Film Development Assistant Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

2026 Mill Valley Film Festival
Development Associate
Location: San Rafael, CA (15 minutes North of the Golden Gate Bridge)
Status: Seasonal - hybrid
Dates: August 10 - Oct 16, 2026 (10 weeks)
Salary: $10,000 ($25.00/hour)
About Mill Valley Film Festival:
Founded in 1978, the Mill Valley Film Festival is a world-renowned 11-day event held every
October, screening over 150 innovative US and international films for over 40,000 attendees.
MVFF has a stellar reputation as a filmmakers' festival with a high-profile, prestigious,
non-competitive environment celebrating the best in independent and world cinema in gorgeous
Northern California.
About the Job:
The Development Associate will work on in-kind sponsor partnerships and to coordinate the
implementation of many of the sponsor activations at festival venues and events. The
Development Associate is a direct liaison between Development and the various CAFILM
departments (Operations, Marketing, Programming, and Events), reports to the Associate
Director of Institutional Giving, and works within the Development Department.
Responsibilities:
• Securing lounge and event sponsors, including working with the Associate Director of
Institutional Giving on sending & creating agreements.
• Securing VIP gift bag items in coordination with the Associate Director of Institutional
Giving.
• Coordinate VIP gift bag stuffing and distribution with the MVFF Operations team.
• Assist the Associate Director of Institutional Giving to get signatures on outstanding
LOAs for In-Kind & Events sponsors.
• Cross Checking with MVFF Marketing team on new/updated logos & on-screen ads
for what is outstanding.
• Cross Checking Sponsorship database - overarching project to ensure all data is
accurate: ticket numbers for all big nights; logo vs. line recognition; on screen ads;
contact info cross checking
• Cross Checking MVFF Eblast and MVFF Ad sponsor logo rotations.
• Assist in proofing websites, slideshows and ads.
• Cross Checking & Sending Sponsor Membership Comp List to CAFILM Membership
team.
• Assist the Associate Director of Institutional Giving in sending ticket voucher codes to
all sponsors, along with approved instructions on ticketing for this year from Ops/Box
Office
• Assist the Associate Director of Institutional Giving in sending customized Ticket
Packages to select Sponsors, with Sponsored film, & Opening/Closing via email.• Ensuring that all documents go on the CAFILM server properly.
• Assisting with on-site sponsor Activations, including in-theater, lounge, and events.
• Assisting with sponsor greeting & seating at film premieres and events, including
watching sponsor reserved seats
• Support reserved seating at all venues
• Provide responsive customer service for sponsors, donors and special guests in
person, phone and email
• Process ticket requests for sponsors, donors and special guests in internal ticket
request form (ITRF)
• Coordinate any mailings for the Development department
• Collaborate with other departments for on-site signage and event needs
• Support special events (invitations, rsvp's, guest lists, etc)
• Keep sponsors and donors abreast of timely renewal information and festival updates
• Any additional administrative tasks, as required
• Create a wonderful MVFF experience for the sponsors and donors
• Assisting sponsors with any ticket questions, fulfillment, reserved seating, and helping
with solutions.
• Assist with striking and wrapping sponsor activations during & post-festival.
• Assisting with sponsor 'Thank Yous' & wrap post-festival.
• Assist with administration of post-event sponsor survey.
• Collaborate with the team and assist with other Development Department requests, as
needed
• Being really awesome to work with :)
Our ideal candidate has:
• Project management experience.
• Superb organizational, communication, and administrative skills
• Detailed, disciplined, and thorough. You have a professional appearance and
demeanor with a great attitude
• The ability to maintain graceful and positive communications under pressure.
• Strong computer skills, with thorough knowledge of Excel, Word, FileMaker Pro,
Google Apps, Airtable, Slack, Raiser's Edge
• Strong managerial and leadership skills
• Proven skill with driving deadlines
• Excellent customer service, and public interaction skills
• Ability to work within a budget prioritizing expenditures
• Ability to manage time effectively and bring projects to completion despite conflicting
deadlines
• Calm under pressure, managing multiple tasks with competing deadlines
• Thrives working independently and on a team
• Must have own transportation, own smart-phone, able to work nights and weekends as
Necessary
To apply, please submit:• Your resume including two references
Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commitment:
We strive for a culture where people sense like they are valued, can bring their whole selves to
work free of oppression, injustice, harassment or discrimination, and that they experience
belongingness through a common purpose. We are taking steps to ensure that the California
Film Institute is a safe and equitable space for staff members, filmmakers and audiences alike
by incorporating inclusivity, diversity and accessibility measures into our business plan and
tangible KPIs to hold ourselves accountable to serve and engage diverse audiences through our
work. We are also working to examine racial justice internally in order to drive self-discovery and
best inform how we can change practices and utilize our voice and position within the
Community.
California Film Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are
committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Our policies prohibit
discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation,
national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as
outlined by federal, state, or local laws.