Volunteer
Volunteers are a crucial part of the success of the Cascade Festival of African Films. Many budding filmmakers and film lovers find volunteering for our festival to be a wonderful experience. Not only do you see how film festivals work, but you get to learn from and support African cinema as community members or filmmakers, while deepening your knowledge and connection.
- Volunteering gives supporters access to screenings, panels, events, and more for free
- Meet filmmakers and network with attendees to learn more about the craft and fulfill your love of African cinema
- Support your community, while getting a behind-the-scenes view of the industry and if you are a budding filmmaker, you get the advantage of learning how festivals work to better present your work
Outlined below are volunteer role descriptions and other FAQ details for new and returning CFAF volunteers. If this sounds like something you’d like to do for the CFAF, please apply and let us know.
Volunteer Roles
Marketplace Lead
Curate CFAF’s marketplace of local vendors during screenings. You’ll recruit vendors, coordinate setup, and ensure smooth operations. Perfect for someone outgoing and organized.
Time commitment: Seasonal (Jan–Feb), hybrid with some on-site hours.
Community Tables Lead: Coordinate community and sponsor tables at festival venues. Share setup info, provide support, and collect feedback. Ideal for someone who enjoys people and logistics.
Time commitment: 1–2 hours/week (Jan–Feb), hybrid.
Community Conversations
Help with audience facilitation during after-film discussions, often with filmmakers, activists, and professionals to explore concepts raised in key films during the festival.
After-Film Speaker: Offer reflections and join post-film Q&As. Ideal for community members connected to a film’s country or theme.
Time commitment: About 1 hour following a screening. In person.
Fundraising Team
Grant Writer: Help CFAF secure funding by researching, drafting, and tracking grant applications. Great for detail-oriented writers and storytellers.
Time commitment: Based on grant calls. Flexible Remote or hybrid.
Sponsorship Lead: Help build relationships with local businesses and organizations that support CFAF. You’ll coordinate sponsorship outreach, track benefits, and ensure sponsor visibility during the festival. Ideal for someone outgoing, detail-oriented, and comfortable with email or phone outreach.
Time commitment: 2–3 hours/month year-round, with increased activity October–February. Hybrid.
Endowment Lead: Support CFAF’s long-term sustainability by helping track and communicate about the festival’s endowment. You’ll collaborate with the finance team to gather updates and share impact stories with donors. Ideal for someone with financial or administrative experience who values community legacy.
Time commitment: 1–2 hours/month year-round. Remote or hybrid.
Friends of CFAF Lead: Help nurture the CFAF community by coordinating the Friends of CFAF donor program. You’ll track memberships, send updates, and support donor appreciation efforts. Ideal for someone who enjoys connecting with people and has strong follow-up skills.
Time commitment: 2–3 hours/month year-round, more during festival season. Hybrid.
Film Reviewer Team
Research and review potential films for the fest. View films and complete film report cards. Participate in the team dialogue process to identify film fest archives and top-priority films that meet the criteria of the festival. Participate in identifying skilled facilitators, potential resource persons, and action partners appropriate to each film and geographic area.
Audience Development Team (Marketing and Promotions)
Poster Distribution Lead: Plan and oversee poster and flyer distribution throughout Portland. You’ll work with volunteers to spread the word about CFAF.
Time commitment: Two half-days in January. In person.
Festival Outreach Team
Social Media Lead: Help spread the word about CFAF! Create posts, schedule content, and share festival highlights across platforms. Ideal for someone creative, tech-savvy, and short on in-person time. Time commitment: 1–2 hours/week during the festival, lighter year-round. Remote or hybrid.
Community Ambassador: Serve as a connector between CFAF and local African and diaspora communities. You’ll help share festival news, invite participation, and gather feedback. Perfect for someone active in community spaces who enjoys outreach and storytelling.
Time commitment: 2–3 hours/month year-round, flexible and community-based. Hybrid
Community Contacts Lead: Maintain and update CFAF’s community partner list. You’ll reach out to local organizations, scholars, and contacts.
Time commitment: 1–2 hours/month, remote or hybrid.
Host Film notes
Present film audiences with an introduction to the festival and a short synopsis of the feature film.
Audio/Visual Support
Assist the A/V team with basic tech setup and troubleshooting. A great opportunity to learn about film projection and event tech.
Time commitment: During film festival event month (Feb). Arrive 60–90 minutes before screenings. In person.
Screening venues support team
Front-of-house assistance by welcoming, answering questions, and directing attendees – managing lineups, scanning tickets, ushering, and encouraging the public to vote for the People’s Choice.
Info Table Volunteer: Welcome guests, share program materials, and answer questions at the info table. Great for friendly, outgoing volunteers.
Time commitment: Arrive 1 hour before screenings (Feb). In person.
Merchandise or Raffle Volunteer: Assist at the merchandise and raffle tables, process donations, and engage with festival-goers. Training provided.
Time commitment: During screenings, evenings and weekends (Feb). Arrive 1 hour before screenings. In person.
Film Host: Introduce films and speakers, welcome audiences, and make announcements. Perfect for confident public speakers and film lovers.
Time commitment: About 30 minutes before screenings (Feb). In person.
Usher: Help guests find seats, monitor capacity, and assist during screenings. Perfect for new volunteers.
Time commitment: During screenings, evenings and weekends (Feb). In person.