Total Arts: Big Trouble Little Pictures

Big Trouble Little Pictures: The Total Arts Film Festival

Big Trouble Little Pictures is an annual film festival curated, programmed, managed and delivered by the young artists from our Total Arts participation group. The festival celebrates incredible films made by young people and with Cambridge Junction, especially profiling work of young people with a range of complex needs.

In 2017 for the first time, Total Arts organised a screening at the Light Cinema Cambridge of their own films and the films made as part of a term-long film-making project Cambridge Junction embarked on with Spring Common Academy.

In 2018 the first full film festival took shape. Each subsequent year the festival grew. In 2022 we had 17 new films created, 146 young people participating, 13 youth and education partners involved and an audience of nearly 280 people!

Every year Cambridge Junction works with groups of young people, many of whom have complex needs or barriers to education, employment or training. Often these projects enable young people to produce original short films. It is always glorious to see these showcased on the big screen at the festival, which has become an important part of our annual calendar.

Learn more about Total Arts

Big Trouble Little Pictures 2023

This year the festival continued to grow including films made by young people in SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) and hospital schools, alternative provisions and those who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). It has been such a joy to work with these creative young people over the past year to create some incredible films and music videos.

Across the two-day festival attendees experienced talks, behind the scenes footage, enjoy award ceremonies and a relaxed party hosted by The Funky Club, alongside the screening of the brilliant films made by incredibly talented young people.

Some feedback from the event…

“Such a wonderfully inclusive and celebratory evening. Massive thank you to everyone involved.”

“Huge thank you for your dedication in making our students feel heard, seen and able to express themselves.”

“Infinite amounts of fun!”

Watch all the films screened at the 2023 Festival here

2023 Award Winners

Best ActorThe Juice Detective: Melbourn VC Cabin

Best Writing1 Million Views: Olive Academy

Best Hero – JMBeats

Best CinematographyZombie Busters: Castle School

Best Animation – The Darwin Centre

Best Experimental FilmD’red Balloon: Red Balloon

Best Music Video – Non Ti Sento: Bernaa, DT, Misch, Bankroll BRB

Loudest LaughMonkey Trumps: The Cavendish School

The Tess Downes Award for Artistic VisionAttack of the Noodle Snake: St Peters Cabin

Young People’s VoteMonkey Trumps: The Cavendish School

Download the 2023 Festival Programme

A Guide To Making Your Own Movie

Learn how to start making a film for next year’s Big Trouble, Little Pictures film festival by watching this video.

Watch the video

Download the resource pack

This pack has been designed to accompany the A Guide To Making Your Own Movie video.

Download now

Total Arts

Cambridge Junction’s fortnightly participation group for disabled young people aged 13-25

Contemporary Youth Choir (CYC)

A fully accessible and inclusive programme for those aged 11 – 25.