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2026 Mill Valley Film Festival

Festival Line Manager

Location: Mill Valley & San Rafael, CA (15 minutes North of the Golden Gate Bridge)

Status: Season with potential continuation after festival

Dates: September 28, 2026 - October 12, 2026

Compensation: $22/hour

About CAFILM:

CAFILM supports its mission to celebrate film as art and education by presenting the annual Mill Valley Film Festival and DocLands Documentary Film Festival, exhibiting film year-round at the non-profit Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael, CA and Sequoia Cinema in Mill Valley, CA, and building the next generation of filmmakers and film lovers through CAFILM Education. Founded in 1978, the Mill Valley Film Festival is a world-renowned 11-day event held every October, screening over 200 innovative US and international films for over 60,000 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:

Line Managers are the first face a staff person or guest of the festival encounters when they arrive on site. This person has a strong grasp of all MVFF procedures and has a calm, customer-oriented demeanor. Patrons will look to this person for regular updates about entrance into the venue and show updates, thus the ability to communicate clearly, confidently, and personably to large crowds is essential.

Line Managers work with the onsite TOPs and Box Office staff to ensure safe, orderly, and friendly theater operations and timely screening starts. Reports to the Operations Manager and works within the Operations Department.

Your Responsibilities:

• As a Line Manager, you work directly with the public, (and other MVFF staff), filmmakers, and sponsors
• Prepare the venue at the start of day, staging stanchions, line signs, etc.
• Check in with the Venue Manager to get radio, review tech sheets, dailies, and show flows. Consult Box Office regarding tickets sales and shows on RUSH, to prepare for the day ahead
• Review tech sheets and check-in with Theater Operations Manager for any updates or changes that have occurred
• Check the schedule for the day comparing start and end times and preparing for tight turns around
• Communicate with the House Manager before opening doors to the public
• Maintain smooth and efficient patron traffic flow while coordinating show entries and egresses with other managers via radio
• Ensure all related ADA access laws are met with sidewalks and other related spaces at venues
• Assist with hot/cold weather protective measures, if needed
• Communicate any accidents or patron issues, if any, to Theater Operations Manager/Venue Manager and provide written incident reports
• Manage and monitor reserved parking spaces in front of theaters as needed
• Line Managers are to ensure every patron is at the right film, at the right place, at the right time, with the right ticket or badge
• Manage RUSH lines as it pertains to ticket sales and seating
• Remind people in the RUSH line the location of the remaining seats and there is a NO REFUNDS policy
• Communicate film screenings updates and changes to staff and public as needed
• End of Day procedures and venue clean up
• Other Duties as assigned

Our ideal candidate has:

• Superb organizational and communication skills
• Detailed, disciplined, and thorough. You have a professional demeanor and a great attitude
• Grace under pressure; can do attitude
• Strong managerial and leadership skills
• Proven skill with driving deadlines
• Excellent customer service, and public interaction skills
• 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 own a smart-phone
• Must have open availability though duration of contract and must be prepared for long hours and late nights.

To apply, please submit:

• Your resume including two references
• Review and acknowledge our Code of Conduct :https://www.mvff.com/code-of-conduct/
• A short cover letter (about 100 words), describing
• Your interest in working for Mill Valley Film Festival

Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commitment:

We strive for a culture where people feel 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.

CAFILM is an equal opportunity employer to all. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment. Our policies prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on age, race, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, military or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.