2019 Chicago Underground Film Festival

Publicist Job Description

The Independent Filmmaker Project Chicago (IFP Chicago) is recruiting a Festival Publicist to join the 2019 Chicago Underground Film Festival team (CUFF). CUFF, now in its 26th year, is the longest running underground film festival in the world and showcases cutting-edge content that challenges, transforms, upends, and inspires. CUFF is a program of IFP Chicago, a membership organization committed to nurturing filmmakers and film culture in Chicago and beyond. The Festival Publicist manages and executes CUFF’s public relations strategy to promote and generate favorable media coverage surrounding CUFF 2019 taking place June 5, 9, 2019.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: — Serve as publicity contact for festival. — Research and develop new media contacts, update database. — Determine communication strategy and calendar. — Identify media opportunities for print, online, and broadcast (TV, radio) — Write and issue media correspondence, including press releases, media alerts, and promotional copy. — Coordinate interviews with filmmakers or VIP’s, managing special events related to media and press contacts. — Oversee CUFF social media campaign, managing all social media channels and the social media volunteers and interns that work with festival promotion. — Ensure consistent branding and messaging of festival.

— Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: — Ability to take initiative, employ good judgment, and manage projects from beginning to end — Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills — Exceptional ability to manage details and to multitask in a fast paced environment — Ability to meet deadlines and to anticipate next steps or needs — Work effectively both independently and as part of a team

— Previous experience in Public Relations, Media Relations or special event publicity.

Evening and weekend hours required. The Festival Publicist is a seasonal position, part-time prior to the festival starting in March but full-time during the festival week. The Festival Publicist reports to Artistic Director, Producer, and IFP Chicago Executive Director.

The Festival Publicist will prepare a festival wrap report and will coordinate a post-festival exit interview with

Artistic Director and Producer.

Compensation will include a modest stipend after festival wrap

To Apply:

Email resume to Festival Producer at jc at cuff.org indicating Festival Publicist in subject line