Jali Film Weekender 2026 Marketing Manager Job Description
Photo credit: Uchechi @byuchechi
Jali Collective is seeking a thoughtful, community-oriented Marketing Manager to help us deliver Jali Film Weekender 2026. This freelance role is ideal for someone with strong grounding in marketing and experience in devising audience engagement strategies combining community-relationship building with traditional promotion approaches. Working closely with the Weekender Co-directors, Outreach Consultant and a small festival team, the Marketing Manager will play a key role in connecting audiences and communities across the city with the rich programme of Black, African and diaspora film, extended reality, talks and events.
Type of Contract: Freelance
Location: Remote but Edinburgh-based, in-person for event days.
Fee: £200/day
Start Date: 17 August
Contract Dates: 17 August - 13 November;
17 August - 18 September: 2 days/week
21 September - 16 October: 3 days/week
19 October - 1 November: full-time including event days (31 October – 1 November)
2 November - 13 November: 2 - 5 days
Total Fee: £7,200 - £7,800 (36 - 39 days)
Reports to: Festival Co-Director
Deadline for Applications: Monday 3 August 17:00
Interviews: 10 August (interviewees will be notified by Thursday, 6 August)
Apply: Please send a CV and no more than 2 A4 pages (font size 12) explaining Why this role is of interest to you and how you meet the candidate specification, referencing the role’s key responsibilities wherever possible.
Please send this to contact@jalicollective.co.uk with Marketing Manager Application in the subject line.
Jali Collective is looking to work with someone who understands and respects the values behind our work. Lived experience within the African, Black or diaspora community is essential.
About Jali Collective
Formed in 2025, Jali Collective is a new initiative based in Edinburgh that’s founding purpose is to widen access to African cinema and to celebrate and elevate Black, African, and diaspora stories through film and culture. As part of this work, the Collective curates film screenings, festivals, workshops and related events that bring Black, African and diaspora cinema to audiences. Jali Collective is a not-for-profit grassroots collective registered as Jali Collective Ltd, a private company limited by guarantee.
The founding key objectives for the Collective include:
Centre Black, African, and diaspora communities in its programming and outreach, ensuring these communities have ownership and voice in the Collective’s activities.
Increase understanding of the richness and diversity of African cinema among the Scottish and wider UK public through their activity, including but not limited to screenings, discussions, Q&As, writing, educational materials, partnerships and wider public and industry advocacy.
Provide a platform for Black and African filmmakers – including those from Scotland, and especially women and underrepresented creators – to showcase their work and connect with new audiences.
Remove barriers to access so that a wide range of people can participate in and enjoy Black and African film events. This may include physical, social and economic barriers to access and entry.
About Jali Film Weekender
Launched by Jali Collective in 2025, Jali Film Weekender is a new film festival celebrating Black, African and diaspora stories – presenting a curated programme of film screenings, extended reality works and events that centre community, connection and cultural exchange. Building on a successful inaugural year, Jali Film Weekender returns for its second edition while quickly establishing itself not only as an annual event but as a vibrant and growing platform for Black, African and diaspora cinema, and a vital part of Scotland’s cultural landscape.
The 2026 Weekender expands to five days, taking place at Edinburgh’s Filmhouse Cinema and additional partner venues.The programme brings together a broad range of contemporary and archival work from across the African continent and diaspora, spanning narrative, documentary, shorts and experimental film. Screenings are accompanied by enhanced elements including Q&As, discussions, workshops and live performances, creating space for deeper engagement with the films and with one another.
Rooted in a community-led approach, the Weekender continues to prioritise Black, African and diaspora audiences, while welcoming wider publics to engage with African cinema in meaningful and accessible ways. Through intentional programming, partnerships and outreach, the festival responds to a clear and continued gap in Scotland’s film culture and supports the development of more inclusive and representative screen spaces.
About the Role
We are looking for someone who will lead on devising and delivering Jali Film Weekender’s marketing strategy, ensuring that it promotes the festival’s vision and is community-centred throughout. The role is responsible for the effective development, delivery and management of the marketing and audience development campaign for the 2026 Weekender edition.
Key Responsibilities:
Work with the Weekender Co-directors to develop, design, deliver and manage the marketing and outreach strategy for Jali Film Weekender 2026.
Work closely with the Outreach Consultant to ensure marketing initiatives are socially minded, equitable and engage target audiences and local communities.
Ensure throughout all marketing endeavors that audiences are centred, and they feel welcome to engage with the Weekender’s programming.
Identify, develop and maintain marketing partnerships and other collaborative opportunities in alignment with Jali Collective values.
Research and coordinate marketing databases of key stakeholder and partner contacts.
Manage, coordinate and deliver digital communications including scheduling, social media posting, newsletters, etc.
Coordinate the creation and distribution of print marketing materials.
Support coordination of complimentary tickets and travel bursary initiatives.
Manage the capturing and evaluation of digital content analytics.
Support collection of audience feedback and contribute to end-of-event reporting.
Candidate Specification:
Knowledge & Experience
Minimum of 4-years of marketing/communications/social media experience.
Understanding of film, arts or culture marketing.
Experience of designing, implementing and monitoring integrated marketing campaigns.
Experience of developing a digital strategy and managing social media activity effectively on behalf of an organisation.
Experience of digital tools: Airtable, Asana, Google Workspace, Google Ads, Google Analytics, Slack, Adobe Creative Suite.
Confident and familiar with marketing and communications aimed at underrepresented audiences.
Knowledge of social media analytic tools.
Skills & Approach
Excellent communication skills, oral and written.
Effective project management skills.
Able to prioritise tasks and successfully work to deadlines.
Proactive problem-solving.
Ability to work constructively in a team and independently.
Strong copywriting, proofreading and content creation skills.
Experience working with a film, arts, music or multidisciplinary festival.
Familiarity with the City of Edinburgh.
Jali Collective is looking to work with someone who understands and respects the values behind our work. Lived experience within the African, Black or diaspora community is essential.
Please contact contact@jalicollective.co.uk if you have any questions.