Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Kids Operations Contractor

TO APPLY

Please send a cover letter and resume to [email protected]

Job Description: The annual Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Kids, organized by Utah Film Center, is seeking an Operations Contractor to support the Utah Film Center with the operations of the 2026 Festival. The ideal candidate for this job is a personable, organized, detail-oriented, and resourceful individual who is a strong problem solver and thrives in both independent and team-based settings. This role offers a candidate hands-on experience in nonprofit and film festival operations and will report directly to the Festival Director of the Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Kids.

This Salt Lake City–based role will start Tuesday, February 17, 2026, and will conclude on Friday, May 1, 2026. The work in the early weeks of the contract is project-based for the festival and will have a flexible schedule, and the bulk of the operations and logistics work will happen from March 15 through the conclusion of the festival on May 1, with fixed weekly meetings with the festival operations team. The role will not exceed 20 hours per week during the duration of the contract, and the Operations Contractor is expected to be on site for the festival from April 21-25, 2026. Based on performance in this contractor position, there is potential to have other ops contractor jobs around our festivals at the Utah Film Center.

This contract role is designed for an individual with previous event production, festival operations, or large-scale program coordination experience, ideally in nonprofit, arts, or community-based environments.

Location: Primarily Salt Lake City, UT (hybrid work format with required onsite event days)

Contract Term: February 17 – May 1, 2026

Estimated Time Commitment: No more than 20 hours/week, variable week-to-week of contract, with the highest amount of hours worked (20 hours) two weeks before the festival date of April 25, 2025.

Key On-Site Event Dates: April 21-25, 2026 (required)

Compensation: : $3,000.00 flat-rate contract

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Support the Festival Director in operations planning and logistics, including, but not limited to:Creating volunteer and Utah Film Center staffing schedules,Maintaining venue communications, contracts, rentals, and paperwork, Developing festival floor plans and event load-in and load-out procedures,Creating vendor contracts and paperwork, and completing post-festival invoicing for payments. Creating event runs of show for each activity at the festival, Coordinating all staff and contractor meals, travel, and load-in and load-out vehicle rentals, Supporting the logistics of all operations-related aspects of the festival, andBeing the main point of contact for the days of the festival with all external vendors, contractors, volunteers, and partners. Attend festival planning meetings on Tuesdays from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm each week starting February 17, 2026. Be on site for the festival the week of April 21 – 25, 2026, for operations management.

SCOPE OF WORK

Planning & Pre-Production (February–mid-April)

Develop staffing and volunteer scheduling plansManage communications, contracts, paperwork, and requirements for venues and vendorsPrepare production documents, including floor plans, load-in/load-out schedules, and run-of-show materialsCoordinate required rentals, permits, transportation, meals, and hospitality packages
On-Site Event Support (April 21–25)

Serve as primary operations contact for venues, vendors, contractors, volunteers, and partnersSupport venue setup, guest experience logistics, and schedule adherenceTroubleshoot issues quickly and professionally under time-sensitive conditions
Post-Event Closeout (Late April–May 1)

Track invoices, confirm vendor documentation, and support payment processingParticipate in a post-event debrief and provide operational recommendations

REQUIREMENTS

A valid Driver’s License and age 21+ to drive company vehicles and rented vehicles for the festival load-in and load-outReliable transportation to Utah Film Center offices and the Viridian Event CenterProfessional-level verbal and written communication skillsDetail-oriented in all their workExcellent organizational and time management skillsA proactive approach to problem-solving, including strong communication, evaluation, and decision-making skillsAbility to adapt to the company culture and current workflows for festival operations for ease of implementationExperience organizing and managing eventsEnjoy working with children and families professionally and cheerfullyThe ability to professionally represent the organization in the fieldThe ability to handle oneself professionally while under pressureFamiliarity with or a willingness to learn Salesforce, Google Workspace, Asana, Slack, and Salesforce for festival operations.

TO APPLY

Please send a cover letter and resume to [email protected]

ABOUT UTAH FILM CENTER

The Utah Film Center is a Salt Lake City-based 501(c) (3) organization that connects people, stories, and ideas through film exhibition, media arts education, and artist support. Founded in 2002, Utah Film Center presents films for cinema lovers of all ages, offers in-class and teacher-focused education programs, and provides a variety of services and support for filmmakers and media artists. We collaborate with educational and community organizations to champion underrepresented voices and perspectives, encourage diversity, empathy, and community-building, and develop new audiences for film. Additionally, we curate and organize two film festivals each year: the Tumbleweeds Film Festival, which is geared towards kids and families, and the Utah Queer Film Festival, featuring stories from the LGBTQIA+ community.

ABOUT THE TUMBLEWEEDS FILM FESTIVAL FOR KIDS

Tumbleweeds Film Festival showcases films about kids and for kids. The annual festival features a student film competition and presents workshops to engage Utah’s young and curious content creators. In its 14th year, it is the Mountain West’s longest-running independent film festival for kids. In 2026, we will offer the festival in partnership with Salt Lake County Libraries and hold it at the Viridian Event Center in West Jordan on Saturday, April 25.