BlackStar Film Festival is an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and of global communities of color, showcasing films by Black, Brown and Indigenous people from around the world.
BlackStar is seeking a TECH PRODUCTION COORDINATOR who will support film screening tech on-site. The Tech Production Coordinator will report to the Technical Producer.
Responsibilities include:
Tests media on venue screens in the lead-up to the festival, identifying problems and technical issues, and strategically resolving them with venue staff, filmmakers, or distributors.
Serves as primary liaison between BlackStar staff and audience and venue tech teams.
Ensures the proper files are cued up and ready to be screened before a live audience.
Provides support to the Tech Director for additional tech needs needed for panels and other festival events.
Solves issues that arise in the moment with any given festival screening.
Ensures that audio description devices, listening devices, and other accessibility devices are available and working; troubleshooting problems if they stop working.
Maintains a friendly, knowledgeable, and professional attitude to promote a positive festival experience.
Attends daily morning all-staff meetings during the festival.
Skills Required:
Working knowledge of the film presentation process including file management & compression, captions, etc.
A commitment to radical hospitality.
Strategic thinking and effective, clear communication to work with venue tech staff.
Proactive, self-starter with excellent organizational skills and superior attention to detail.
Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines.
Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to work with artists, audiences, colleagues, and stakeholders with positivity and professionalism.
Ability to make sound decisions in a deadline-oriented environment.
Ability to work as a team member and/or work independently and take initiative as appropriate.
Problem-solving skills and the ability to act quickly in a fast-paced environment.
Working knowledge of Adobe Premiere Pro and Media Encoder is a plus.
Compensation & Schedule:
Compensation is $2,600 for administrative duties, meetings, and festival work. This is a contracted position working June 10, 2026 to August 11, 2026 with some evenings and weekends required. Candidates are expected to attend the festival in-person from August 6–9, 2026. The individual in this role is expected to work approximately 8 hours per week before the festival, 40 hours total during the festival, and 1 hour total after the festival for a virtual debrief meeting. Preference for Philadelphia-area candidates.
How to Apply
Fill out this job application form by February 19, and include your resume and cover letter. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. If you have questions about this position, email [email protected] with the subject line: Tech Production Coordinator.
—
BlackStar is an equal opportunity employer. We are dedicated to building a culturally diverse and equitable workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage applications from people of color and others who are under-represented in the cultural sector. Our application period is open until we have a diverse and qualified pool of candidates.