Festival Manager, Media Accreditation

Sundance Institute; Boulder, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 2,616,000 - 2,730,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid sick leave and Sundance holidays

Employee assistance program

Wellness initiatives

Festival passes and benefits

Job summary

Sundance Institute in Boulder, CO is seeking a Festival Manager of Media Accreditation to lead all aspects of press accreditation for the Sundance Film Festival. The role oversees one staffer, coordinates with the Communications team, and requires on-site presence at key festival moments.

Remote work is possible prior to the festival, with on-site duties during critical periods, extended hours, and weekend work as deadlines demand. Must be based within commuting distance of Boulder, CO.

Qualifications

• Legal authorization to work in the United States.
• At least 3 years in media relations, communications, publicity, public relations, marketing, or related.
• Excellent written and spoken communication.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficient with Google Suite and databases; Cision preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate information for all accreditation applicants in the database.
• Develop and engage with target media to apply for accreditation.
• Oversee the press accreditation office and manage timely requests.
• Plan and manage communications including invitations to apply and badge details.
• Work with Technology Services to maintain the online press application and troubleshoot issues.
• Process accreditation applications and lead review meetings.
• Communicate festival details and accreditation types to media.
• Track and report press corps demographic data.

Skills

Media relations

Public relations

Publicity

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Google Suite

Data confidentiality

Team management

Tools

Cision

Job description

Career Opportunities with Sundance Institute

A great place to work.

Careers At Sundance Institute

Current job opportunities are posted here as they become available.

Our employees are distributed across four main hubs: Los Angeles, California, Boulder, Colorado, New York, New York, & Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Festival Manager, Media Accreditation is charged with leading all aspects of press accreditation, including managing administrative and logistical duties to process assigned accreditation of media, publicists, and crews to the Festival. This position will oversee one employee.

Working closely under the direction of Manager, Communications, the Festival Manager, Media Accreditation supports Sundance Institute’s commitment to artists and is part of furthering awareness, relevance, and impact of our mission.

This temporary position works full time (40 hours per week) from Wednesday, September 2, 2026 through Friday, February 12, 2027 and must be based within a commutable distance to Boulder, CO. While much of the day-to-day work may be performed remotely leading up to the Festival, this position will need to work onsite at key points throughout the duration of employment. Extended hours, including evenings and weekends will be required at key points to meet deadlines and respond to on-call needs as assigned.

Top priorities include but are not limited to…

• Maintaining accurate and complete information for all global journalist and publicist accreditation applicants in the database.
• Developing and engaging with target media to apply for accreditation.
• Overseeing the press accreditation office at the Festival and managing timely requests.
• Planning, composing, and managing all communications relevant to accreditation including invitations to apply and badge participation details.
• Working closely with Technology Services, maintaining the online press application and promptly documenting and troubleshooting issues as they arise.
• Processing accreditation applications, making recommendations, and leading application review meetings.
• Communicating Festival details, accreditation types, and logistical information with media and publicists.
• Tracking, parsing, and reporting press corps demographic data for journalists and publicists.
• Submitting credential information and working closely with the Ticketing team to meet deadlines.
• Working with our Content Management System (CMS) and PressApp to input all approved applicants and manage their registration process.
• Serving as the main point of contact for journalists and publicists regarding questions, concerns, and providing timely correspondence regarding their application status both leading up to and onsite at the Festival.
• Handle credential distribution and organization process on site for accredited press and publicists.
• Advising the Press Office team and other Institute departments on accredited press details, including partners.
• Pitching and coordinating press in advance of and during the Festival, including securing coverage and interviews, onsite staffing, and supplying information to journalists.
• Drafting and working closely with the team on press announcements, including press releases, media alerts, and pitches.
• Collaborating on the kickoff press event, to entail sending out the invitation, tracking RSVPs, and managing inquiries.
• Supporting press lines, screenings and events as assigned.
• Exporting and sharing latest versions of internal and external press lists for stakeholders.
• Distributing screening attendance data to publicists.
• Managing a seasonal team member in all accreditation duties including providing direction, feedback, and support to ensure employees understand responsibilities and are effective in their roles.
• Overseeing volunteers in the Press Office during the Festival.
• Collaborating on press office preparation in advance of the Festival on site and being the main point of contact in the Press Office throughout the duration of the Festival onsite in the press office.
• Managing multiple internal inboxes to assist with any questions or issues from press.
• Providing a comprehensive written wrap report as directed.

You have the following direct or transferable skill sets:

• Legal authorization to work in the United States.
• 3 years experience in media relations, communications, publicity, public relations, marketing, or related.
• Outstanding written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills to work effectively with a variety of people.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Detail-oriented, with the ability to audit work to avoid mistakes and perform tasks accurately.
• Strong fluency and capability with Google Suite.
• Ability to maintain confidential information.
• Ability to work nights and weekends around events and key deadlines.
• Working knowledge of databases along with proficiency in Google Products and of the media tracking platform Cision preferred.

You will be successful in this role if you...

• Support the accreditation of the 2027 Sundance Film Festival press corps, including in a fast-moving environment.
• Demonstrate an attentiveness to detail in your daily work with autonomy.
• Effectively research media contacts and handle outreach to contacts, ideally having working knowledge of press.
• Seamlessly manage priorities with strict time constraints.
• Productively manage a team member remotely.
• Exhibit the ability to be productive and work with minimal supervision.
• Contribute to the overall success of the team through support and collaboration.

In addition to a weekly pay of $1,111.23 this position* is eligible for benefits & perks, highlights include:

• Paid sick leave and Institute holidays
• Employee assistance program
• Employee Wellness Initiatives
• Sundance Film Festival passes and benefits (varies each year)
• *Applications open 07/31/2026 and will be accepted for at least one week