16 Nov Celebrate Young Mediamakers at Big Picture Alliance’s Fund Film Futures Event

BY MARIAM DEMBELE

Big Picture Alliance’s annual fundraising event, Fund Film Futures, will return for a second year on Thursday, November 30, 2023. This year’s event will feature a VIP mixer, a silent auction, performances, screenings, and an awards presentation.

Aleks Martray, the executive director of Big Picture Alliance, explains that the name of the event is a nod to its three core objectives. “Fund Film Futures means funding individual futures, helping to support young, BIPOC filmmakers in Philly to go from script-to-screen and curiosity to career…It’s funding a future for the film industry that’s more diverse, inclusive, and equitable. And it’s funding the future of our organization to grow and expand and be able to do the work.”

Founded in 1996, Big Picture Alliance’s mission is to “empower youth to define their own narrative through filmmaking and digital media arts,” while providing pathways to become professionals in the industry. Every year, the organization serves about 250 youth between 12 and 24 years of age.

Fund Film Futures serves as an opportunity for the organization to celebrate its youth and its network of industry partners, mentors, and civic leaders, all while raising money to ensure the work can continue and expand. At the event you can expect a short screening featuring clips of Big Pictures Alliance’s work, a silent auction with prizes like festival and museum tickets, and performances by local musicians.

The key event of the night is the awards presentation. This year’s industry honorees include Philadelphia radio host Patty Jackson receiving the Industry Ally Award and A Hope that Lights the Way director Kaloni Davis receiving the Visionary Award, alongside youth honorees Serenity Freeman receiving the Rising Star Award, Zora Ball receiving the Pharaoh Harris Young Visionary Scholarship, and Sam Austin receiving the Prodigy Award.

For Serenity Freeman, receiving the Rising Star Award is a sign that she’s on the right path. Currently pursuing a degree in film from Drexel University, Freeman said her passion for film was solidified at Big Picture Alliance over the course of two summer programs.

“I had a vague idea beforehand that I may have wanted to do something in the realm of film… but I didn’t know if that was something I was capable of until joining Teen Media Summers,” said Freeman. “That first year was my first spark for film and media and then the following session was a confirmation that this is something I want to do, this is something I want to study and perfect and build an artistry in.”

“I consider [receiving the award] really affirming, especially because I didn’t have a lot of confidence in my artistic ability,” explained the honoree, noting that she joined the program with little film experience. “So there’s always the doubt in my mind that creeps in. But to see this as an affirmation that the work that I’m doing is impactful, it’s meaningful, and it is art.”

The proceeds raised at the event will go towards fueling and expanding Big Picture Alliance’s pathway of school, summer, and workforce programs, including a new paid workforce initiative, Media Futures. The program places youth at film and media companies across Philadelphia where they have the opportunity to get hands-on training, develop portfolios, attain industry certifications, and produce their own films. 

“Big Picture Alliance has always been about empowering young people to pursue creative careers, but now we’re really providing a real pathway to do it, in a tangible way,” said Martray, adding that the apprenticeships often lead to part-time or full-time employment. 

Freeman attests to the impact of Big Picture Alliance, noting that she hopes to eventually open an organization that supports youth in the same way it supported her. 

“One of my overall goals is to build programs and community centers like Big Picture Alliance and the DELPHI program, so that more kids in the city have access to different fields in the arts and knowledge about the arts,” describes Freeman. “Also just a safe place for them. I think especially living in Philadelphia my whole life there aren’t a lot of places for youth to go to to productively spend their time.”

Fund Film Futures attendees will have the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of young filmmakers like Freeman, while raising money to ensure that the next generation of youth will have access to the career-launching programming offered at Big Picture Alliance.

You can purchase tickets to this year’s Fund Film Futures event online. General admission tickets are $25 and VIP are $50. The event will take place at World Cafe Live in West Philadelphia from 7-9:30 PM. Big Picture Alliance is also accepting donations to the organization at the same link. 

*Featured Image: Image from the 2022 Film Fund Futures event featuring Big Picture Alliance executive director Aleks Martray and several of the organization’s members and supporters posing for a photo in front of the step-and-repeat. Courtesy of Big Picture Alliance.

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Mariam Dembele is a researcher, writer, and visual journalist based in Philadelphia. Her work focuses on culture and social justice, with an emphasis on community-based solutions.