
San Diego Intl Film Festival
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Join our Team!
Become an intern and immerse yourself in the film festival Industry.
Learn the day-in, day-out of planning a film festival with internship positions in programming, special events, marketing, development and community outreach and more!
Our internships begin at various times throughout the year until November 2025. You must be 18 years or older to apply. 21 years or older internships for certain departments. In order to receive college credit, resume credit or job credit you must hold the internship position for 4 or more months. Some internships are longer depending on the department.
Available Internships
eMARKETING GRAPHIC DESIGN (AVAILABLE MARCH 1 START)
We are looking for a Graphic Design Intern with a passion for social media and eMarketing. This role offers hands-on experience designing for digital platforms and contributing to marketing campaigns. If you have a keen eye for aesthetics and a love for film, we want to hear from you!
Key Responsibilities:
- Design visually compelling graphic content for social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.).
- Assist in creating email marketing campaigns, including headers, banners, and layout design.
- Edit and optimize photos and videos for digital use.
- Interact with attendees, filmmakers, and crew to assist in creating dynamic content for social media and website.
Qualifications:
- Strong graphic design skills with experience using tools like Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, InDesign and Canvas
- Friendly and outgoing personality, comfortable engaging with attendees, filmmakers, and staff during events
- Ability to multitask and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment with strong attention to detail
- Basic knowledge of email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, Constant Contact) is a plus.
- Experience collaborating on campaigns or contributing to marketing strategies for clubs, organizations, events, or coursework is a plus.
- Availability to be on-site during events: Film Insider Series (May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20) festival (Oct. 16-20) and flexibility for occasional evening or weekend events during internship.
What You’ll Gain:
- Hands-on experience in graphic design and digital marketing
- Networking opportunities with industry professionals, creatives, and filmmakers.
- Exposure to branding and design processes within the nonprofit and entertainment sectors.
- Portfolio development through real-world projects.
- College credit (if applicable) and a letter of recommendation upon successful completion.
Ideal Majors: Graphic Design, Marketing, Digital Media Design, Visual Communications, Advertising, Communication Design, Media Production
EVENTS COORDINATOR INTERNSHIP (AVAILABLE MARCH 1 START)
Working in the Programming Department to ensure the filmmaking experience with the festival is the highest. This is a fast paced Department that is willing to step in and help in any capacity.
Responsibilities:
Under the direction of the Festival Events Manager, the intern will observe and assist with various projects assigned by the San Diego Int’l Film Festival Event Management department.
- Manage vendors and schedules for on-site events
- Manage events schedules
- Assist with permitting and city needs for events
- Build event schedules and timing of vendor arrival, etc.
- Works alongside Events Manager to guides events volunteers at events
- On-site for the events and executing day of with the Festival Events Manager
Needs to be able to lift over 20 pounds and be able to be on feet for an extended period of time and has a car.
FILM OFFICE LIAISON INTERNSHIP (AVAILABLE MARCH 1 START)
Working in the Programming Department to ensure the best filmmakers experience at the Festival. This is a fast paced Department that is willing to step in and help in any capacity.
Responsibilities:
- The Filmmaker Liaison is the primary conduit between the Festival and the filmmakers prior and during to the festival
- Assist in reaching out to production companies and studios to help curate the Festival film selections.
- The Filmmaker Liaison will ensure that the filmmaker’s needs are met and that all terms agreed to are delivered in a timely manner
- Working with filmmakers that all their promotional materials are distributed fairly in the theater lobby
- Meeting the filmmakers at the Festival and coordinating their Q&A’s in auditoriums to ensure a good experience for the audience.
Ideal Majors: Business, Communications, Film
OFFICE ASSISTANT / CUSTOMER SERVICE INTERNSHIP (AVAILABLE MARCH 1 START)
This person needs to be organized, detail oriented, good communication skills, able to use Word, Google Drive, Powerpoint, etc.
Responsibilities:
- Answers or redirects phone calls and messages
- Answers or redirects general email inquiries
- Provides general office support
- Supports year-round Festival events
- Coordinate meetings and/or conference calls
- Manage schedules
Ideal Majors: Business or Communications
SOCIAL MEDIA INTERNSHIP (AVAILABLE MARCH 1 START)
We are seeking a creative and motivated Social Media Intern to join our team. This role is perfect for someone who loves film, has a knack for creating engaging content, and wants hands-on experience in digital marketing. While a passion for social media is essential, we are looking for candidates with experience in social media management or content creation beyond personal use—whether through previous internships, volunteer work, clubs, academic projects, etc.
Key Responsibilities:
- Familiarity with major social media platforms and content creation tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Spark, or similar).
- Assist in planning, creating, and scheduling social media content across platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin, TikTok).
- Help capture and share live content during events, screenings, and other SDIFF activities. Interact with attendees, filmmakers, and crew.
- Research social media trends, hashtags, and best practices to keep our content fresh and engaging.
- Monitor and collect metrics on social media performance ( reach, impressions, clicks, and follower growth)
Qualifications:
- Passion for film, storytelling and social media.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Friendly and outgoing personality, comfortable engaging with attendees, filmmakers, and staff during events
- Organized, detail-oriented, and able to work independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Basic photography, videography, and editing
- Availability to be on-site during events: Film Insider Series (May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20) festival (Oct. 16-20) and flexibility for occasional evening or weekend events during internship.
- What You’ll Gain:
- Hands-on experience in social media marketing within the entertainment and nonprofit sectors.
- Networking opportunities with industry professionals and film enthusiasts.
- A chance to contribute to a high-profile cultural event and make a lasting impact.
- College credit (if applicable) and a potential letter of recommendation upon successful completion of the internship.
Ideal Majors: Marketing, Communications, PR. Digital Media/Media Studies, Journalism, Film/Video Production, Business Administration
VIDEOGRAPHER / EDITOR INTERN (AVAILABLE MARCH 1 START
The San Diego International Film Festival is seeking a talented and creative Videographer & Editor Intern to capture the energy and excitement of our events. This position works within the Marketing Department and is solely focused on filming live event coverage, conducting interviews, and capturing behind-the-scenes content. It does not involve shooting narrative or scripted films. This role is ideal for someone passionate about film, storytelling, and digital content creation, with an interest in working on real-time, live events. The intern will be responsible for filming key moments during the festival, conducting on-site interviews, and editing compelling sizzle reels and B-roll footage that showcase the festival experience.
Key Responsibilities:
- Capture high-quality video footage of festival events, parties, red carpets, panels, and attendee interactions.
- Film behind-the-scenes moments and interviews with filmmakers, talent, and guests.
- Edit engaging sizzle reels and B-roll content for social media, promotional materials, and archival use.
- Collaborate with the marketing team to ensure video content aligns with the festival’s brand and messaging.
- Organize and manage video files for efficient post-production workflow.
Qualifications:
- Experience with video production, camera operation, and lighting techniques.
- Proficiency in video editing software (Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or similar).
- Strong storytelling skills and a keen eye for capturing compelling footage.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, live-event environment.
- Friendly and outgoing personality, comfortable engaging with attendees, filmmakers, and staff to capture dynamic content.
- Experience creating video content for marketing campaigns, clubs, organizations, or coursework is a plus—especially for projects that showcase event coverage, storytelling, or promotional materials.
- A passion for film, events, and digital media.
- Must have access to camera, video equipment, and editing software.
What You’ll Gain:
- This internship provides a unique opportunity to build a strong portfolio while being part of a world-class film festival.
Ideal Majors: Film Production, Cinematography, Digital Media, Broadcast Journalism, Multimedia Arts, Graphic Design (with a focus on motion graphics/video editing), Communications (with a focus on media production), Marketing (with an emphasis on digital content creation), Visual Arts, Journalism (with a focus on video storytelling)