Pembroke Taparelli Arts and Film Festival | Application Preview
The Pembroke Taparelli Arts and Film Festival (PTAFF) is seeking government funding to support its Workforce and Youth Filmmaker Program, aimed at empowering at-risk youth, particularly middle and high school students impacted by the juvenile justice system. The program provides hands-on training in filmmaking—covering screenwriting, cinematography, editing, and production—while addressing issues like racial injustice, economic disparity, and youth incarceration.
Funding will be used to hire skilled mentors, buy professional-grade equipment, offer stipends and transportation to low-income participants, and develop a social-justice-focused curriculum. The program culminates in a Youth Film Showcase to amplify participants' voices, in addition to the annual PTAFF 2025, which will explore global labor and wage equity through films, panels, and performances.
Over the next five years, PTAFF plans to grow into a national and international platform, expanding its film festivals and launching PTAFF Studios to produce and distribute social impact content. The organization aims to become a global leader in "Artivism" with a streaming platform and artist residencies by 2029.
PTAFF differentiates itself from competitors like Sundance, Tribeca, and DOC NYC by focusing on social justice, accessibility, and capacity-building for underserved storytellers. Unlike traditional film festivals, PTAFF integrates advocacy, education, and community engagement, helping to shape both the industry and the lives of young creatives. Funding this initiative supports equity-driven innovation and cultural transformation through the arts.
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General Information
Business Registration Number: 32-0492937
Location: Los Angeles, CA, United States
Length of Operation: 6-10
Number of Employees: 1-10 Employees
Annual Gross Income: Less than $100k
Annual Gross Expense: Less than $100k
Open to Loans: YES
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Funding Usage
The requested funding will support PTAFF’s Workforce and Youth Filmmaker Program, an initiative designed to empower at-risk youth by providing hands-on training in filmmaking while addressing social justice issues. This program will equip middle and high school students, including those impacted by the juvenile justice system, with technical skills in screenwriting, cinematography, editing, and production. Additionally, it will offer workforce development training to help youth build career pathways in media and storytelling. Funds will be used to: Hire experienced instructors and mentors to provide workshops and guidance. Purchase essential filmmaking equipment (cameras, audio gear, editing software) to ensure students have access to industry-standard tools. Develop a social justice-focused curriculum where students create films that address issues affecting their communities, such as racial injustice, economic disparity, and youth incarceration. Provide stipends and transportation assistance to eliminate barriers for low-income participants. Host a Youth Film Showcase to screen their work, fostering community dialogue and amplifying youth voices. Additionally our Annual Festival PTAFF 2025 will delve into the pervasive issue of labor and wage equity, both domestic and international, through an immersive exploration of stories, struggles, and solutions. This year's festival focuses on amplifying the voices of workers, exposing systemic labor and wage injustice, and envisioning a fairer future. Through a dynamic lineup of film screenings, panel discussions, and a symbolic fashion show, we will showcase the interconnectedness of economic systems and their human impact.
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Business Plan
Over the next five years, PTAFF will expand from an annual festival in Los Angeles into a national and international traveling festival and media brand, with annual stops in cities like New York, Chicago, and Florida, and one international destination each year. We will scale our educational programs, including our In Our Own Voice Youth Filmmaking Program and Workforce Development for the Formerly Incarcerated, while launching PTAFF Studios—a production and distribution arm dedicated to social impact films. By 2029, PTAFF aims to be recognized as a global leader in Artivism, with an online streaming platform, full-feature content production, and artist residencies empowering changemakers around the world. PTAFF fills a critical cultural and economic gap: we merge art, activism, and equity to amplify underrepresented voices and ignite social transformation through storytelling. With a proven track record, clear mission, and scalable model, PTAFF has both the creative power and community-driven momentum to grow into a globally recognized institution. Investment in PTAFF supports not just events—it supports impact, equity, and innovation in the arts.
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Self Identified Competition
Sundance Institute Strong in indie film but less focused on social justice. Tribeca Film Festival Commercially oriented, less community-based. DOC NYC Focused on documentaries but lacks national/international mobility and artivist training PTAFF is not just a film festival it’s a traveling movement rooted in social justice, youth empowerment, and community transformation. Unlike competitors, we prioritize Artivism, grassroots access, and capacity-building for marginalized creatives. We don’t just showcase stories we build storytellers.
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Contact Applicant
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