Director of ReelAbilities International, Associate Director ReelAbilities NY.

JOB TITLE: Director of ReelAbilities International, Associate Director ReelAbilities NY.

Department: Carole Zabar Center for Film

Reports to: Director of Film Programs; Israel Film Center

FLSA Status: Exempt

June 2022

General Purpose of the Position:

ReelAbilities Film Festival is seeking to hire an individual to join and help lead our ever expanding international and flagship programs.

Established in New York in 2007, ReelAbilities Film Festival is the largest festival of its kind sharing the stories and artistic expressions of people with disabilities. Through great films and progressive conversations, ReelAbilities celebrates and changes perceptions of the country's largest minority population. The festival raises the bar on accessibility in cinema and spreads its message of inclusion year-round to corporations and institutions around the country.

In 2010, Reelabilities started expanding into other cities across the US and now runs in dozens of locations throughout North America. ReelAbilities International oversees the global expansion of ReelAbilities and connects the various cities.

ReelAbilities is seeking a creative individual to further expand and oversee our international program as well as lead the programming and execute our festival in NY. The ideal candidate has familiarity with the film industry, event production experience, and knowledge of the disability community and accessibility needs. This position requires strong communication and organizational skills as well as technical savviness. We welcome all applicants and urge applications from members of the disability community to apply.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Expand and help elevate the mission and goals of Reelabilities.
• Create annual goals, budgets and timelines for the ReelAbilities International program.
• Extend partnerships, relationships and programs to support the disability community in the film industry.
• Oversee, manage and expand ReelAbilities' satellite festivals and extended programs (ReelAbilities Stream, ReelEducation).
• Oversee ReelAbilities host city festival year round programming, including screening requests, reporting, providing film files, technical support, and guidance on accessibility and event organizing.
• Oversee implementation of festival mission, branding and consistency throughout
• Facilitate ReelAbilities International monthly calls.
• Onboard and train new festival locations.
• Initiate marketing and promotional initiatives
• Create and facilitate film accessibility informational and training documents
• Manage year round staff supporting ReelAbilities International program
• Overseeing the launch and long term planning of ReelAbilities Stream
• Lead training sessions.

ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York

• Oversee ReelAbilities NY and International film selection and film submission process.
• Negotiate international and local film licensing agreements.
• Manage accessibility for and festival events and screenings, raising industry standards.
• Coordinate creation of accessibility assets (audio description and captions) for films with external vendors.
• Manage advisory council.
• Manage and develop select key partnerships with screening venues, event organizers, media corporations, and sponsors.
• Set an annual festival timeline.
• Hire, train and manage festival staff.
• Coordinate year-round screenings and corporate events.
• Facilitate and moderate Q+As, panel discussions, and corporate trainings
• Program and manage festival non-film events
• Coordinate NY venue partnerships
• Oversee all ReelAbilities web presence and tech development.
• General support to the center's film programming.

Requirements:

• Experience in film festival and event production and planning
• In-depth understanding of the disability community, existing and past barriers for inclusion, and available resources within the community and film industry
• Knowledge of film production, post-production, web, and tech - a plus
• Strong project-management skills, from concept and planning to implementation.
• Detail oriented and organized
• Ability to independently lead projects, programs and initiatives
• Ability to see greater organization, long term planning, and structural vision
• Experience working on multiple overlapping projects
• Strong analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work as a supportive member of a team
• Resourcefulness and solutions-based frame of mind, with ability to execute
• Flexibility with work hours (office hours plus additional evening/weekend events)
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally for occasional festivals, conferences and events
• Regular use of accessible communication tools, such as live captioning, ASL interpretation, virtual conferencing, and more.

This position can be hands-on and requires some mobility as well as use of office equipment. The position also requires in person communication at times, for extended periods.

To apply, please send cover letter and resume to izablocki@mmjccm.org

Salary: $65,000 to $70,000

Diversity is a core value of The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. We believe the power of diversity enriches all of us by exposing us to a range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design and deliver solutions.