Celebrating the 2025 BAVC MediaMaker Fellows
We can’t believe we’re already closing out the 2025 BAVC MediaMaker Fellowship!
On Wednesday, December 10, friends, collaborators, and supporters gathered at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco to watch the 2025 Fellows present their films and celebrate the culmination of their time together as a cohort over 9 months.
With the steadfast support of our incomparable pitch coach, Maria Santos, the fellows had their pitches dialed in. We heard from audience members that they were not only impressed by the caliber of the filmmakers’ presentations but moved by the beauty and sincerity of each of the films.
We’re so grateful to our sponsors that made the event possible:
Rewinding to the beginning of the final BAVC MediaMaker Fellowship convening of 2025, we didn’t just prepare for the final pitch event. We began with a trip to the North Bay to tour Skywalker Sound and hear from their masterful audio artists who are dedicated to working with independent filmmakers alongside Hollywood projects. We Zoomed in Jon Reiss to discuss the state of distribution for independent documentaries and answer the Fellows questions about what comes next.
Jin Yoo-Kim, Co-Director of the Fellowship:
“It feels so good to be back in person after not being able to join last year due to maternity leave. This year’s cohort was a tight-knit unit with a nomadic vibe, and they all created a sense of home and community among themselves. I felt so lucky to be a part of that. I learned so much from them – gentleness, coming home to oneself, centering commitment, being vulnerable enough to lean on each other.
Thank you to Alex, Luca, Joua, Anna, Thanh, and Hao for showing up for each other and for showing up for me, Dawn, and Brittney. Thank you to Maria Santos, for being such an incredible and accessible pitch coach. I also get goosebumps thinking about the BAVC staff that brought so much of their gifts and energy into making the night such a success. And, thank you to our awesome and engaged audience members, funders, board members, sponsors, and the historic Roxie for making our plans into a reality!”
Dawn Valadez, Co-Director of the Fellowship:
“This year began with great uncertainty in the documentary field, and while things have evened out somewhat, the landscape for broadcast, streaming, and other aspects of distribution continues to be disappointing. Public Television felt the blow with the federal elimination of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, but PBS is holding strong in large urban markets. These outlets have traditionally been the spaces for independent documentaries. The proposed merging of major media outlets is also disconcerting. Providing optimism for our Media Maker Fellows was challenging, but their films, their dedication, and their resilience gave me hope. I share the thanks Jin showered on the fellows for their kindness and commitment to each other, to their films, and to the program team.
The crew was small but mighty and we made it through film festivals, Zoom meetings, and field trips. We had many guest speakers throughout the year who helped the fellows understand the independent documentary field and where their films fit within it. Their pitches at the annual celebration are just a glimmer of their talent and care. These stories are remarkable – not just because of the central characters but because of the tenacity and grit, generosity and love the filmmakers have to offer. It is truly an honor to be of service to the fellows and to our beautiful program.”
Thank you to the 2025 BAVC MediaMaker Fellows for your dedication to your stories, your artistry, your participants, and each other:
• Alex J. Bledsoe, OAKLEAD
• Luca Capponi, WHAT LIES OVER THE MOUNTAIN
• Joua Lee Grande, SPIRITED
• Anna Clare Spelman, MEANT TO BE MADDIE
• Thanh Tran, FINDING MÁ
• Hao Zhou, ALL FIXED UP
GALLERY
Photos by Tommy Lau
