Volunteer

As a charitable cultural organization, TIFF simply couldn't offer such a broad range of initiatives without the impressive skills and commitment of our volunteers. We are grateful for the ongoing contribution made by our many volunteer teams.

Questions? Contact the Volunteer Office at [email protected] or 416-934-5846

Become a Volunteer
Returning Volunteers
VAACT
Volunteer Stories

Become a Volunteer

Interested in joining us?

Your volunteer journey begins at the Toronto International Film Festival where you can be a part of the world's leading public film festival, bringing the best in Canadian and international cinema to Toronto every September.

After participating with the Festival, volunteers will have the opportunity to join us year-round at TIFF Bell Lightbox as part of the many teams that support our programming 365 days a year and for the TIFF Kids International Film Festival, one of the world's premier film festivals for children ages 3 to 13, held every April.

Our exceptionally talented and dedicated volunteers are the heart of our organization and are vital to the success of the Festival each and every year. Festival Volunteers assist in a variety of roles in the following areas:

Theatre Venues: provide customer service and front-of-house assistance including, but not limited to, managing lineups, scanning tickets, ushering, and encouraging the public to vote for the Grolsch People’s Choice Award. With 8 venues in operation, this is where the majority of support is required.
Industry Centre: direct delegates to registration and pass pickup desks, offer information about Industry Programming, and assist with various administrative and operational tasks at Industry venues.
Office Support: assist various TIFF departments with a variety of administrative, data-entry and organizational tasks required during the Festival. Duties will vary depending on the position.
ACE: get dispatched with on-the-fly notice to help a specific venue or Festival office in urgent need of support as a special “anywhere” ACE volunteer.

Our 2017 Festival Volunteer Application is now closed.

All available Volunteer positions for the 2017 Festival have been filled. We hope you will join us for the next edition of the Toronto International Film Festival when we begin recruitment in the spring of 2018. If you are interested in hearing about future volunteer opportunities, please subscribe to our TIFF Volunteer Alerts for updates via email.

Each year we look for film enthusiasts who enjoy engaging with the public, have a flexible attitude toward their assigned roles, possess strong communication skills, and understand that reliability is critical to success. Festival Volunteers receive unparalleled access to movies, tons of exclusive discounts, the chance to make new friends, and the feeling that you helped make it all happen!

Read more about the recruitment process here.

Festival Volunteer Programme Overview

Interested in learning more? Here are the steps to becoming a Festival Volunteer:

1. Complete the online application form: Our application form is available on our website starting in late May. Complete all the required sections, including adding a resume, two references, and your availability. The application is open until our recruitment targets are met — this means there is no set end date. We recommend applying as soon as possible when the application opens or subscribing for our TIFF Volunteer Alerts to receive volunteer updates.

2. Application review period: Applicants will receive an email response within 4 weeks of submitting their application. Those accepted into the programme will receive information on the next phase of the recruitment process. Please note: applying to volunteer does not guarantee you will be offered a placement in the programme as we tend to receive more applications than we have available spots.

3. Attend an Orientation session: Those who are accepted into the programme will be invited to attend an in-person orientation session. The sessions will be available for sign-up on weekday evenings and weekends throughout the month of August. Attendance is required as the session will include important information on policies and procedures related to volunteering at the Festival, as well as a brief interview to complete your registration process. At the session, you will also get to select your volunteer placement preferences.

4. Receive an assignment: After attending the orientation session and successfully completing the registration process, you will receive your volunteer assignments based on your selected preferences, availability, previous experience and specific needs of the role.

5. Schedule your shifts: At a specific date and time you will have access to shifts on our online Volunteer Hub. You choose exactly when and where you want to volunteer from the selection of approved assignments. Please note: All volunteers are required to complete a minimum of four shifts as part of their commitment to the Festival.

6. Training and preparing for shifts: On-site or online training is provided for most volunteer roles in advance of the Festival. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about what you will be doing on-shift for your specific assignment. It is also a great way to ask questions directly to staff you will be working with or to members of the Volunteer Office.

7. The Festival: Get out there and have fun! Volunteers are the heart of the Festival and bring their energy and enthusiasm while helping hundreds of thousands of avid filmgoers. Between shifts, be sure to catch incredible films and take in the Festival atmosphere.

Questions? Contact the Volunteer Office at [email protected] or 416-934-5846 for more information.

Returning Volunteers

Access the Volunteer Hub

If you’re currently an active TIFF Volunteer, please login to the Volunteer Hub (above) to access your account.

Please contact the Volunteer Office at [email protected] if you have any questions.

The Volunteer Award for Arts and Culture in Toronto (VAACT)

TIFF is proud to be a contributing member of VAACT, a program that strives to recognize volunteers who contribute their time to multiple arts and culture events and festivals throughout the year in the City of Toronto. The programme ends each year with an awards ceremony for VAACT participants, scheduled on International Volunteer Day (December 5, 2017).

Get Involved

Volunteers who choose to participate in VAACT must complete the minimum volunteer requirements with at least four of the cultural events or festivals listed below. For details on each organization’s requirements, please visit their website:

Find out More