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Short Films, Big Impact: The Big Tell Shares Stories of the Central Valley and Its People

2 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Filmmakers take the stage during The Big Tell's 2024 Showcase, celebrating the creativity and perspectives of Central Valley storytellers, who are as diverse as the stories each one presents. Since 2017, the program has awarded 10 filmmakers $5,000 grants to produce five-minute documentaries exploring the people, places and histories that make the Central Valley region unique.
Filmmakers take the stage during The Big Tell's 2024 Showcase, celebrating the creativity and perspectives of Central Valley storytellers, who are as diverse as the stories each one presents. Since 2017, the program has awarded 10 filmmakers $5,000 grants to produce five-minute documentaries exploring the people, places and histories that make the Central Valley region unique.

The Big Tell is an annual burst of creativity that gives Central Valley filmmakers the opportunity to turn five‑minute stories into something unforgettable. What makes it special isn’t just the films; it’s the way the event captures the soul of the Central Valley, revealing the people, places and histories that make this place remarkable.


Every spring for the past 10 years, the call goes out for five-minute movies. Abstracts of what the film could be arrive like postcards from Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings, Merced and Mariposa counties. One follows an environmentalist who describes how the giant Sequoias can teach us to live in harmony with nature. Another explores California’s oldest weekly paper in Mariposa. A third profiles Ben’s Café in Parlier and its impact on the Japanese community. The topics are endless, the stories fascinating.  


From dozens of submissions, 10 are chosen for a $5,000 grant. Each filmmaker gets a small stipend, a tight deadline and the freedom to tell any story rooted in the region. The result is The Big Tell, where short stories make a huge impact.


Behind the scenes, The Big Tell also serves as a training ground. Many filmmakers are first‑timers, learning how to shoot, edit and craft narrative arcs with CMAC’s support. The event becomes a launchpad where new voices find confidence and where seasoned creators experiment with fresh ideas.


Behind the scenes at The Big Tell, a filmmaker prepares for an on-camera interview. Beyond providing financial support, the program helps emerging filmmakers develop their skills in storytelling, production and editing through mentorship and training provided by Community Media Access Collaborative (CMAC).
Behind the scenes at The Big Tell, a filmmaker prepares for an on-camera interview. Beyond providing financial support, the program helps emerging filmmakers develop their skills in storytelling, production and editing through mentorship and training provided by Community Media Access Collaborative (CMAC).

From 2017 to 2024, participants learned under the mentorship of Emmy-nominated filmmaker Sascha Brown Rice.  Since 2025, Angelica Hernandez, a local filmmaker, former awardee of The Big Tell and Education Coordinator for Community Media Access Collaborative, has provided awardees with training on how to listen, frame and share the truth of someone’s lived experience. The result of The Big Tell is a mosaic of rich, colorful stories that have shaped and continue to shape the Central Valley.


Then, in the Fall, community members are invited to see our region come alive through shared stories. Filmmakers, families and others pack the seats. When the lights dim, the Valley shines.


The films are short, but they hit hard. Some make the audience laugh; others make them cry. All of them remind viewers that the Central Valley is a special place, not only because of the land, but because of the people who call this place home.


The Big Tell was founded by Central Valley Community Foundation in 2017 and supported by the Community Media Access Collaborative (CMAC).  Since 2022, CMAC has continued management of the film contest. The Big Tell has grown into a historical archive, with more than a hundred documentaries capturing the Valley’s humor, heartbreak and determination. 


Attendees celebrate The Big Tell at the Tower Theatre, where filmmakers and community members come together to share stories that define the Central Valley. Since its founding in 2017, the initiative has provided a platform for emerging and experienced filmmakers alike, creating a growing archive of documentaries that preserve the region's history, culture and lived experiences
Attendees celebrate The Big Tell at the Tower Theatre, where filmmakers and community members come together to share stories that define the Central Valley. Since its founding in 2017, the initiative has provided a platform for emerging and experienced filmmakers alike, creating a growing archive of documentaries that preserve the region's history, culture and lived experiences

You can watch the past documentaries here.  Community members are invited to this year’s 10th Anniversary showcase on Wednesday, November 18th at the Tower Theater. RSVP here. Doors open at 7 p.m., and admission is free. We hope to see you there!


This story is part of the Central Valley Community Foundation’s “Sixty Stories That Shaped Us” initiative, marking 60 years since our founding. Join us in celebrating this milestone and the special place we call home. To learn more, visit centralvalleycf.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn @centralvalleycf.



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