2023-2024 Indy Shorts and HIFF Volunteer Screener Application: Part 1 of 2

NOTE: This is part 1 of 2 of the application. You will receive an email with Part 2 (Film Assessment) Thank you for your interest in screening films for the 2024 Academy Award®-qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival and the Heartland International Film Festival! Our volunteer screening committees assist with the viewing of films submitted to Indy Shorts and HIFF. The Heartland Film programming staff carefully selects applicants based on their knowledge and interest in film and their strength in writing and film analysis. Heartland Film considers thousands of submissions internationally each year, each viewed at least twice by different committee members, some more. The primary task of a committee member is to thoughtfully view and identify films of interest to the Heartland Film programming staff. It’s one thing to say you like movies, but it’s another to commit to watching hundreds of films of varying quality and succinctly yet critically evaluate/score them at the required level. SHORT FILMS: Volunteer timeframe options: (you may choose more than one) Oct - Dec 31st (excluding holidays) Jan 1st - Mar 31st Mar 1st - May 31st We define shorts as films 40 minutes and under; the average runtime of submissions is 15 minutes. The review process is entirely online, and we require pre-screeners to review a minimum of 28 shorts biweekly (14 per week). Students are required to review a minimum of 14 shorts biweekly (7 per week). Each screener is assigned a new batch of films every two weeks and are expected to complete their reviews within those 2-week timeframes. FEATURE FILMS: Volunteer timeframe options (you may choose more than one): Jan 1st - Mar 31st Mar 1st - May 31st May 31st - July 31st We define features as films 41 minutes and longer. The average runtime of submissions is 80-90 minutes. The review process is entirely online, and we require pre-screeners to review a minimum of 6 feature films biweekly (3 per week). Each screener is assigned a new batch of films every two weeks and are expected to complete their reviews within those 2-week timeframes. BENEFITS/PERKS: Screening committee volunteers will receive festival ticket/fest pass benefits based on the total number of films they have reviewed at the end of the pre-screening period. TECH REQUIREMENTS: Because the screening process is entirely online, you can live anywhere, but you need a reliable Internet connection for streaming HD video and a personal computer or tablet. PART 2 of application: When you complete this interest form, you will receive an email with Part 2 of the application, in which we will ask you to watch, rate, and comment on the quality of three short films in order to determine whether this volunteer opportunity is the right fit. *Submitting this form does NOT guarantee a spot on the screening committee. Part 2 of the application is required for full consideration. If you have any questions please contact Volunteer Coordinator Julie Landrum at jlandrum@heartlandfilm.org

Today's Date

First Name

Last Name

Your Pronouns

Optional

Primary contact email

Please double check your email address before submitting.

Phone number

Format: (xxx)-xxx-xxxx

City, State/Province, and Country of residence

Are you a student?

Tell us a bit about yourself and your relationship to film.

If applicable, please include other film festivals you have attended, screen for, program for, volunteer for, etc. If applicable, please include 1-3 URL links to any film related writing samples.

{name}

Describe a recent film that resonated with you. What did you find compelling about it?

{name}

Describe a recent film that you did not like and tell us why.

{name}

Why are you interested in screening films for Indy Shorts and/or Heartland Film Festival?

{name}

Have you ever attended Indy Shorts or Heartland Film Festival? What do you know about these events?

{name}

Which committee would you like to screen for?

Shorts (films under 40 minutes)
Features (films 40+ minutes)

If accepted, which committee is your second choice?

Do you have regular access to a personal/private computer or tablet with a reliable Internet connection suitable for streaming HD video content?

When can you commit to screening films?

Select all that apply.

As a film screener, you are committing to watching a minimum of 28 shorts *or* 6 features every two weeks for the duration of at least one of the above timeframes. Is this manageable for your current schedule?

Yes
No
Not sure- I will explain in the comments section below

Are there any weeks during these timeframes when you would not be available to review films? If so, please note the specific dates.

*Screeners must notify programming staff of any conflicts or planned time away in advance when possible. We understand if unexpected circumstances arise.

{name}

Are you involved with any films that plan to submit to Indy Shorts or Heartland Film Festival 2024?

If YES, please explain.

{name}

Race or Ethnicity (Optional question)

Check one or more boxes that reflect your race and/or ethnicity. Heartland Film is an equal opportunity organization. This information will only be used for demographics data purposes, not as selection criteria. This question is optional.

How do you identify? (Optional question)

Check one or more boxes that reflect your gender identity. Heartland Film is an equal opportunity organization. This information will only be used for demographics data purposes, not as selection criteria. This question is optional.

How did you hear about this opportunity?

Select all that apply

Anything else you would like us to know?

{name}

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2023-2024 Indy Shorts and HIFF Volunteer Screener Application: Part 1 of 2

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