MPI was founded in 2005 on the belief that stories can change the world. MPI’s full-time team of experienced producers and dedicated support staff work with and manage a network of hundreds of filmmakers and contractors annually to advance MPI’s mission by producing MPI Original Films and launching the careers of talented filmmakers. MPI films screen at top festivals and gain wide distribution on popular streamers such as Netflix and Hulu. Recent films include Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game, which the New Yorker called “one of the best [ten] films of 2023,” and Motherland, a dystopian sci-fi film is currently on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and Google Play.

Overview

The program associate plays a vital role in supporting MPI’s mission by managing logistics, communications, and operations for the organization’s programs, workshops, screenings, and events. This position ensures seamless execution from initial planning through successful onsite delivery, enabling filmmakers to thrive and films about human freedom to reach wider audiences. The Program Associate will report to the Vice President of Production. This is a full-time, virtual role that can be based anywhere within the U.S.

The salary range for this position is $55–65K, commensurate with experience.

Key Responsibilities

  • Execute the film festival submission strategy as directed by MPI’s festival consultant, including managing entries via platforms such as FilmFreeway
  • Track and update all festival related information
  • Create and update Basecamp project pages for each film’s screenings and festival participation
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for festival programmers and handle all related communications and asset delivery requests, including resizing posters, stills, and other materials as needed
  • Coordinate filmmaker and MPI team attendance at film festivals, including travel arrangements, detailed itineraries, festival passes, and logistics
  • Organize and maintain film materials (video files, posters, stills, and other marketing assets) in systematic Dropbox folders for each MPI Original film
  • Oversee printing and shipping of postcards, posters, and other promotional items to festivals and screenings for use by filmmakers and the MPI team onsite
  • Provide onsite support at screenings, workshops, and events as required
  • Build, manage, and maintain program applications, surveys, websites, and reports using Swoogo, including ongoing communications with applicants, filmmakers and attendees before, during, and after events
  • Handle filmmaker onboarding by drafting, sending, tracking, and filing agreements and related documentation, as well as tracking/ triggering payments
  • Maintain organized digital filing systems for agreements, assets, and program records
  • Keep Basecamp projects, timelines, and tasks up to date to reflect real-time program progress
  • Assist MPI’s impact producer with campaigns for MPI Original Films

Qualifications

  • 2+ years of experience in program coordination, event management, arts administration, or film festival operations
  • Proven ability to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with frequently changing priorities
  • Highly self-motivated and independent, with strong follow-through and minimal need for supervision
  • Exceptional organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail; comfortable juggling multiple systems, timelines, and deliverables simultaneously
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; confident and professional when interacting with filmmakers, partners, and attendees
  • Energetic, outgoing, and people-focused demeanor; comfortable serving as MPI’s welcoming onsite representative at events
  • Calm, flexible, and solution-oriented mindset, especially during live events and unexpected challenges
  • Hands-on experience supporting or executing onsite events, including attendee check-in and logistical coordination
  • Familiarity with tools such as Swoogo, FilmFreeway, Canva, Photoshop, Basecamp, Salesforce, Google Workspace, or similar platforms is a strong plus
  • Genuine passion for MPI’s mission and enthusiasm for providing high-quality operational support to programs that launch filmmakers’ careers and promote films centered on human freedom
  • Ability to travel up to 10%

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:

    • Cover letter that includes:
      • An introductory paragraph(s) describing three distinct reasons you are drawn to MPI’s mission and how you came to those beliefs
      • Salary Requirements
    • Résumé

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.

Questions can be directed to Angela Hight, Project Manager, who is managing the search process: [email protected].

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.

Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.