Curatorial Fellow, Chinese Cinema

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Departmental Overview

One of the nation's leading university museums, the University of California's Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) is a forum for cultural experiences that transform individuals and advance the local, national, and global discourse on art and film. As the premier visual arts venue at America's top public research university, BAMPFA is uniquely dedicated to art and film in equal measure, presenting more than 300 film screenings, dozens of public programs, and 10 exhibitions annually.

Position Summary

This Curatorial Fellow position is a full-time, 18-month limited appointment that contributes to BAMPFA's film department. This 18-month placement will bring depth and specialization to BAMPFA's public film programs and events, publishing, collection development, and relationships with the international community in the field of Chinese cinema (China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Chinese diaspora) across the history of cinema, both past and present. This role involves conceptualizing, curating, and managing 30+ film programs annually, coordinating with domestic and international partners, and engaging audiences through both scholarly and public-facing activities. The Curatorial Fellow will play a key role in shaping BAMPFA's film offerings, advancing the institution's educational mission, and supporting its strategic initiatives. This staff member will work independently and report to and receive general guidance from the Director of Film and Senior Film Curator. They will be responsible for organizing film series that focus on themes, such as directorial retrospectives, filmmaker residencies, national or regional cinema spotlights, genres, or special events.


Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is June 10, 2026.

The posting will remain open, and applications will be considered through June 27, 2026.


Responsibilities

Works with Film Exhibition Dept to curate film series and hosts public screenings:

• Conceptualize, curate, and manage logistics and budgets for 30+ film programs per year.
• Research, locate, and secure film prints and media from domestic and international distributors, archives, collectors, artists, and the BAMPFA collection.
• Negotiate rental and loan agreements, rights clearances, and manage related correspondence. Sources film stills and screener copies.
• Oversee technical requirements for screenings, including legacy formats, contemporary digital formats, and specialized setups.
• Invite and host guest presenters (filmmakers, scholars, actors, subject experts).
• Write program notes, short essays, and other content for BAMPFA publications, such as the Program Guide, and website.

Conducts research on areas of Chinese film history and publishes a book-length study on a specialized area (possibly an extension of the candidate's dissertation):

• Work on a publishing project that can be produced by the end of the two-year appointment.
• Work directly with BAMPFA Staff, the project manager, editor, and graphic designer on the development of the book.

Represents the museum at scholarly, public, and cultivation events:

• Maintain awareness of national and international trends, scholarship, and developments in film exhibition and media arts.
• Represent BAMPFA at professional meetings, conferences, festivals, and public events.
• Support marketing and outreach, including press interviews, radio and TV appearances, and providing content for media relations.
• Cultivate relationships with distributors, artists, curators, collectors, foundations, donors, and other stakeholders.

Administrative, collection management, or film archive responsibilities:

• Support the Director of Film and Senior Film Curator, and the Film department at large (film curators, archivists, and librarians) in identifying potential donations, acquisitions, and preservation projects.
• Use language skills to help identify and catalog films without English titles or subtitles.

Recommend films for acquisition, deaccession, conservation/preservation, and access via special collections:

• Contribute to identifying acquisition and conservation priorities.
• Help develop special collections under the guidance of the Director of Film and Senior Film Curator and Film department staff.

Cultivates financial support and donations for films and specialized collections.

May lead work-study students and interns.


Required Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge and appreciation for the full range of moving image styles, both past and present.
• Knowledge of film exhibition practice and archival issues gained through experience programming at a cinematheque, museum, festival, film archive, or film theater.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities, including the ability to communicate complex concepts about the history of cinema and aesthetic issues to an audience that ranges from casual filmgoers to seasoned cinephiles and academics.
• Strong organizational skills; able to set priorities and meet deadlines.
• Awareness and understanding of diverse communities served locally, nationally, and internationally.
• Intellectual curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm for bringing scholarly research and distinctive film and video programs to a broad public in accessible ways. Ability to collaborate internally and externally, and cultivate strong relationships with faculty, donors, and colleagues.
• Technical skills, especially regarding new and evolving media.
• Broad experience and detailed knowledge of technical issues pertaining to film exhibition, including the range of legacy formats for film and video art.
• Team player, with the ability to work effectively on cross-functional teams. Ability to work in a shared office environment.
• Graduation from college with specialization in the discipline involved and four years of experience in curatorial work, including one year in a supervisory capacity; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Mac OS and MS Office; Filemaker; Google mail, calendar, and Drive; Adobe Acrobat.
• Knowledge of and experience in film curating, researching, and writing on cinema.
• Fluency or demonstrated proficiency in Mandarin and/or Cantonese Chinese in the context of cinema and cultural contexts.
• Advanced degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training
• PhD in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training

Salary & Benefits

This is a full-time, limited position for up to 18 months.

This position is eligible for full UC Benefits. For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $ 82,187.31 - $ 90,752.98 annually (stepped rates).


Other Information

The automatic conversion to career status will not occur as the funding for the position is one time funding, of eighteen (18) months or less.

This position is governed by the terms and conditions in the agreement for the Research Support Professionals Unit (RX) between the University of California and the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE). The current bargaining agreement manual can be found at:

This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.


How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.


Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.


Misconduct Disclosure

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

Misconduct means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
Abusive Conduct in the Workplace


Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.