better results. We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities in the UK and we want to see these reflected on our screens. We also want our workforce to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian, ethnically diverse, and disabled candidates as they are underrepresented within the ICO.

Along with your CV and covering letter we also request you complete our Equality and Diversity monitoring information. Completing this form will help us in monitoring our efforts towards achieving an inclusive and diverse workforce.

This form will not be included in the information sent to the recruitment panel and the information recorded will be anonymised within the scope of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

How to apply

Please download our recruitment pack below and read the full job description.

Recruitment pack

To apply, send us your CV and a cover letter telling us why you want the job and about the skills you have that you would use to do it effectively.

Please send these by email to filmhubse@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk by 9am on 4th October.  We aim to do a skills-based computer test and interviews that week and will be looking for the successful candidate to start immediately (mid-October).

If you would need these documents in large print versions or a different format, email info@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk and we can supply.

How our recruitment process works

We know sometimes the process of applying for a job can feel like sending applications into a black hole and can be unnerving when you don’t know what will happen. We’ve put together a document which explains a bit more about our recruitment process, what will happen during each stage of the process and what we’d like from you. This document is included in our recruitment pack (link above).

The closing date for this position is 04/10/2021 at 09:00