The Big Picture Alliance

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The Big Picture Alliance

Empowering Philly Youth Through Filmmaking

01/12/2026

Love movies? In Cinemaniacs youth ages 14–21 explore the history, evolution, and craft of cinema. From watching and discussing films to hands-on activities, field trips, and conversations with guest filmmakers! This is where creativity meets community.

This Spring
Wednesdays, 4–6 PM
Spring Jan 21 - March 25, 2026 (10 Sessions)
Location

Click the link to apply now and get obsessed with film! https://bit.ly/4jB87At

01/10/2026

As we enter the new year, we’re celebrating the incredible young creatives of our most recent Media Futures cohort. Their talent, drive, and vision continue to affirm our belief that empowering young people through digital media opens real pathways to success.

One of our Media Futures students, Jessica, shared a sentiment that captures the heart of this work: “I think art is a revolutionary act. I was really into documentaries, seeing the visuals really inspired me to create my own.”

Media Futures is Big Picture Alliance’s 9-month paid workforce program supporting young adults as they build careers in film and media. Participants sharpen their skills, grow their portfolios, and receive a 4-month paid apprenticeship with some of Philadelphia’s leading film and media companies—with the opportunity to work with Big Picture Productions after completing the program.

Want to be part of what’s next? Click here to contribute to our Year-End Campaign! https://bit.ly/3Uul03X

01/06/2026

Join us for our next "Second Saturday" monthly professional development series! This month's topic is Budgeting and Fundraising with Kristal Sotomayor () of .productions. The session offers a case-study based overview of building a short film budget, exploring grants, campaign strategies, and navigating the current landscape of film fundraising followed by a discussion and Q&A.

Kristal Sotomayor is an award-winning nonbinary Peruvian American filmmaker, journalist, and curator based in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Named one of HipLatina’s “10 Latinx Filmmakers You Should Know,” they are a DOC NYC Documentary New Leader Honoree and Rockwood Documentary Leadership Fellow. Kristal’s work has screened and won awards at festivals including BlackStar and Poppy Jasper, with distribution through Kanopy and New Day Films, and has been supported by organizations such as Sundance, BlackStar, Outfest, and Points North Institute.

SAT Jan 17, 5-7pm (refreshments at 4:30pm)
GroundFloor Studios 1315 Walnut St Ste 131 Phila PA

This is a FREE event! Space is limited so please make sure to apply as soon as possible! Click here to RSVP! (Open to Philadelphia youth ages 14-24) https://bit.ly/4std0zx

01/05/2026

Upcoming Weekend Workshop! Register today for our Cinematography weekend workshop happening on 1/17! In this workshop, we will explore the basics of Cinematography including shot types, composition and operating a camera.

BPA’s Weekend Workshops are monthly crash course introductory workshops where youth (ages 14-24) learn the fundamentals of a particular aspect of filmmaking under the mentorship of professionals.

Register Here: https://bit.ly/499C2fy

01/02/2026

We believe in empowering young people through creativity, and that includes stepping behind and in front of the camera. In our Acting & Directing Workshop, students dove into the fundamentals of film performance and storytelling through scene study, monologues, and hands-on collaboration with scripts developed in our Screenwriting Workshop.

From casting calls and auditions to working on set alongside our Cinematography students, participants gain real-world and professional experience. Swipe through some images of students giving it their all.

Interested in programs like this? Click the link here to see what upcoming workshops are available: https://linktr.ee/bigpicturealliance

12/30/2025

As we head into 2026, we want to thank our entire community for the collective impact we made this year!

In 2025, Big Picture Alliance's pathway of school, summer, and workforce programs served 300 youth through over 1000 hours of programming - providing mentorship from script-to-screen and from curiosity-to-careers. 98% of youth graduated, 92% passed digital literacy assessments, 82% said the program improved their self confidence and mental health, and 100% of workforce program alumni were placed at paid industry apprenticeships across Philadelphia.

Our youth filmmakers produced 50 films that engaged an audience of over 650,000 through 10 screenings, 6 broadcasts, and 4 social media campaigns. Many of these films uplifted community voices around themes of social justice, environmental justice, gender justice, disability rights, and anti-violence initiatives - including our Emmy-Award winning film “Taking Care of Business”, a part of our Neighborhood Voices series.

Interested in supporting BPA? Click the link below to either donate or join our “Film Fam” monthly giving program! Your monthly recurring donation is a simple way to help us sustain and expand our after-school, summer, and workforce programs all through 2026!

Donate Here: https://bit.ly/3Uul03X

12/27/2025

“BPA changed my life. It provided me with the opportunity to develop my craft as an artist, use my voice to uplift my community, and pursue a career while getting paid to learn. I now work with several of the top production companies in Philly getting paid to do what I love.” - Sam

For three decades, Big Picture Alliance has carried out the mission of empowering youth through digital media and filmmaking programs. Whether in classrooms or communities across Philadelphia, Big Picture Alliance has helped over 10,000 marginalized youth develop digital literacy, build community, amplify their voices, and even pursue careers in film & media.

Can we count on your help? Join our "Film Fam" monthly giving program to help sustain and expand our work! Help us reach our goal of $30,000 by the end of this year! Every dollar counts and will go on to make a difference.

Click here to give! https://bit.ly/3Uul03X

12/23/2025

We’re honored to share the beautiful story of Frankie’s World, an independent 501(c)(3) children’s charity in Philadelphia transforming the lives of kids with medical needs and the families who love them.

Named after a remarkable little girl whose joy continues to inspire, Frankie’s World is a place where kids can truly be kids. It’s supported by expert nursing care, preschool education, and a loving community that celebrates them every day.

This film was created with so much heart by Big Picture Productions, whose team captured the magic, resilience, and hope that fill the halls of Frankie’s World.

12/18/2025

We are beyond grateful and immensely proud of our students this year! Check out this yearbook video featuring interviews with directors from this year's films. They discussed their work and what it means to be supported by the creative community. Together, we're cultivating the next generation of storytellers!

“With the help of Big Picture Alliance mentors and peers, I’m really finding my creative community” - Lola

Interested in supporting BPA? Click the link here to either donate or join our “Film Fam” monthly giving program! https://bit.ly/3Uul03X

12/17/2025

Recently, our Cinemaniacs stepped out of the classroom and into history. Led by Bettina Escauriza, students visited the Penn Museum, where the past comes alive through images, stories, and film. From discovering the magic of the photochrome process to exploring the museum’s rich collection of digitized archival films and born-digital videos, youth connected cinema to archaeology, anthropology, and the human stories that shape our world.

Cinemaniacs is more than an after-school program, it’s a space where young people explore how cinema reflects who we are and who we’ve been. Through screenings, conversations, hands-on activities, and encounters with guest filmmakers, students deepen their understanding of filmmaking as both an art form and a powerful tool for storytelling.

Want to help support programs like this? Click here to support Cinemaniacs: https://bit.ly/3Uul03X

12/11/2025

We’re honored to be one of 19 organizations selected to receive funding through a transformative $8.35M investment in workforce development across Philadelphia! Thanks to William Penn Foundation, Comcast, and partners for supporting our mission to create pathways to quality jobs and economic mobility.

Click the link here to learn more! https://williampennfoundation.org/news/wpf-comcast-and-partners-workforce-training

12/09/2025

Such an awesome night!!! Thank you!!!!

Address

924 Cherry Street 5th Floor
Philadelphia, PA
19107

Telephone

(443) 414-9919

Website

http://bigpicturealliance.org/

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