About Us

Philadelphia Steering Committee

Philadelphia has blossomed in the last ten years as a major hub of independent media making where the spirit of independence and partnership are ever present. Keystone organizations of this tight knit media arts community have taken the lead in planning this conference. We are Scribe Video Center, Philadelphia Independent Film Video Association (PIFVA), Drexel University Television (DUTV), the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, Film at the Prince, Film at International House, Termite TV Collective and WYBE-TV-35.

Scribe Video Center - www.scribe.org

Scribe was founded in 1982 as a place where people could work together and gain skills in media making. Scribe seeks to explore, develop and advance the use of video as an artistic medium and as a tool for progressive social change. "Scribe" is a metaphor for the use of video as a modern medium to record significant contemporary concerns and events. Central to our mission are efforts to reach communities that traditionally have not had access to video training or production facilities. We engage people of color, women, young people, senior citizens, and those with limited economic resources in a dialogue about the potential of the video medium.

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Drexel University Cable 54 (DUTV) - www.dutv.org

DUTV is dedicated to providing the people of Philadelphia with quality community, cultural, and educational television. DUTV encourages diversity of viewpoints in programming and advocates public participation in the production process. Cable channel 54 is an educational access channel operated by Drexel University under agreement with the City of Philadelphia, Department of Public Property. DUTV regularly airs programs such as: Democracy Now and Free Speech TV, Youth Channel Open Transmission, Paper Tiger & Deep Dish TV.

Film @ International House - www.ihousephilly.org

For over twenty years, International House has been the leading venue in Philadelphia for repertory film programming, independent premieres and cutting edge avant-garde cinema from around the world. The mission of Film @ International House is to foster a greater appreciation for film and the moving image as both a powerful means of artistic expression and as an avenue for greater cultural, political and social understanding. We seek to serve International House's residents as well as the multinational and multicultural community of Philadelphia at large through our year round exhibition and advocacy of artistically significant, socially relevant, films and programs.

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Film at the Prince - www.princemusictheater.org

Film at the Prince: The Sharon Pinkenson Film Project celebrates the history of the medium and presents innovative new films and videos. Programs traverse the historic, the fantastic, the silent, the musical, the classic, the kitsch, the doc, the drama, the local and the international. Film at the Prince is a gathering place for filmmakers, film lovers, actors, writers, students and families to see exciting new and classic films, socialize and exchange ideas.

Greater Philadelphia Filmmakers, a program of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office - www.film.org

The Greater Philadelphia Film Office (GPFO) is a "film commission" representing southeastern Pennsylvania that officially serves the counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia. GPFO, first established in 1985 as a part of Philadelphia city government, continues to reside within city offices. In 1992, it became a regional economic development office, incorporating as the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation, in July 2000. They serve to attract film and video production of every kind to the region. They are the only film office in the country with a minority affairs coordinator and a program, Greater Philadelphia Filmmakers, dedicated to nurturing local independent film talent.

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Philadelphia Independent Film and Video Association (PIFVA) - www.pifva.org

The Philadelphia Independent Film and Video Association (PIFVA) is a non-profit organization that has been providing services to independent film, video and media makers working in all styles and at every level of experience for over 20 years. Programs offer opportunities to learn, mentor, intern, screen work, advocate for the community and network. PIFVA also provides opportunities to apply for production assistance and other support services to move forward with independent work.

Termite TV Collective - www.termite.org

Founded in 1992, Termite TV is a video collective with members based in Philadelphia, PA and Buffalo, NY. The mission of Termite TV Collective is to produce, distribute and facilitate the creation of experimental and activist media that challenges the status quo and provides an alternative to corporate media. They value working collaboratively across artistic disciplines, inspiring other artists, encouraging the expression of multiple styles and points of view, risk-taking, innovation and the blend of humor and intelligent critique in their work. To date they have produced over 40 programs which have been broadcast nationally on television and screened at festivals and museums worldwide.

WYBE Public Televison- www.wybe.org

WYBE Public Television is a member-supported, independent, public television station broadcasting to the entire Greater Philadelphia region. This year, WYBE celebrates 15 years of providing multicultural broadcast services to the Delaware Valley. Founded in 1990 by a group of activists that included independent filmmakers, WYBE has continued to serve underserved television audiences with programming unparalleled by any broadcaster in the region. WYBE believes that quality television programming has the potential to connect communities. Our mission is to enrich people’s lives through the broadcast of programs that inspire, educate, entertain, encourage the exploration of other cultures, promote tolerance, endorse citizenship and most importantly, channel the power of diversity.

Thank you to all our supporters who contributed both cash and in-kind support to make this conference a success!

Funders & Sponsors

Funders

  • William Penn Foundation
  • National Endowment for the Arts
  • Ford Foundation
  • The Philadelphia Foundation
  • The Nathan Cummings Foundation
  • Pennylvania Council on the Arts
  • Glaser Progress Foundation

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Sponsors

  • Korbell Champagne

 

Conference Partners

Presenting Partners

  • Center for Creative Voices in Media
  • Institute of Contemporary Art
  • Painted Bride Art Center
  • The Rudman Institute for Entertainment Studies at Drexel University
  • Media Tank
  • Temple University School of Communications and Theater
  • University of the Arts, College of Media and Communication

Outreach Partners

  • Alliance for Community Media (ACM)
  • Community Technology Center's Network (CTCNet)
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