15 Jun Third Annual Big Picture Film Fest: Bloom Where You’re Planted

BY ANDRE CHERRY

On June 22, 2023, Big Picture Alliance (BPA) returns with its Big Picture Film Fest for the third year. Big Picture Alliance is a Philadelphia-based youth media non-profit which strives to “empower Philadelphia youth to define their own narrative through filmmaking and digital media arts.” This year’s film fest will premiere over a dozen films produced by youth through various Big Picture Alliance programs across the city.

The annual Big Picture Film Fest is designed specifically for Philly youth as a way to boost marginalized voices in an industry that hasn’t been inclusive. The theme for this year’s film fest is “Bloom Where You’re Planted.”

“The theme is an opportunity for our young filmmakers to explore their relationship with the environment, and how we can thrive in our communities and neighborhoods,” said BPA’s executive director, Aleks Martray. 

When BPA says this festival is designed by youth and for youth, they truly mean it. Look no further than their submission process to better understand how Philadelphia’s youth are centered in everything BPA does. The films created by Big Picture Alliance’s youth filmmakers, which includes participants in all of their school, summer, and workforce programs, are automatically submitted into the fest. BPA’s youth leadership team makes official selections and selects the Cinemaniacs jury special awards. Cinemaniacs is BPA’s after-school program where youth learn about the evolution and craft of filmmaking through screenings and discussions with guest filmmakers. 

The films included in this year’s festival cover a wide array of thought-provoking topics.Willow is a silent film about codependency. The Sidewalk Rule is about friendship and explores the line between traditional and modern chivalry. In Spell of Reflection, a psychiatrist administers a case study involving a pill that brings back memories which ends up reuniting a father and son. And in the film Let’s Take A Trip, when a troubled teen hits rock bottom, a drug-induced trip forces him to face the one thing he’s been trying to escape.  

You can view the official teaser for this year’s film fest here. 

This summer’s theme, “Bloom Where You’re Planted,” is also the name of the environmental justice docuseries which will premiere at the fest. This series highlights various community gardens across Philadelphia and the impact they have as a source of nutrition, education, and community building. The film was produced in partnership with the Philadelphia Orchard Project, Bartram’s Garden, the Village of Arts and Humanities, and Union Baptist Church. The Philadelphia Orchard Project, in collaboration with local groups, transforms vacant lots into thriving community gardens. 

“Big Picture Film Fest is a platform for Philly youth to celebrate our creativity and share our perspectives about community issues,” said festival director Darien Woodard, who is also a BPA alumni. “I’m super excited to premiere this year’s new films, especially our environmental justice series which centers community-based gardens and green spaces across the city.” 

While serving as the festival director, Woodard also directed two films which will be screened at the festival. In Magenta, during a routine traffic stop, a rookie cop has to confront his true nature as he struggles to find the line between danger and discrimination. In You’ll Always Have Hope, a woman’s surprise birthday party goes downhill when she begins to suspect her wife is cheating and her daughter may be a psychopath. BPA alumni such as Woodard stay involved with Big Picture Productions on a regular basis which helps to provide a valuable mentorship experience for the youth. 

The Big Picture Film Fest is one of BPA’s many pathways to empowering the city’s youth to hone their own voices. In addition to viewing film screenings, this year’s attendees will be able to participate in filmmaking workshops, listen to musical guests, and attend panel discussions with civic and industry leaders. 

“Our pathway supports youth from adolescence to young adulthood, providing them the tools to tell their own stories, the creative community to thrive, and the skills to succeed in school, life, and career,” said Martray. “We aim to transform perceptions of Philly youth and the policies impacting their lives, and contribute to a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable industry where BIPOC voices hold power from script to screen.” 

The Big Picture Film Fest will run on June 22, 2023 from 6 PM-10 PM at One Art Community Space in West Philadelphia. You can register for free tickets here. The film program will also be available for a limited time on the Big Picture Alliance YouTube page starting at 8pm on June 22nd. 

For those interested in joining Big Picture Film Fest as a sponsor, community partner, or individual donor, you can find more information here. 

*Featured Image: Image from a past Big Picture Film Fest. Courtesy of Big Picture Alliance.

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Andre Cherry’s love of storytelling compels him to create art. He is a cinéSPEAK Fellow, background actor, and writer. His screenplays have placed within the Austin Film Festival and Stowe Story Labs. Andre, who originally hails from the Chicagoland area, quickly grew to love Philadelphia after moving to the area in 2014. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Illinois State University.