Employment & Internships

Seasonal Box Office Associate (Part Time)

Job Title: Cinema and Festival Box Office Associate (Seasonal Position)

Position Summary: The Cinema and Festival Box Office Associate is responsible for delivering excellent customer service while supporting daily box office operations, ticket sales, and event coordination for both the Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema and the Sidewalk Film Festival, and will support the setup, staffing, and breakdown of box office locations during festival week. This position reports to the Cinema & Festival Box Office Manager and serves as a key point of contact for patrons and filmmakers via in-person interactions, phone, and email. This role ensures smooth ticketing operations and a high level of patron satisfaction through strong knowledge and professional service.

This is a seasonal, part-time hourly position running from approximately May through September with flexible availability, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Full availability is required during the festival week (August 24–30, 2026), with an expectation of paid overtime during that period.

Key Responsibilities: - Provide friendly, professional customer service to patrons and filmmakers; greet guests and resolve inquiries or concerns - Sell and process tickets in person, online, and by phone using the Elevent ticketing system. - Manage guest lists, will call, ticket exchanges, and promotions in accordance with policies - Answer phones, respond to emails, and maintain accurate ticketing information - Troubleshoot and resolve basic technical issues related to box office software and hardware - Handle cash and credit transactions; balance cash drawers and complete daily financial reporting - Assist with merchandise and membership sales - Complete administrative tasks such as filing, reporting, recordkeeping, and supply management - Support front-of-house operations, including assisting guests with accessibility needs - Assist with setup and operation of off-site festival box offices - Develop strong knowledge of cinema and festival programming, schedules, and venues to provide accurate information - Support the Box Office Manager in training and overseeing festival volunteers during festival week - Perform other tasks as assigned by Box Office Management

Qualifications: - Strong customer service and communication skills (written and verbal) - Experience handling cash and maintaining financial accuracy - Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to multitask - Comfortable working in fast-paced, customer-facing environments - Ability to remain calm and professional under pressure - Ability to adapt to rapidly changing situations - Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills - Experience with point-of-sale or ticketing systems preferred

Special Considerations: - The position is based in Birmingham, Alabama; limited hybrid/remote work may be approved, but on-site presence is required for training, box office shifts, and festival operations. - Must be available to work extended hours, including nights and weekends, during the festival. - Physical requirements include standing, bending, lifting up to 25 lbs. (or up to 50 lbs. with assistance), and general mobility tasks - Commitment to fostering an equitable, accessible, and inclusive environment.

Compensation: - $12 per hour plus expected overtime pay during festival season. Benefits also include free and discounted movie tickets, merchandise, concessions, and additional festival VIP passes.

Sidewalk Film is now accepting applications for Summer (June-August) 2026 interns.

Please note, due to the volume of intern applications we receive, we do not necessarily respond to all applicants.

Applicants who are selected will be notified by June 1, 2026.

The following internship positions will be available: - Festival Film Traffic and Programming Intern - Education/Outreach Intern - Development Intern

We are happy to work with students who are completing an internship for school credit as well as those who are not required to complete an internship as a part of their degree program. Internships are open to undergraduate and graduate students from any college or university. Film knowledge is a plus, but not a requirement for our 2025 internships.

All internships will require a minimum of 16 hours per week and open availability during our festival (August 24 – 30, 2026).

All interns receive a stipend based on their individual schedule and term of commitment.

In order to be considered for a Sidewalk Film internship, you must complete the basic application here (https://sidewalkfest.com/internship/), and submit a resume and recommendation letter. Applicants who do not complete all three steps will not be considered.

General Expectations: We expect all interns, regardless of their specific role, to exhibit professionalism, punctuality, dependability and attention to detail.

Specific Expectations Per Role: - Festival Film Traffic and Programming Intern (great for someone who is interested in film/film programming/critique, data management): Assist Technical Director with festival film traffic, communication with filmmakers, programming staff, and marketing staff. Data entry, use of Microsoft Word and Excel will be required. This is NOT a programming position in which you will be selecting films for the Festival. Film knowledge is a plus, but not a requirement. - Education/Outreach Intern (great for someone interested in education, non-profit management, or event planning): Assist EDO Director with the planning, marketing, and implementation of Sidewalk’s existing and upcoming educational programs. These programs include Filmmaker Happy Hour, Salon, Tech + Technique, Scramble, Youth Board, Sidewrite, Sidewalk Lab, Filmmaker Grants, Book + Film Club, Beyond the Screen, and more. The ideal candidate will be looking for experience in the education, nonprofit, or event planning fields. Film Studies and/or Film Production knowledge is preferred.

Direct questions regarding internships to casey [at] sidewalkfest.com