New York Film Festival would not be possible without the help of the volunteer corps operating across our theater, operations, development, marketing, production teams, and beyond. Please join us in taking a moment to thank a volunteer today! We’ve also asked volunteers to share some of their favorite NYFF memories. Check out the responses below.

Chelsey Saatkamp (NYFF volunteer of 9 years)

What is your favorite NYFF memory?
My first year volunteering I was assigned to serve drinks in the photo shoot room. I was terrible at opening wine bottles (I’ve gotten better with time) and totally embarrassed myself trying to open a bottle of red for Kristen Stewart. She was super nice about it though and told me she was also terrible at it, lol. Forever a funny memory.

What film have you seen/are most excited to see at this year’s festival?
Corsage. I’m a big fan of Empress Sisi ever since visiting Vienna!

Alexandra López (first-time NYFF volunteer)

What is your favorite NYFF memory?
Well, I can finally say reuniting with one of my friends today on October 1st, 2022 actually. I don’t see him since the festival of last year. (We talked on Zoom recently but in person I don’t see him since last year). He always comes to this festival so was nice to talk to him. Also meeting so many people in the process that loves the same TV and films as I do or work in the 7th arts and have the same passion for it like me. I admit the departments I have worked so far have such amazing and kind people in it. Best wishes always really!

What film have you seen/are most excited to see at this year’s festival?
I saw Showing Up which was brilliant! Can’t wait to see Women Talking and gonna try (if I can manage to get tickets even if it’s stand by at this point) to watch TÁR & She Said. Honestly this are the ones I’m most excited about 🙂

Jennifer Allen (first-time NYFF volunteer)

What is your favorite NYFF memory?
Taking in the energy of the crowds who are so excited to be at the festival and are so enthusiastic about the films. Seeing the director and cast of Till was a real treat. Their passion for the film was really inspiring.

What film have you seen/are most excited to see at this year’s festival?
Till was great. I am looking forward to seeing many films, particularly Descendant, Triangle of Sadness, White Noise, and Armageddon Time.

Christopher Corwin (NYFF volunteer of 11 years)

What is your favorite NYFF memory?
Everyone at the 2021 NYFF Volunteer Party singing “Happy Birthday” to me!

What film have you seen/are most excited to see at this year’s festival?
Trenque Lauquen

Irene Devlin-Weiss (NYFF volunteer of 9 years)

What is your favorite NYFF memory?
Meeting Agnès Varda at her last festival. Such an honor.

What film have you seen/are most excited to see at this year’s festival?
One Fine Morning

Amelie Dubois (NYFF volunteer of 3 years)

What is your favorite NYFF memory?
Seeing living legend Pedro Almodóvar not once, but twice. The first time was in 2011, for The Skin I Live In. I had just moved from France to the US a few months earlier and my (very heavy) limited edition of the “Pedro Almodóvar Archives” crossed the Atlantic with me. I couldn’t get tickets for his NYFF talk, but bumped into him on W 65th while he was energetically walking and greeting the crowd waiting in line. The second time was 10 years later (2021) for Parallel Mothers, and during his introduction I couldn’t help noticing how rare it is to see such a high level of mutual love and admiration between a director and their audience. After 40 years of career and success, Almodóvar still truly cares.

What film have you seen/are most excited to see at this year’s festival?
Women Talking

Irma Valdez (first-time NYFF volunteer)

What is your favorite NYFF memory?
Unexpectedly finding myself standing next to Adam Driver and Noah Baumbach….

What film have you seen/are most excited to see at this year’s festival?
TÁR, White Noise, etc

Charlie Price (first-time NYFF volunteer)

What is your favorite NYFF memory?
Seeing the Battle of Algiers in the Revivals section of the Festival with my brother.

What film have you seen/are most excited to see at this year’s festival?
TÁR and Stars at Noon

David Low (NYFF volunteer of 5 years)

What is your favorite NYFF memory?
Talking to Vanessa Redgrave when she was standing alone at Alice Tully Hall. I told her how much I admired her documentary and her acting career. She told me how much she appreciated the work of NYFF volunteers.

What film have you seen/are most excited to see at this year’s festival?
Decision to Leave

Mina Leazer (NYFF volunteer of 2 years)

What is your favorite NYFF memory?
Last year, on opening night, John Turturro came searching for his tickets. While I secretly freaked out that John Turturro was here doing normal things, like picking up tickets, we discovered that we did not have his tickets at which point I had to say, “I’m sorry Mr. Turturro, your tickets are most likely at the studio check in.” It was the perfect New York interaction. Calm, cool, casual interaction while doing summersaults and flips internally!

What film have you seen/are most excited to see at this year’s festival?
I can’t wait to watch Aftersun, Decision to Leave, and Return to Seoul.

Langston Young (NYFF volunteer of 2 years)

What is your favorite NYFF memory?
My favorite NYFF memory was getting to see Titane last year at the 59th fest. It felt good to be in such a huge space such as Alice Tully Hall, which was essentially packed, and all for an arthouse film, which isn’t something I’ve ever experienced. It’s one thing to experience it for things like Avatar or The Dark Knight, but the vibe at that fest, presumably full of cinephiles, and for a film like THAT was a totally different experience. Of course getting to be in a concert hall to watch a movie is also an experience in and of itself. The film got a standing ovation, which is also something I never experienced at a screening, and something I think cinephiles like to see. There was a Q&A afterwards with Ducournau, Lindon, and Rousselle. I think we all love to hear creators and artists talk about their inspirations and experiences. The experience of that screening in that setting and the Q&A afterwards are the types of things that cinephiles love and remember, and I certainly did.

What film have you seen/are most excited to see at this year’s festival?
TÁR was my most anticipated film of the festival.

Isabel Ciminello (first-time NYFF volunteer)

What is your favorite NYFF memory?
Making so many wonderful new friends and getting to experience such amazing films with them!

What film have you seen/are most excited to see at this year’s festival?
TÁR!

Anthony Vezza (first-time NYFF volunteer)

What is your favorite NYFF memory?
Taking my girlfriend to see Bones and All.

What film have you seen/are most excited to see at this year’s festival?
Bones and All

Thank you!