The deadline for applying for grants as part of The Big Tell contest is July 4. CMAC image

Fresno-based CMAC (Community Media Access Collaborative) has extended the deadline for its annual film contest, “The Big Tell.”

Thanks to a grant from the California Arts Council, CMAC also has funding for 26 grants of $8,000 each to help produce the five-minute documentaries featuring stories from the Central Valley.

The grant applications were previously due June 27, but that deadline was pushed back to July 4.

The Big Tell is a regional film making program presented by James B. McClatchy Foundation and the Central Valley Community Foundation. It is the seventh year for the program.

This year CMAC was on the list of 20 recipients to receive funding for arts programming from the KDA Creative Corps (KDACC), a Bakersfield-based initiative funded through the California Arts Council.

About $3.8 million after administrative costs were available for re-granting, which is expected to create 571 jobs in Central California.

“We were thrilled to see the enthusiastic response from artists and organizations across the region for the KDA Creative Corps grant program,” said KDACC Program Director Andrea Hansen. “After a thorough review process, we were excited to announce CMAC as a recipient of this inaugural grant and even more excited to see the impact this project will have on the community over the next year.”

The Big Tell is open to all filmmakers — professionals, amateurs and students. CMAC is looking for applications from filmmakers of all skill levels and with subjects from six counties including Merced, Mariposa, Madera, Fresno, Tulare and Kings.

Winning filmmakers will be mentored by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Sascha Brown Rice, the granddaughter of former California Gov. Pat Brown. Her feature film credits include “California State of Mind: The Legacy of Pat Brown” and “Mango Kiss.” She will provide one-on-one support to each filmmaker including development of storylines, technical assistance and guidance on how to get their films into production.

Applications and previous documentaries are available at TheBigTell.org. The winning films will debut at The Big Tell Showcase in November and April 2024 with an exact date, time and location to be announced.