Film Programmer
Independent Cinema Office
London
Salary: £27,310 – £34,340 (dependent on experience)
The Independent Cinema Office is seeking a Film Programmer to join our team.
About the Independent Cinema Office
The Independent Cinema Office (ICO) is the national organisation for the support and development of the independent cinema exhibition sector in the UK. It offers programming advice, bookings and information regarding the full range of world cinema product to its 30 client venues and one film festival with a total number of 50 screens. ICO clients include cinemas as diverse as Saffron Screen, Watershed in Bristol, Barn Dartington and Reading Biscuit Factory; and we provide programming to Borderlines, the UK’s largest rural film festival.
Alongside programming and film booking for venues, our range of support activities include the distribution of cultural film, delivering a range of contemporary and classic titles. In 2020-21 we released Mandabi as well as delivering Second Sight, a national tour and commissioning project which revisited key films from the independent Black British film workshops of the 1980s.
We also deliver Screening Days, national and regional showcases for cultural cinema for film societies, community cinemas and cinemas.
We are the lead organisation for Film Hub South East which is part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, the national provider of training programmes for the cultural exhibition sector and offer advice and advocacy to the wider exhibition sector. We work in partnership with other organisations both international, national and regional, are a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity.
About the role
Our Senior Programmer is leaving us after nearly eight years for a sabbatical to the British Film Institute and in his absence, we are seeking a Film Programmer to join us. This is a unique opportunity to join a vibrant, friendly and creative team working on a diverse range of projects with regional and national partners and an excellent chance for someone who is seeking to develop their career in film programming, curatorship or exhibition development. We work with many different kinds of partners across the UK – cinemas, festivals, film societies; local authorities and national bodies; distributors and education and training providers.
The ICO is a small arts organisation and the individual we are seeking must have a passion and enthusiasm for cinema in all its forms as well as the ability to develop relationships and work with a diverse range of individuals and organisations with diplomacy and enthusiasm. Communication and people skills are as important as a knowledge and love for film and a deep interest in cinemas.
You need to be extremely cine-literate, an avid viewer of world cinema, both classic and contemporary and be able to demonstrate an interest in, and knowledge of, current concerns in independent cinema.
You must be willing to work hard and try your hand to anything as well as be able to prioritise your own time, be calm and unflappable, work to deadlines and contribute to the team. You must be articulate and ready to undertake your own administration.
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 in the UK. We provide access to a Health Matters Assistance Programme (HMAP) – 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; cycle loans; flexible working practices; flexibility around childcare hours/needs; invites to events and festivals, and other benefits. We are currently piloting our new hybrid working policy which for this post would require you to work in the office three days a week (two of which would be Monday and Tuesday) and two days from home.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
At the Independent Cinema Office, we are an equal opportunity employer, and 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.
How to apply
Please read the Job Description and complete the application form (both can be downloaded below). Return the completed application form to info@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk by 09:30am GMT on Monday 6 December 2021.
If you would like the documents in a different format please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate this.
How the 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 can be downloaded below:
- How the recruitment process works – Word Document
- How the recruitment process works – Word Document – Large print format
Learn more about the role
If you would like to find out about what the role entails in more detail please use the below link to register for a Zoom session with the Director of the ICO, Catharine Des Forges and our current Senior Film Programmer, Jonny Courtney at 2:30pm on Thursday 25 November 2021 to hear more. We will use a webinar format which means you will be able to ask questions anonymously and only ICO staff will be seen.
The closing date for this position is 06/12/2021 at 09:30