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2026 Mill Valley Film Festival

Guest Services Coordinator

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

Status: Seasonal, Hybrid (In-person required Sept. 22 - Oct. 14)

Dates: August 17 - October 16, 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:

The Guest Services Coordinator works closely with the Programming & PR Departments and Theater Operations and Box Office to craft a memorable and welcoming experience for every guest attending the Mill Valley Film Festival. This role is central to coordinating air and ground travel, accommodations, and Festival benefits for filmmakers, panelists, and other guests - ensuring each person arrives feeling cared for and leaves with a meaningful connection to the Festival. The ideal candidate is someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, manages multiple responsibilities with ease, and brings warmth and professionalism to every interaction. Supervised by the Guest Services Manager, the Guest Services Coordinator serves as a key ambassador for the Festival, approaching each guest relationship with hospitality, intention, and care.

Your Responsibilities:

• Manage individual communication with guests regarding their Festival visit and logistics
• Maintain guest information in the Festival database and other shared platforms
• Stay within budget
• Communicate any and all guest, budget, vendor, personnel, or other issues to your supervisor before they arise whenever possible
• Arrange booking of guest air travel, with research into best available fares and routing
• Track all travel expenses, itineraries, and details in the Festival database
• Arrange ground transportation for Festival guests to and from airports, hotels, screenings, and events
• Work with Box Office to fulfill ticket requests for filmmakers
• Assess guest needs (dietary, accessibility, language, etc.) and work with the Guest Services Manager to accommodate guests with special requirements
• Create and deliver all welcome packets for guests
• Create individual itineraries for welcome packets
• Assist with accreditation for Festival guests
• Coordinate and communicate with volunteers during pre-Festival activities and at Festival screenings
• Attend related events as needed
• When necessary, be present at theater screenings to greet guests and facilitate filmmaker introductions to the Executive Director and Programming Director
• Oversee guests' experience while at the Festival and be available to answer guest phone calls
• Serve as a liaison between donors who are offering housing and potential guests and staff
• Arrive to work on time daily and manage hours to end work at a reasonable time each night
• Submit a detailed wrap report prior to contract end and participate in the post-Festival wrap meeting

Our Ideal Candidate Has:

• A passion for film and the arts
• The ability to thrive both independently and as part of a team
• Superb organizational and administrative skills
• A detail-oriented, disciplined, and thorough approach to their work
• Strong computer skills, with thorough knowledge of Excel, Word, FileMaker Pro, Google Apps, Asana, Slack, and Airtable
• Eventival software experience preferred
• Working knowledge of popular travel booking platforms and the ability to research the best transportation fares
• Demonstrated commitment to confidentiality
• Grace under pressure and a can-do attitude
• Strong communication and public interaction skills
• Excellent customer service skills
• The ability to work within a budget, prioritizing expenditures thoughtfully
• Strong time management skills and the ability to bring projects to completion despite competing deadlines
• Must have own transportation and smartphone, and be able to work nights and weekends as needed, including through Labor Day weekend

To apply, please submit:

• Your resume including two references
• Two (2) writing samples
• Cover letter

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.