Film Programming Internship - Houston Cinema Arts Society
Location: Hybrid / Houston, TX
Reports To: Executive Director
Works With: Community Partnerships and Programs Manager, Festival Programmer
Internship Type: Unpaid / Academic Credit Available
Time Commitment: 10–15 hours per week, flexible schedule
About the Organization
Mission Statement: Houston Cinema Arts Society (HCAS) celebrates and illuminates the vitality of one of America’s most diverse cities by connecting audiences and artists with public, educational, and career-advancing film and arts programming.
Vision: Houston Cinema Arts Society envisions a future where filmmaking, production, and public programming thrive and grow, in step with the city’s ever-evolving fine arts and media sector. In turn, by fostering global filmmakers and promoting local film, television and media production, HCAS helps realize and celebrate our city’s diversity and cultural riches.
Who We Are: HCAS engages, enriches, and empowers Houston’s diverse cultures and communities by programming and supporting filmmaking and the arts. Our goal is to uplift the importance of film as an accessible device for storytelling and raising awareness; we work to empower regional and underrepresented filmmakers, and to showcase Houston’s diversity and cultural riches via community programs that highlight the intersection of film with other art forms and global issues.
HCAS was conceived in 2007 when former Mayor Bill White created a task force of cultural leaders spearheaded by arts philanthropist Franci Neely to stimulate film culture in Houston. HCAS received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in September 2008 and launched its first large-scale film festival in November 2009. HCAS continues to focus its mission on expanding Houston’s film culture, and making Houston a hub for innovation in film and media. The Houston Cinema Arts Festival (HCAF), held annually in November, stands as the largest international and independent film festival in Houston. This multi-venue event features a diverse array of programming, including over 50 narrative, documentary, and experimental films. Attendees can also enjoy innovative video and media installations, live multi-media performances, panel discussions, filmmaker workshops, and free student field trip screenings. HCAF presents several unique programs, such as the CineSpace short film competition, which is a collaboration with NASA and challenges filmmakers to make a short film utilizing footage from the NASA archives.
Beyond the festival, HCAS is dedicated to engaging with the creative community through various initiatives throughout the year. These include the Houston Media Conference, the Admit One Analog Showcase, the Texas Film Spotlight, Impact Screenings, and quarterly networking events. The festival aims to build meaningful partnerships and provide ongoing opportunities for both filmmakers and film lovers.
For more information, visit www.cinemahtx.org.
Position Overview
The Film Programming Intern will support the Houston Cinema Arts Society across all stages of film curation, research, and presentation. This internship is ideal for someone interested in independent cinema, festival programming, or film distribution. Interns will gain hands-on experience with industry-standard tools like FilmFreeway and Eventive, and develop a deeper understanding of how films are selected, booked, and exhibited at festivals and year-round programs.
Responsibilities
Manage and track submissions through FilmFreeway, including organizing entries, updating statuses, and communicating with filmmakers.
Watch and evaluate all film submissions across categories.
Help onboard and coordinate screeners and judges, ensuring they have access to submissions and tracking systems.
Collect and organize scores, feedback, and recommendations from screeners and jurors.
Assist with building events and screenings on Eventive, the digital backbone of our ticketing and virtual platform.
Help ensure metadata, film descriptions, and schedules are accurate and up-to-date.
Research films, filmmakers, distributors, community partners, and themes to support the programming team’s curatorial decisions.
Assist in maintaining internal tracking documents, film lists, and media.
Participate in internal screenings and provide feedback and programming input.
Qualifications
Passion for film, arts programming, and media access Strong organizational and written communication skills
Willingness and ability to watch a high volume of short and feature-length films thoughtfully and critically
Detail-oriented and able to manage multiple tasks independently
Prior experience in film festivals, arts organizations, or film-related settings is a plus
What You’ll Learn
How film festivals and screenings are programmed from submissions to selection
How to manage and evaluate film submissions and onboard a panel of screeners/judges
How to use industry-standard platforms like FilmFreeway and Eventive
Best practices in communicating with filmmakers, publicists, and venues
The broader ecosystem of the independent film industry, from distribution to exhibition
How to secure screening rights, negotiate terms, and book films theatrically or virtually.
Venue coordination and the logistics of in-person screenings and special events.
How to Apply
Please send your resume and cover letter to operations@cinemahtx.org with the subject line “Film Programming Intern Application” + your first and last name. September 12 deadline!