Festival Volunteers

Open City Documentary Festival is an annual celebration which creates an open space in London to nurture and champion the art of non-fiction cinema. We are looking for enthusiastic and proactive volunteers to help us deliver our 16th edition which will take place from 14-19 April  in venues across London.   

Application closing date: 16 March (midnight)

Expenses covered (up to £10/day) on food and travel 

As a festival volunteer, you’ll have the opportunity to meet filmmakers and industry professionals, work alongside likeminded people, and go behind the scenes to gain hands-on experience of delivering a week-long film festival.   

Volunteer Roles include: 

• Cinema Venue Assistant 
• Expanded Realities Exhibition Assistant
• Expanded Realities Exhibition Docent [resetting a project, and supporting minor craft repairs]
• Photographer 
• Marketing Assistant 
• Guest Hospitality 

If you are passionate about film and arts, and keen to be involved, please register your interest via this form.

If you have any questions please get in touch with us at volunteers@opencitylondon.com.

Open City Fellowship 2026

About:

The Fellowship Programme is a daily programme of free screenings and in-depth conversations with festival filmmakers that will take place as part of Open City Documentary Festival 2026.

The programme will run from Monday 13th April to Friday 17th April, between 11am – 2pm at Close-Up Cinema. Conversations will be hosted by tutors from the Documentary & Ethnographic Film MA (UCL). Successful applicants will receive

• Access to daily screenings and in-depth conversations with filmmakers, running from Monday 13th April to Friday 17th April at Close-Up Cinema
• A Student Pass, allowing access to Open City Documentary Festival’s programme of talks, performances and workshops held at the Rich Mix (The Studio).
• A certificate of completion, handed out at the final screening on Friday 17th of April.

To Apply: 

To apply, please complete this form. Applications are open to both full and part time students studying film in higher education only. The closing date for applications is 7am on Tuesday 31st March.

Please be aware that capacity is limited (40 people) and we will prioritise applicants who can attend all screenings. We will notify successful applicants by 1st April.If you have any questions, or would like further information, please get in touch with jack@opencitylondon.com. 

Fellowship Programme

• Monday 13th April: Matter of Britain, Peter Treherne
• Tuesday 14th April: Alarm Notes, Anthea Kennedy and Ian Wiblin
• Wednesday 15th April: An Incomplete Calendar, Sanaz Sohrabi
• Thursday 16th April: TBC
• Friday 17th April: An Impossible Address, Suneil Sanzgiri