Black Lens Programmer

If you’re a film programmer with specific experience and knowledge of Black cinema who’d like
to be part of our team, we'd love to hear from you. Reporting to our Programming Director, the
Black Lens Programmer role is a part-time, year-round hourly position with variable hours over
the year as the rhythms of our programming occur. Starting pay is expected to be
$15.50-18/hour depending on experience. As a perk of the job, you’ll receive a Milwaukee Film
Membership, access to our film festivals, and complimentary admission to film screenings at the
Oriental Theatre (including free popcorn).

As a part of our year-round programming team you’ll work collaboratively to perform film
research and bookings and shape a balanced program alongside others, while serving as lead
curator for our Black Lens branded film programs presented during the Milwaukee Film Festival
in spring, the Dialogues Documentary Festival in September, and at our year-round cinema
(especially for Black History Month). While this role has considerable creative autonomy over
final film selections, the Black Lens Programmer is expected to work with others in and out of
the programming department to assure that Milwaukee Film’s broader goals are met.

This role is designed to be suitable for remote, independent work - systems and tools are cloud
based, team meetings are hybrid and are scheduled to suit the group’s needs. However, the
Programmer is expected to be on site in Milwaukee to host key programs and Q&As throughout
the year (especially during the Milwaukee Film Festival in spring and the Dialogues
Documentary Festival in fall).

We’re looking for a savvy film programmer with two or more years of experience in film
programming (paid or unpaid) in a festival or cinema context and a clearly demonstrated
knowledge of Black cinema past and present. We are looking for someone who knows their stuff
(knows films, filmmaking, and rhythms and tools for film booking, possesses strong writing skills
and talent in public speaking, etc), but who also wants to learn and grow in the role - someone
who is committed to working with others and using systems to assure we can deliver high
quality programming to audiences, filmmakers and other stakeholders. Established connections
to contemporary established and emerging Black filmmakers and/or knowledge of Milwaukee’s
audiences are big pluses. Among other systems, we use Eventival for film programming data,
Asana for project management, and Slack for communications. Of course, a passion for film to
spark curiosity and empathy is a must.