Vermont International Film Festival

What Vermont International Film Festival does

The Vermont International Film Festival (VTIFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1985 at Marlboro College by peace activists George and Sonia Cullinen, now headquartered in Burlington, Vermont. VTIFF operates a year-round cinema programming portfolio centered on its flagship 10-day Vermont International Film Festival held each October (50+ international and independent films), the Made Here Film Festival launched in April 2021 for New England and Québec filmmakers, monthly international cinema screenings at the Film House (Main Street Landing), and weekly curated screenings at The Screening Room microcinema at 60 Lake Street. The organization employs approximately 11 staff with significant volunteer support and is led by Executive Director Steve MacQueen (since June 2023).

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit mix: tiered membership subscriptions ($75-$1,200/year across Friend, Patron, All Access, Gold, and Superstar levels), individual ticket sales ($12 general, $6 student) and festival passes ($150), corporate sponsorships, tax-deductible donations (including stock gifts and Adopt-a-Film film sponsorships), gift certificates, and Screening Room venue rentals. Distribution occurs via the AgileTicketing online platform, physical box offices at both venues, and festival passes, with marketing through the website, Facebook, Instagram, X, Constant Contact email, and regional media partners including Vermont Public and Seven Days.

VTIFF is sustained by a broad partnership ecosystem spanning Main Street Landing (host venue), Burlington Beer Company (Made Here Film Festival host), Northfield Savings Bank, Vermont Public (media partner and MHFF award sponsor), Vermont Arts Council, City of Burlington, UVM, Québec Government Office, Champlain College, and Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival (SPLIT/SCREEN series). Additional offerings include Partner Projects fiscal sponsorship for in-progress independent films, gift certificates, and free admission to the Made Here Film Festival for regional filmmakers.

Name

Vermont International Film Festival

Legal name

Vermont International Film Festival

Website

https://vtiff.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Vermont International Film Festival (VTIFF) is a Burlington, Vermont-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 that operates year-round independent and international cinema programming, including an annual October festival, monthly screenings, and a microcinema. It serves film enthusiasts, regional New England and Québec filmmakers, and corporate sponsors through memberships, ticket sales, donations, and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Film Festival Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts, Culture, Entertainment & Fan Conventions Organizers (THAHABAN)

Keywords

• Independent film festival
• International cinema programming
• Microcinema screenings
• Nonprofit arts organization
• Regional filmmaker showcase

Headquarters

HQ city

Burlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership subscriptions: Annual and monthly membership tiers providing discounts on tickets, free festival passes, reserved seating, free popcorn, and exclusive member events. Multiple levels from Friend ($75/year) to Superstar ($1,200/year).
2. Ticket sales: Individual screening tickets at $12 general admission, $6 students. Festival passes at $150, 10-packs at $100.
3. Gift certificates: Gift certificates for free tickets or membership levels, sold as gifts to friends and family.
4. Adopt-a-Film sponsorship: Film sponsorship program allowing donors to sponsor specific films at the annual fall festival to keep tickets affordable.
5. Corporate sponsorships: Customized partnership packages for corporate sponsors providing marketing exposure and audience access, with various benefit tiers.
6. Space rentals: The Screening Room available for rent for events, meetings, or training sessions.
7. Donations: Tax-deductible donations accepted online, by mail, stock gifts, IRA/beneficiary designations, and annual fund contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

VTIFF runs an annual 10-day flagship Vermont International Film Festival in October, a regional Made Here Film Festival in April, and year-round curated screenings at The Screening Room microcinema and the Film House at Main Street Landing. Offerings are funded through tiered memberships, ticket sales, donations, adopt-a-film sponsorships, corporate sponsorships, gift certificates, and venue rentals.

Product overview

VTIFF operates as a nonprofit film organization offering a portfolio of cinema-related events and services. The core offerings include two annual film festivals (the Vermont International Film Festival in October and Made Here Film Festival in April), two physical screening venues (The Screening Room micro-cinema and the Film House at Main Street Landing for monthly screenings), and support programs including membership tiers, fiscal sponsorship for filmmakers, adopt-a-film sponsorship, gift certificates, and space rentals. The organization functions as a cultural hub for independent and international cinema in Vermont.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vermont International Film Festival VTIFF's flagship annual 10-day film festival held each October in Burlington, Vermont, showcasing international and independent cinema with 50+ films, filmmaker guests, and special events for film enthusiasts and the Vermont community.
• Made Here Film Festival A regional competitive film festival for filmmakers from New England and Québec, held annually in April at Burlington Beer Company's Lumière Hall, featuring workshops, panels, awards, and free admission for the public.
• The Screening Room (microcinema) VTIFF's microcinema venue at 60 Lake Street offering weekly curated film screenings and special series, with $12 general admission and $6 student tickets to independent and international cinema enthusiasts.
• Film House at Main Street Landing Monthly international and independent cinema screenings held at Main Street Landing's 3rd floor venue, hosted with Main Street Landing and sponsored by Northfield Savings Bank.
• VTIFF Memberships Tiered annual/monthly membership program offering discounts on tickets, free festival passes, reserved seating, free popcorn, and exclusive events across Friend ($75/yr), Patron ($250/yr), All Access ($425/yr), Gold ($600/yr), and Superstar ($1,200/yr) levels.
• Partner Projects (Fiscal Sponsorship) VTIFF provides fiscal sponsorship and material support for in-progress film and video projects from independent filmmakers, including documentary features, travel series, and short documentaries.
• Space Rental (The Screening Room) Rental of The Screening Room venue for private events, meetings, or training sessions, where VTIFF handles the space for corporate and organizational customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10-day annual festival with 50+ films from around the world
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Main Street Landing Performing Arts CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost sponsor for the Film House venue where monthly screenings are held. Provides 3rd floor screening space for VTIFF's monthly international and independent cinema programming.
• Northfield Savings BanksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for monthly Film House screenings, providing financial support in exchange for brand visibility with film audiences.
• Burlington Beer CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost sponsor for Made Here Film Festival, providing Lumière Hall venue at 180 Flynn Avenue. Historic building constructed in 1903 as the North American factory of Lumière brothers.
• Vermont PubliccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for Made Here Film Festival and year-round programming. Provides broadcast and digital platform exposure. Also awards Best Documentary Film prize at MHFF.
• Vermont Arts CouncilsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerArts funding organization providing grant support and legitimacy for VTIFF's cultural programming.
• University of VermontsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner hosting satellite screenings and providing student interns. UVM Hidden Figures program sponsor for 2025-2026.
• City of BurlingtonsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipal sponsor providing support for cultural programming and community events.
• Québec Government Office in BostonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner supporting cross-border cultural exchange, particularly for Made Here Film Festival's Québec filmmaker inclusion and Food, Film & Friendship programming.
• Vermont Screenplay IncubatorsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Writing for Vermont Live! pitch event and panel at MHFF, supporting local screenwriters and Vermont-based feature film projects.
• Vermont Production CollectivesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative organization for Vermont filmmakers participating in panel programming at MHFF.
• Foam BrewerssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal brewery sponsor providing beverage service and venue support for festival events.
• Seven Days VTsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal independent newspaper providing media coverage and promotional support for VTIFF events and festivals.
• Champlain CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner that produced video documenting VTIFF's 30th anniversary history in 2015. Student involvement in festival operations.
• Middlebury New Filmmakers FestivalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership announced October 2020 for SPLIT/SCREEN screening series, showcasing films from both festivals to broader Vermont audiences.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour: A touring international mountain/adventure film festival with a comparable environmental and adventure-focused film slate. Competes for the audience overlap with VTIFF's environmental-and-human-rights programming niche.
• Telluride Film Festival: A long-established, higher-profile mountain-town film festival curated around independent and international cinema. While significantly larger than VTIFF, it represents the same small-city, curated-screening model and competes for prestige programming rights from the same distributor pool.
• BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music): A major U.S. arts institution that operates repertory cinema programming (BAM Rose Cinemas) and curated film festivals, with similar non-profit structure, tiered membership model, and reliance on donations and corporate sponsorship for year-round programming.

Others

• Burlington City Arts: A Burlington-based arts organization that, like VTIFF, provides cultural programming, community engagement, and event space in the same geographic market. Indirect adjacency rather than direct competition, but competes for overlapping municipal arts funding and sponsor relationships.

Direct peers

• Woodstock Film Festival: A Northeast U.S. regional film festival in New York's Hudson Valley focused on independent and socially conscious cinema. Comparable mission profile, festival-only operating model, and similar nonprofit structure.
• Nantucket Film Festival: A small-to-mid scale U.S. regional film festival with a similar nonprofit, community-oriented model and curated independent/international programming. Comparable in headcount, ticket price points, and reliance on membership/sponsorship revenue.
• Independent Film Festival Boston: A New England-based independent film festival of comparable scale and curated scope, sharing the same regional audience pool and competing with VTIFF for attendees, filmmakers, and corporate sponsors across northern New England.

Regional players

• Green Mountain Film Festival: A Montpelier, VT-based yearly film festival where VTIFF's projectionist also works. Operates in the same Vermont regional festival niche and competes for overlapping small-market audience and sponsorships.
• Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival: A Vermont-based regional film festival for independent filmmakers. It is a direct in-state peer; VTIFF even maintains an active co-programming partnership with it for the SPLIT/SCREEN series, making it the closest geographic and scale comparable for VTIFF.

Emerging players

• SVA Theatre (School of Visual Arts): A New York-based microcinema and repertory theater that operates year-round curated independent film programming in a small-venue, membership-supported model directly analogous to VTIFF's The Screening Room microcinema.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VermontFilm
• Facebookfacebook.com/vermontfilm
• Instagraminstagram.com/vermontfilm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vermont-international-film

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vermont International Film Festival