Voluntary Internship Opportunities at the BFI
The British Film Institute is registered in England as a charity, number 287780.
The BFI is the lead organisation for film in the UK with the ambition to create a flourishing film environment in which innovation, opportunity and creativity can thrive.
We are delighted to be able to offer a number of voluntary internship opportunities across the BFI. Our internships provide work experience and skills development across a number of disciplines within the BFI. Opportunities exist within film preservation, collections and information, fundraising, Sight and Sound magazine, our library, marketing, digital and many more.
We warmly welcome and encourage applicants from the widest possible range of backgrounds. If your perception is that the world of film is not an obvious career choice for you we would like to offer you a chance to change your view.
We are now recruiting Voluntary Interns for placements commencing in January and April 2013 (each cohort is for 3 months).
Travel and lunch costs are paid (see our information pack for details). The opportunities are unpaid, but we will work with you to provide you with useful work experience, develop your skills, plus offer guidance with your future career and keep in touch with you. We do have a track record of past interns securing paid employment with us through open competition as and when we have vacancies.
We very much value our interns and the contribution they make to the BFI.
Further details about the opportunities within our information pack can be obtained by visiting or by email: .
The closing date for applications is 10amThursday 22 November 2012. Interviews will be held weeks commencing 10/17 December 2012.
Voluntary Internship Opportunities at the BFI
2013 Information Pack
Contents
The information within this pack is provided to assist your application. Information about the BFI can be found at our website: with information specifically about opportunities at
The BFI / Page 3Our Voluntary Internship Scheme
How to apply and selection / Page 4
Internship Roles
- BFI Collections Intern
- Development Team Intern
- Digital Team Intern
- Human Resources Intern
- Information Specialist Intern
- Library Intern
- Marketing Strategy Team Intern
- Monitoring
- Press and PR Intern
- Sight & Sound Intern
- Strategic Development
Frequently Asked Questions / Pages 13-14
Welcome to our information pack for
Voluntary Internship Opportunities at the BFI
Thank you for your interest in our Information pack for Voluntary Internship Opportunities at the BFI. I hope that you find this information pack helpful and we look forward to receiving your application.
The BFI
The BFI is the lead organisation for film in the UK with the ambition to create a flourishing film environment in which innovation, opportunity and creativity can thrive by:
- Connecting audiences to the widest choice of British and World cinema
- Preserving and restoring the most significant film collection in the world for today and future generations
- Championing emerging and world class film makes in the UK
- Investing in creative, distinctive and entertaining work
- Promoting British film and talent to the world
- Growing the next generation of film makers and audiences
The BFI’s diverse public programme presents over a thousand films a year, across BFI Southbank, BFI Imax, and the BFI London Film Festivals. As the biggest distributor of cultural cinema in the UK, it supplies film to over 600 venues across the whole of the UK; over 2000 hours of material are also available for free online. The BFI cares for the National Film Archive, the world’s most significant film archive, and has a vibrant DVD label releasing around 50 titles a year and publications which include Sight & Sound Magazine. Online, the BFI's activities exceed eleven million interactions.
As the Lottery distributor for film the BFI provides funding for film development and production, distribution, training; and in education through Skillset and First Light. It has also has strategic partnerships for film across the devolved nations and funding in the English regions; responsibility for UK film certification, which is the gateway to the UK film tax credit; and the MEDIA Desk UK. In supporting Film London and the British Film Commission, the BFI also takes on promoting British film and talent internationally.
Our Voluntary Internship Scheme
Internships at the BFI are voluntary placements, and therefore unpaid. We have a number of placements available in a wide range of departments and disciplines across the organisation; in areas such as our Collections, Marketing, Press, Library and Development.
Each 3 month placement offers a unique opportunity to gain work experience in the UK’s leading film organisation, build on transferable skills such as relationship building and team work, and get involved with projects that make a valuable contribution to the BFI.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.
Recruitment
The BFI recruits Interns on 3 month placements. This recruitment campaign is looking for people for the following dates:
2 January – 29 March 2013
1 April – 28 June 2013
There may be some flexibility in start dates however the internships will end at the advertised date.
How to Apply
All candidates must complete our application and monitoring forms which can be found on our website at
Volunteer Application Form
Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
We are unable to accept CV’s and covering letters.
You may apply for more than one internship in this recruitment cycle; however we ask that you complete separate application forms indicating your suitability for each opportunity.
Please email your completed application form, and equal opportunities monitoring form to .
Thank you for your interest in the BFI Voluntary Internship scheme, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Our Voluntary Internship Opportunities
Role Profiles
The BFI is able to offer the following voluntary internship opportunities:
BFI Collections Intern (4 positions)
Development Team Intern
Digital Team Intern
Human Resources Intern
Information Specialist Intern (2 positions per rotation)
Library Intern
Marketing Strategy Team Intern (2 positions per rotation)
Monitoring
Press and PR Intern (3 positions per rotation)
Sight & Sound Intern
Strategic Development
The voluntary internships each have a role profile that details what the department does, what the intern will be involved in during the placement and any other role specific requirements the department is looking for in the successful candidate.
Under each role profile there is also some basic information about the Internship, such as where it is based, what 3 month period it is recruiting for (if not both), and how many days per week would be preferable. Please read through the profiles carefully to ensure you understand fully the requirements for the Internship.
Person specification
To be successful in your voluntary internship application you will demonstrate the following;
- PC literate – e.g. email, word, excel.
- Good written and spoken communication skills
- Organised approach with an attention to detail
- Ability to build relationships
- Ability to work on your own initiative and within a team
- Proactive, customer-focused approach to work
- Interest in film, the work of the BFI
You will also need:
- To be at least 18 years old
- Have the ability to work in the UK
Please demonstrate how you meet the above in your application form, and tell us why you are suited to the specific internship you are applying for (detailed below).
BFI Collections Intern (4 positions)
January – March 2013
Based at BFI National Archive, Berkhamsted
5 days per week
The Collections & Information department is responsible for the management, curation, documentation, conservation and access provision to all BFI collections relating to the film and television industries, including National Archive of Film & Television and Special Collections of documents, photographs, posters and design. We are looking for applicants with an interest in archiving and/or museum studies and/or conservation to work at our Conservation Centre.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to be involved with film or video collections and stills and posters collections on a range of projects:
- The examination and re-housing of a range of film posters. This will involve undertaking basic conservation and cleaning, checking and updating catalogue records, re-housing the posters in archival boxes and labelling and barcoding each box.
- The BFI is currently in the process of digitising its collection of 1.2 million film and television stills to increase access and improve preservation. Phase two of this project will involve the digitisation of our stills publicity albums which contain many rarely seen images. In preparation for this each album needs to be carefully de-assembled, re-housed in an archival box and catalogued to a basic level.
- The BFI has recently launched a new Collections Information Database which manages access to the collections, with improved barcoding and movement control. This project will involve movement and tracking of collections with barcoding and enhancing the catalogue record for film or video items.
The successful candidates will have a demonstrable interest in film and/or photography and design and in archival/museum/conservation work, with good attention to detail and an understanding of the care needed when working with rare archival materials. Successful applicants will be briefed in object handling, movement control, working in collections environments, use of the BFI’s collections management system, and the relevant Health & Safety issues.
Development Team Intern
January-March 2013, April-June 2013
Based at BFI Southbank
5 days per week
The BFI’s Development Department has responsibility for raising funds for a wide range of BFI activities through corporate sponsorship, individual philanthropy, trusts, foundations and public bodies. Activities include BFI London Film Festival, BFI Southbank, BFI IMAX and the BFI National Archive. An integral part of our work is to nurture and develop long-term relationships with potential and current donors and sponsors.
This is an opportunity for someone interested in this type of work to gain valuable experience across the areas of individual giving, trusts and foundations and corporate sponsorship.
The successful candidate will gain experience in prospect identification and research; the departmental database (Raiser’s Edge); helping prepare clear and concise Briefing Notes for cultivation events; supporting the team with a number of fundraising events including guest list administration, helping coordinate RSVPs and record guest feedback; BFI Patrons administration and priority bookings; supporting the team with sponsorship proposals and evaluations; researching charitable trusts, foundations and public bodies; and lastly helping prepare and write grant reports, short fundraising proposals and reports for Film Societies.
In addition to the general requirements, for this particular internship you will also need:
- Demonstrable interest in a career in fundraising
- Meticulous approach to work and eye for detail
- The ability to deal effectively with people at all levels
Digital Team Intern
January-March 2013, April-June 2013
Based at Stephen Street
5 days per week
BFI Digital has an ambitious programme of work to deliver include developing a permanent online presence for the collections held by the BFI; significantly expanding online audiences' exposure to and engagement with the BFI's cultural programme and growing the revenue generating role of the digital directorate.
The successful candidate will assist the Interactive Production Team in their day to day activities including helping with the execution of the BFI’s social media activity, including editorial and marketing work and supporting the web production process by getting involved in research and basic coding.
In addition to the general requirements for this particular internship you will also need to demonstrate:
- An interest in and good working knowledge of the web, including developments in technology and innovative approaches to interactivity
Human Resources Intern
January-March 2013
Based at Stephen Street
2-3 days per week (flexible)
People at the BFI are important. Human Resources provide specialist advice and support to people throughout the BFI to help and enable them to deliver their objectives.
We are involved in the complete people life cycle of the organisation from people planning, recruitment and selection, learning and development, employee relations, performance management, organisation development initiatives, policy research and design, working with our trade unions, providing metrics and analysis of our people through to pensions and benefits and leaving us.
The internship in HR will provide experience of being part of a busy HR team. Work experience and skills development will focus upon recruitment, data management and office administration, with the chance to be involved in varied project work.
In addition to our general requirements for this particular internship you will also need to demonstrate:
- An interest in a career in human resources
Information Specialist Intern (2 positions per rotation)
January-March 2013, April-June 2013
Based at Stephen Street
2-3 days per week (flexible)
The British Film Institute has recently launched a new Collections Information Database (CID) which manages and facilitates access to the totality of the BFI collections. BFI holdings include films, television programmes, books, journals, photographs, posters, audio recordings, scripts and personal papers.
The Information Specialist team have a responsibility for ensuring that all BFI collections and knowledge resources are documented to high and consistent standards in adherence with the BFI’s Documentation Policy.
In order to have easy access to the BFI’s collections, it is crucial that the description of moving image’s subject content, and name authority control are accurate. The successful candidates will have the opportunity to get involved in two key projects that look at these areas of work:
- Subject indexing a collection of British television programmes.
- Research and identification of persons and organisation names used in collections data
The placement may suit Library and Information students with a strong interest in learning how traditional library skills (i.e. cataloguing, classification and authority control), are used to better facilitate access to the collections. The chosen candidates will be able to demonstrate good attention to detail and commitment to professional development in this field.
Library Intern
January-March 2013, April-June 2013
Based at BFI Southbank
5 days per week (please note the BFI Reuben Library working window is 10.00am-7.30pm)
The Collections & Information department is responsible for the management, curation, documentation, conservation and access provision to all BFI collections, including the National Archive of Film & Television, the Special Collections and BFI Reuben Library.
The successful applicant will gain experience and be involved in library related tasks such as helping researchers in the Reading Room, general library duties including processing of new acquisitions, retrieval and filing of material, answering email enquiries, as well as assisting the Serials Librarian and Acquisitions Librarian with specific collection related projects, and help with the digitisation initiatives in the library.
This placement may suit an enthusiastic library graduate/trainee, with a keen interest in Librarianship, who can demonstrate initiative as well as be a team player. A basic knowledge of Library management systems and cataloguing would be useful.
Marketing Strategy Team Intern(2 positions per rotation)
January-March 2013, April-June 2013
One based at BFI Southbank and one at Stephen Street each rotation.
5 days per week
The BFI marketing strategy team raises the profile of BFI venues, DVDs and UK wide releases through understanding audiences and reaching them through efficient and effective communications activities.
Our objective is to give successful applicants valuable experience of working in a busy marketing and communications environment and in an exciting sector packed with opportunities.
The successful applicants will assist in the organisation and distribution of marketing materials; liaise with cinemas; who have booked BFI distribution titles and support their marketing efforts; co-ordinate front of house materials at BFI Southbank; and negotiate partnership marketing campaigns, including but not limited to: reciprocal mentions in e-bulletins, competitions, etc. for major BFI seasons, as well as BFI Distribution titles.
In addition to the general requirements for this particular internship you will also need to demonstrate:
- Ambition to work in film marketing
Monitoring
April-June 2013
Based at Stephen Street
5 days per week
The BFI Monitoring Department is responsible for monitoring, evaluating and reporting the BFI’s activities; co-ordinates the annual BFI Business Plan; and, administers the process for handling customer enquiries, Parliamentary questions and Freedom of Information questions.
This internship will give the successful applicants experience in producing statistical documentation and reports, data inputting and database management and will give the successful applicant a valuable insight into how all the teams in the BFI contribute to the organisational success.
In addition to the general requirements for this particular internship you will also need to demonstrate:
- Interest in office administration;
- Interest in, and aptitude for, data, numbers and spreadsheets.
Press & PR Intern (3 positions per rotation)
January-March 2013, April-June 2013
Based at Stephen Street
5 days per week
The BFI press team is tasked with raising the profile of the BFI, promoting all BFI activity to as wide an audience as possible with specialist press officers handling all trade and industry, archive and heritage, BFI Southbank, BFI festivals, BFI DVD and theatrical distribution press enquiries.