Internship position Film

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 4,500 - 6,700; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Stipend €400

4-month internship

Academic credits 12 ECTS

Attend films and events

Organise your own film event

Job summary

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam invites three enthusiastic interns to join Rialto VU Griffioen on campus. You will learn how a cinema operates, welcome audiences, assist with events, and explore Film Technology, Venue Hire or Special Programming.

The internship runs about four months from 1 February 2027, with evenings and one weekend day per week required. You will gain hands-on experience across front-of-house duties, event coordination and audience development, with the chance to present ideas

Qualifications

• You are currently enrolled in a university or university of applied sciences programme.
• Strong interest in film and cinema culture.
• Welcoming, communicative and enjoy working with audiences.
• Independent, proactive and happy to take on practical tasks.
• Enjoy contributing ideas and trying out new approaches.
• You speak Dutch and English and feel comfortable assisting visitors in both languages.
• Available from 1 February 2027 for approximately four months.
• Willing to work evenings and one regular weekend day per week.

Responsibilities

• Welcome visitors, sell and scan tickets, and help prepare screenings.
• Work front-of-house shifts, including evenings and one weekend day per week.
• Assist with special screenings, premieres, Q&As and other events.
• Contribute ideas on how to attract new audiences and engage existing visitors.
• Collaborate with colleagues in programming, technical operations, venue hire and marketing.
• Learn how a film theatre is managed and operated.

Skills

Dutch language

English language

Customer service

Audience engagement

Initiative

Team collaboration

Job description

Your function

Located on the campus of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Rialto VU Griffioen is a new arthouse cinema with four screening rooms and a diverse programme of international arthouse films, documentaries, classics and special film events.

Starting in February, we are looking for three enthusiastic interns who want to discover how a film theatre operates and help us develop and grow.

You will become part of a small, dedicated team and gain experience in different aspects of running a cinema: from welcoming audiences and film technology to special programming, venue hire and audience development.

As our cinema is still growing, there is plenty of room for your own ideas and initiatives. How can we attract more students? How can we turn a film screening into a memorable event? And how can we encourage more people to discover our cinema?

What will you do?

Working at the cinema

All interns take part in the day-to-day operations of our film theatre. You will:

• Welcome visitors, sell and scan tickets, and help prepare screenings.
• Work front-of-house shifts, including evenings and one weekend day per week.
• Assist with special screenings, premieres, Q&As and other events.
• Contribute ideas on how to attract new audiences and engage existing visitors.
• Collaborate with colleagues in programming, technical operations, venue hire and marketing.
• Learn how a film theatre is managed and operated.

Choose your own focus

Alongside your front-of-house responsibilities, you can explore one of three areas:

1. Film Technology
Curious about what happens behind the scenes of a film screening? You will learn about digital cinema projection, how films are prepared and loaded, and how the technical systems in our four screening rooms work. You will work alongside our projectionists and assist with the technical preparation of screenings and events.

2. Venue Hire & Event Organisation
Do you enjoy organising events and working with different people? You will help coordinate the hire of our screening rooms by companies, university departments, student associations and other organisations. You will assist with enquiries, planning and the practical organisation of events, from preparation to execution.

3. Special Film Programming
Do you have ideas for exciting film events? You will help develop and organise special screenings, film series, premieres and events featuring introductions or discussions. You will contribute ideas for themes, films and collaborations, and help reach the right audiences.

You do not need to know exactly which direction you want to take. Your internship is also an opportunity to discover your interests and strengths. However, we would love to hear in your motivation letter which area appeals to you most.

Audience development is an important part of all three internship tracks. As a new cinema, we want more people to discover us. You will therefore actively contribute to reaching students, university staff and other film lovers.

For students who are particularly interested in marketing, campaigns and social media, we also offer a separate internship: Film Marketing & Communications Intern.

Organise your own film event!

One of the highlights of this internship is the opportunity to organise your own film event, from the initial idea to the screening itself.

You will choose a film or theme, think about the audience you want to reach, help promote the event and coordinate the screening. Of course, you will receive guidance and support from our film programmers and colleagues.

By the end of your internship, you will not only understand how a cinema operates, but you will also have organised your very own film event!

Your profile

We are looking for curious, enthusiastic students with a genuine passion for cinema. You do not need to know everything yet- what matters most is your willingness to learn and take initiative.

• You are currently enrolled in a university or university of applied sciences programme, such as Media, Art, Design & Architecture (MKDA), Media & Culture, Film Studies or a related field.
• You have a strong interest in film and cinema culture.
• You are welcoming, communicative and enjoy working with audiences.
• You are independent, proactive and happy to take on practical tasks.
• You enjoy contributing ideas and trying out new approaches.
• You speak Dutch and English and feel comfortable assisting visitors in both languages.
• You are available from 1 February 2027 (or sooner) for approximately four months.
• You are willing to work evenings and one regular weekend day per week.

What do we offer?

• A varied internship offering insight into the daily operations of an arthouse cinema.
• The opportunity to specialise in film technology, venue hire or special programming.
• Plenty of room for your own ideas, initiatives and professional development.
• The chance to organise your own film event.
• Guidance and support from a small, dedicated team of film professionals.
• An internship allowance of €400 gross per month.
• A 24-hour-per-week internship, starting on 1 February 2027.
• The possibility of earning academic credits, for example 12 ECTS (336 hours of study workload), depending on your degree programme's requirements.
• Opportunities to attend films, performances and events at VU Griffioen.

About us

About VU Griffioen
VU Griffioen is the cultural centre of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. With a diverse programme of theatre, film and more than 80 courses, we bring arts and culture to life on campus.

At Rialto VU Griffioen, we screen films every day, ranging from international arthouse cinema and documentaries to classics and special screenings. We aim to create a welcoming space where students, university staff, researchers and residents of Amsterdam and Amstelveen can come together to discover films, exchange ideas and connect with one another.