Jenni Pietarila is in charge of the doormen in Pakkahuone.
	- Volunteer Gallup: Why Are You Working at the Festival?

In It for the Festival Spirit

Volunteers and students, who participate in organising the festival as a part of their studies, are a crucial part of the festival organisation.

Juhani Alanen, who co-ordinates the volunteer workers, says that more helpers are eager to join than what is actually needed.

– We recruit about 100 of those who apply at our office. In addition we have arts and media students and students from the Tampere University. Altogether we have around 250 volunteers, explains Alanen.

Volunteers act as doormen in the theaters or offer their help for guests at information desks. Lights and sound at festival venues are at volunteers' responsibility, and enthusiastic students edit the Festival News magazine as well as the festival news at TV Tampere.

Volunteering since 1994

Jenni Pietarila started as a volunteer in 1994 as a part of her school's charity fundraising project. The first years she distributed posters, sold tickets and did all kinds of odd jobs.

– I really enjoyed the atmosphere, and I wanted to come here again every year.

This year, Pietarila is one of the two people in charge of the doormen at Pakkahuone.

– The best thing is working and feeling like an important part of the festival, but not having to do it with a frown. You get to work hard, but you get to relax as well, Pietarila sums up the advantages of the festival work.

– I once spent a few days in the press room, that was pretty boring, Pietarila recalls, but is not able to name any other disadvantages.

Pietarila thinks that most festival workers have gotten into the voluntary work partly by accident.

– Once you become part of the group and get into the festival spirit, you just want to work here again next year. The volunteers are not onl students but also working people.

Those who have been involved longer, and who are in charge, get a small financial recompense for their work. However, no one is involved because of the money.

According to Juhani Alanen, the one thing common to all the volunteers is the wish to be involved in organising the world's best film festival, which is also the most international event in Tampere.

	Volunteer workers Elina Ruoho and Anastasia Lobkovskaja are working at the Guest Info.

TEXT: Elina Jokisalo
TRANSLATION: Tuulia Nieminen and Anni Airaksinen
PHOTOS: Marko Saarijärvi
UPDATED: Friday, 08-Mar-2002 18:32:02 EET

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