Film festival programmers are vital to the success of film festivals around the world and to the championing of new filmmaking talent. Yet their work often remains invisible and their labour precarious. This book examines in depth the lived experiences of film festival programmers working across the UK, USA, Europe, and Australia. Through interviews, the book exposes the precarious conditions, low pay, and lack of protections that underpin this specialised profession. It situates programming work within the political economy of film festivals, revealing how power structures, hierarchies, and the ‘festival crunch culture’ impact workers and festivals alike. The book is essential reading for anyone invested in film festival studies, the film industry, and precarious labour.
