Reel Stories Institute

07/10/2023 – 07/21/2023

Reel Stories is an Oakland-based program that seeks to close the gender gap in media by training, mentoring, and supporting the next generation of empowered filmmakers. Reel Stories is part of BAVC Media, a community hub and resource for media makers in the Bay Area and across the country, serving over 7,500 freelancers, filmmakers, job-seekers, activists, and artists every year.

Reel Stories Institute applications are open! Institute is an advanced filmmaking program for women and gender expansive filmmakers ages 15-24. This program is meant for participants who have filmmaking experience, and are interested in pursuing filmmaking and media making as a career.

At the Reel Stories Institute, participants jump right in to making a portfolio quality piece in just 2 weeks with the support of Reel Stories Instructors and mentors. Participants work together in teams to write, film, and edit their own films and attend workshops on screenplay writing, cinematography, sound, lighting, and editing. In addition to our staff-lead workshops, we invite experienced guest speakers from all aspects of the film industry to lead workshops and have exclusive Q&As with our campers.

After Institute wraps, Reel Stories staff submit Institute films to festivals throughout the year. Reel Stories films have shown at film festivals such as: The Mill Valley Film Festival, POWfest, All-American High School Film Festival, Bay Area International Children’s Festival, Coven Film Festival, and many, many others.

The Reel Stories Institute will be held weekdays July 10th-21st, from 10am-4pm in downtown Oakland.