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Actívate Stories

@activatestories

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Actívate produces collaborative doc films, preserves culture, & crafts digital strategies centering arts/narrative change.
📍Philly / PHL region

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

We are thrilled to announce the premiere of @laluchasiguefilm at @phlatinfilmfest this Thursday June 11 at 4 pm at @phillycam!

Directed by @melibeatrizsn and produced by @shoesoffmedia, this short animated documentary follows the stories of three immigrant justice leaders - @maria_angelita_hope, Jean Jocelyn Guillaume, and Hiro Nishikawa - who worked alongside @shutdowndetentioncampaign in the successful fight to close the Berks Family Detention Center.

We're honored to share this powerful story of resilience, advocacy, and collective action with Philadelphia audiences.

Credits
Director - @melibeatrizsn
Producer - @thejadesun
Cinematographer - Aidan Un
Cinematographer/Gaffer - @tbdski
Editor - @chenyiwu_film
PA/AE - @erikarmzl
Illustrations:
@pmlchavez
@tkdinhart
@tylar_jones
Music:
@gabefurtado
@shaktajiri
@miss_talie
Finishing - @icpark

Made possible with support by:
@williampennfoundation
@peoplesmediafund
@thedocsociety
@scribevideocenter
@leewayfound
@knightfdn
@phillycam by @activatestories

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4 months ago

🎬 We are excited to share the teaser for our short film Philly Rumba, which has been in production since 2021! The teaser features some of our participants and pre-interview clips from 2021 and 2022.

‼️ In order to wrap up the post-production stage, we need your help. We are aiming to raise finishing funds to cover the costs of color, sound, and archival. These visual and sound elements are imperative for capturing the beauty of Philly Rumba.

⭐️ To help us reach this goal, please visit bit.ly/supportphillyrumba, or click the link in our bio. by @activatestories

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5 months ago

We are excited to announce the relaunch of @activatestories !

Actívate is a media arts entity that produces collaborative documentaries, engages in cultural preservation, and develops creative strategies. It is led by documentary filmmaker/researcher/cultural producer Melissa Beatriz.

Here are behind-the-scenes photos from our main productions, over the past few years:
🎬 La Lucha Sigue (The Fight Continues)
🎬 Cultural Justice Project: Series 1 (Untitled Philadelphia Rumba documentary)
🎬 We, the Artists

Ways to support:
📱Follow us on social media @activatestories
📧 Subscribe to our newsletter on the website
💻 Make a tax-deductible donation to support our independent media arts programming by @activatestories

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2 years ago

💡 Latine Heritage Month Spotlight: Latine media maker

⭐️ Stephanie Ramones is an award-winning, Emmy-nominated, Philly-based, Venezuelan American filmmaker and photographer committed to using media to create a more kind, just, and equitable world. She specializes in emotion-driven, deep-dive, run-and-gun, documentary filmmaking. Stephanie's film subjects have included gender and racial inequities in education, disability advocacy, reproductive health, Latin Dance, urban youth sports, domestic violence, social justice, and Philly folks. Stephanie holds a Master's degree in Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor's in Psychology and Philosophy from Boston University

📝 Stephanie's experience:

"Working with Activate has been a breath of fresh air for me. I've been able to work on projects that are important to me and my communities and am always made to feel like a valuable member of the crew. I'm never the only Latina on set, which is so rare in our industry.

I'm currently working on a documentary about the changing of the Pennsylvania arts funding landscape and how the commodification of the Arts has left many arts organizations at risk of extinction."

📸 Luiza Barreto @lbarretophotos , Melissa Beatriz by @activatestories

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2 days ago

💡 Latine Heritage Month Spotlight: Latine emerging media maker

⭐️ Iliana Pineda @illy_boi1214 is an emerging filmmaker and multimedia producer. She supported the team on several key shoot days for our Untitled Equitable Budgeting film, including filming participant interviews, a performance hearing, and more. Iliana is always working on something, and we are eager to follow her journey.

📝 Iliana's experience:

"It was cool to get to know the folks at the People's Budget Office. It was my first time hearing about the organization and their mission, and I thought it was really unique and empowering how they help folks fight for their beliefs and rights through the arts. I am looking forward to seeing how the final film turns out :)"

📸 Erika Ramirez-Lorenzo by @activatestories

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2 days ago

💡 Latine Heritage Month Spotlight: Latine emerging media maker

⭐️ Today, we are spotlighting Erika Ramírez-Lorenzo @erikarmzl, a multimedia storyteller, photographer, and filmmaker. She has worked with Actívate across different projects such as La Lucha Sigue as Assistant Editor and Philly Rumba as Production Assistant and Social Media Coordinator. They are currently working on making their first documentary short about Cumbia in the Mexican South Philly community.

📝 Erika's experience:

"Working with Actívate has been very nurturing for my career development. It’s been a rewarding experience to see how projects unfold from the perspective of different roles I’ve had, from production assistant to assistant editor to social media coordinator.

Currently, I coordinate the organization's media and creative communication strategy, which has been a great way to challenge and strengthen my planning, management, and artistic skills."

📸 Melissa Beatriz, Luiza Barreto @lbarretophotos by @activatestories

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3 days ago

This is what our roots look like when they dance.

On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, our traditions took over the Bok rooftop. The cumbia and currulao of Colombia, the Rueda de Casino of Cuba, La Bruja of Veracruz, and the spirit of Sinaloa, until 420+ guests were no longer watching. They were dancing. 💃🏽🕺🏾

The music, movement, and memory our families carry across borders: it’s the same belonging every patient finds when they walk through the doors of Puentes de Salud.

Gracias to @nuuxakun, @colombia_mi_corazon_es_tuyo, @treintaytres_de, and @estilodancestudio for bringing our traditions to life. 🙌🏽

🎥: @activatestories
🎶: Cumbia Mexicana (Instrumental) by Frontera Bugalú

Turn the sound up 🔊 and tag someone who was out on that dance floor! 👇🏽

#BridgesToOurRoots #PuentesDeSalud #IndigenousPeoplesDay #LatinoPhilly #Folklore taken in Bok Bar by @activatestories

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4 days ago

💡 For Latine Heritage Month, we would like to shine a light on Latine media makers we’ve collaborated with.

⭐️ We are spotlighting Frances Almodovar @frances.almodovar, an emerging media maker who was the Associate Producer for our film, Philly Rumba. She shared so many great ideas and lots of valuable insight! Currently, she is helping friends and family with social content. We look forward to seeing what she does next!

📝 Frances’ experience:

“I really valued my time with Actívate Stories. The team I worked with was incredibly talented, thoughtful, and supportive. Working on Philly Rumba gave me the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from filmmakers and community members who were incredibly generous with their time and knowledge.

That generosity made the experience especially meaningful to me. I loved being able to exchange ideas, ask questions, and contribute in an environment where everyone was genuinely receptive and collaborative. Even in the relatively short time I worked on the project, I got to see it grow and evolve in so many ways.

I’m incredibly grateful to have been part of that process and to have learned from everyone who helped bring the film to life, especially the people who trusted us with their stories.”

📸 Luiza Barreto @lbarretophotos by @activatestories

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5 days ago

🌟 Actívate Stories will be participating in this year's BOK Open Studios! Join us this Friday, October 9, from 5 pm to 9 pm in room 418A (in the 418 shared studio wing).

Our Founder/Director, Melissa Beatriz @melibeatrizsn, will be present and ready to answer any questions you may have. Come take a look at our space and chat with us :) by @activatestories

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10 days ago

🎬 The Imperfect Gallery episode from our Portraits of Philly Rumba docu-series screened at @friendsofvernonpark for @scribevideocenter Street Movies! this past August.

🪘This episode focuses on Renny and Rocio, the duo behind Imperfect Gallery! Their gallery has been a gathering hub for the rumba community for several years.

⭐️ For more info on their work and upcoming rumbas, check out @imperfectgallery

📸 Calvin Leon and Melissa Beatriz

Director, Writer & Executive Producer: @melibeatrizsn @activatestories
Director, Co-Writer & Field Producer: @andresdanielcisneros
Producer: @yomtoob
Editor: @gabriela_cavanagh
Archival Producer: @reelness
Directors of Photography: Aidan Un and @tbdski
Additional Cinematography: @stephramones
Associate Producer: @frances.almodovar
Production Assistant & Social Media: @erikarmzl
Font: @gab.animates by @activatestories

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15 days ago

🎤 Actívate got to hear from @chuwi_pr during @tallerpr 2026 Feria del Barrio! Enjoy this excerpt where lead vocalist Lorén Aldarondo Torres shares the importance for cultural spaces like Taller Puertorriqueño. Stay tuned for more coverage of Feria del Barrio.

🎶 Chuwi is well known for its dynamic collaboration with Bad Bunny on the song "WELTiTA," featured on the DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS album.

🎧 About Chuwi:
"Hailing from the vibrant town of Isabela, Puerto Rico, Chuwi is an indie quartet that masterfully blends the traditional rhythms with contemporary production, creating a sound that is as soulful as it is dynamic. Chuwi’s music is a look into their cultural roots and emotions, infused with the energy and innovation of modern indie music." by @activatestories

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a month ago

🦋 Our short animated documentary, La Lucha Sigue (The Fight Continues) has been a making its way across Philadelphia! This summer, our film screened at Scribe Street Movies! and at the Philadelphia Latino Arts and Film Festival.

🎬 The film centers three immigrant rights leaders who use art and culture in their fight to shut down the Berks Detention Center in Pennsylvania, in which many immigrant families were detained.

⭐️ Interested in watching the film? Stay connected with us on social media and our newsletter for future screenings near you!

👥 Credits -

Director - Melissa Beatriz @melibeatrizsn
Producer - Shannon Sun-Higginson and Shoes off Media @thejadesun @shoesoffmedia
Cinematographer - Aidan Un
Cinematographer/Gaffer - Ty Burdenski @tbdski
Editor - Chen Yi-Wu @chenyiwu_film
PA/AE - Erika Ramírez-Lorenzo @erikarmzl

Illustrations:
Pamela Chavez @pmlchavez
Thien Dinh @tkdinhart
Tylar Jones @tylar_jones

Music:
Gabriel Furtado @gabefurtado
Shakuru Tajiri
Talie Cerin @miss_talie

Finishing - Ian Park @icpark

Made possible with support by:
William Penn Foundation @williampennfoundation
People’s Media Fund peoplesmediafund
The Doc Society @thedocsociety
Scribe Video Center @scribevideocenter
Leeway Foundation @leewayfound
Knight Foundation @knightfdn

Photos:
Melissa Beatriz
Jose Mazariegos
David Luna
Luiza Barreto by @activatestories

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22 days ago