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 ArtsBig Trouble Little Pictures 2025
This year’s festival celebrated films made by young people from alternative education settings, hospital schools, Autism provisions and Cambridge Junction’s regular Creative Learning programmes.
We’ve loved collaborating with the young artists who devised these films, and it was a joy to see so many independent submissions from schools we have previously partnered with and individual artists who attend our regular music industry development programme; NEXT WAVE.
Across the 2-days, participants saw their movie on the big screen, partied with The Funky Club, took part in arts and craft activities, and joined the award ceremony.
With massive thanks to the Light Cinema for their continued support with this event.
Watch all the films screened at the 2025 Festival here2025 Award Winners
2025 Award Winners:
Best Writing: Juice Detective 2 by Melbourn Village College Cabin
Best Acting: Containment Breach of the Deadly SCP096 by St Peters Cabin
Best Hero: The intergalactic Nuisance by St peter’s Cabin
Best Cinematography: The Watchman by Olive AP Academy
Best Experimental: Adventures of Jerico by Red Balloon
Best Music Video: This is Reality by Sakara
Best Comedy: Worm Burgers by Total Arts Mini Bytes
Best Animation: The Intergalactic Nuisance by St Peter’s Cabin
Tess Downes Award For Artistic Vision: Glitch by Total Arts
Young People’s Vote Award: Juice Detective 2 by Melbourn Village College Cabin
Download the 2025 Festival ProgrammeBig Trouble Little Pictures 2024
This year the festival continued to grow including films by young people from SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) and hospital schools, alternative provisions, youth groups and those who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). It has been an incredible joy to work with these incredibly creative young people over the past year to create some amazing films and music videos.
Across the two-day festival attendees experiences talks, behind the scenes footage, award ceremonies and a relaxed party hosted by the Funky Club, alongside the screening of the brilliant films.
With massive thanks to the Light Cinema for their continued support with this event.
Watch all the films screened at the 2024 Festival here2024 Award Winners
2024 Award Winners:
Best Experimental Film: Revengers: Start Game – St Peters Cabin
Best Animation: The Croft
Best Music Video: Golden Divine – Lambchop47 and Ellena Ragrini
Best Cinematography: PRU – Olive Academy
Best Writing: The Knowledge Hoarder – Spring Common
Best Acting: Sofia – A Deadly Equation
Best Hero: Benny – The Knowledge Hoarder
Tess Downes Award for Artistic Vision: The Lighter – Red Balloon
Young People’s Vote: A Deadly Equation – Martin Bacon Academy
Download the 2024 Festival ProgrammeBig 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 here2023 Award Winners
Best Actor – The Juice Detective: Melbourn VC Cabin
Best Writing – 1 Million Views: Olive Academy
Best Hero – JMBeats
Best Cinematography – Zombie Busters: Castle School
Best Animation – The Darwin Centre
Best Experimental Film – D’red Balloon: Red Balloon
Best Music Video – Non Ti Sento: Bernaa, DT, Misch, Bankroll BRB
Loudest Laugh – Monkey Trumps: The Cavendish School
The Tess Downes Award for Artistic Vision – Attack of the Noodle Snake: St Peters Cabin
Young People’s Vote – Monkey Trumps: The Cavendish School
Download the 2023 Festival ProgrammeA 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.
Download the resource pack
This pack has been designed to accompany the A Guide To Making Your Own Movie video.
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.