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Leadership changes for BAVC Media in 2026
We’re excited to start our 50th year with a number of changes to the BAVC Media team, with leadership changes across a number of departments that promise to take us into 2026 with renewed energy and optimism. Executive Director, Paula Smith Arrigoni: “We are so fortunate at BAVC Media to be led by a dynamic team of new and experienced staff directors. They are piloting and scaling new models and partnerships, and expanding our membership program to include more community connections. This team is all about supporting media makers to thrive as artists, workers, and engaged citizens!” Among the changes [...]
Reel Stories Planning Brunch
Authors: Paula Smith Arrigoni (Executive Director), Dawn Valadez (Director of Youth Programs & Artist Development), Penny Krueger (Board President) & Morgan Lewis (Project Manager, Reel Stories) On October 18th, BAVC Media’s Reel Stories team gathered with supporters of the program for brunch and strategic planning at our Oakland hub, Oakstop. Attendees included several former Reel Stories board members and foundational leaders, such as Penny Krueger (current BAVC Media board president), Niema Jordan, and Heidi Cregge Cabra, program alumnae and current interns, media teachers, parents, and women and gender-expansive filmmakers at different stages of their careers. With so much change [...]
Mapping the Magnetic Media Landscape report
BAVC Media-led research project supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) [This announcement was first published by Documentary Magazine on September 8, 2025] SAN FRANCISCO, CA — September 9, 2025 — BAVC Media (Bay Area Video Coalition) has published Mapping the Magnetic Media Landscape, a nationwide research study designed to learn more about the state of magnetic preservation efforts happening across the country in our archives, libraries, community organizations, and historical organizations. Co-authored by Moriah Ulinskas, Kailen Sallander (Research & Development Manager, BAVC Media), and Kelli Shay Hix. Early findings from the Mapping the Magnetic Media Landscape [...]
BAMMS 2025: Latinx Filmmaking in the Bay Area
On Sunday, August 17th, we hosted the Latinx Filmmaking in the Bay Area event at the Ninth Street Independent Film Center screening room here in San Francisco as part of the 2025 Bay Area Media Maker Summit (BAMMS). Presented by CiNEOLA and BAVC Media, the day started with a morning mixer over cafe and conchas provided by our sponsors, local Latinx-owned businesses Florecita Panadería and Excelsior Coffee. Breakfast was followed by a conversation with a panel of local filmmakers moderated by CiNEOLA founder Daniel Díaz (BAVC Media's director of marketing & audience strategy), discussing their unique perspectives and experiences making [...]
Member Montage Program Reveal
Co-presented by Drunken Film Fest and Film SF. The Member Montage: Community Screening & Mixer is the first in a new event series for Bay Area filmmakers. Creating a judgment-free space to share and workshop short films, music videos, passion projects, or works in progress with the BAVC Media community. "Some stories transcend time and space, insisting not to be forgotten. Some heartbreak is reversible, with the help of a little dancing. And sometimes, we just need a good laugh. I hope you find all of this and more during our first-ever Member Montage Community Screening." - Zander Constien, programmer [...]
IMAG Regional Initiatives: Selected Projects
In June 2025, BAVC Media utilized remaining funds from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to subcontract other regional initiatives across the US. A call for proposals was issued to members of the Independent Film & Media Arts Group (IMAG) to redistribute over $20,000 in support of organizations across the national indie media field. A review process was undertaken by the BAVC Media team and eighteen organizations were selected for contracts in support of their work before the end date of the early-terminated agreement with the NEA. “With less than a month to wrap up activities and spend down [...]
BAVC Media statement on the impact of cancelled federal arts and culture funding
*UPDATE (May 15, 2025): total amount updated from $250,000 to $220,000 in impacted funding. This is to reflect our ability to draw down funds originally tied up in early terminations. This is specific to the $30k for our VERSED and IMAG programs outlined below. The remaining $220,000 in funds lost includes a withdrawn award offer for the Preservation Access Program & MediaMaker Fellowship, and an anticipated cooperative agreement for the 2025 IMAG program year that was not renewed.* SAN FRANCISCO, CA — May 6, 2025 — Along with many of our peer organizations, on Friday, May 2, 2025, we [...]
Announcing the 2025 BAVC MediaMaker Fellows
BAVC Media celebrates the latest cohort of participants in its longstanding MediaMaker Fellowship. Filmmakers in the annual documentary development program will receive $10,000 in unrestricted funding, mentorship, industry access, feedback sessions, and workshops during an immersive 9-month experience. [The announcement was first made exclusively by Documentary Magazine on April 17th, 2025. Read their article here] This year’s fellows are: 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), and Hao Zhou (All Fixed Up). The 2025 program will kick off with an in-person [...]
Introducing the 2025 MediaMaker Fellows
We're excited to announce the latest cohort to take part in our longstanding documentary film fellowship program. Participants in the 2025 BAVC MediaMaker Fellowship will receive $10,000 in unrestricted funding, mentorship, industry access, feedback sessions, and workshops during an immersive 9-month experience. This year’s fellows are: 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), and Hao Zhou (All Fixed Up). Learn more about the fellows and each of their projects below. Alex J. Bledsoe Alex J. Bledsoe is a director, producer and [...]
Bay Area Film Production Memo
BAVC Media led research study aims to boost local film production in the Bay Area. BAVC Media (Bay Area Video Coalition) has published the Bay Area Film Production Memo, alongside a nationwide research study designed to learn more about strategies to boost film production in the Bay Area, and associated economic and social benefits. “This project is heavily influenced by our organization’s on-the-ground experiences engaging in field-building, providing training, workforce development, and artist development, for youth and adults in film and media.” - Paula Smith Arrigoni, Executive Director of BAVC Media The project was developed in collaboration with WolfBrown, with [...]
