mission statement

  Since 2013, the Yesterday Again Film Festival has been fueling students’ passion for art and film throughout San Joaquin County. For the past 7 years, we’ve given visionaries the opportunity to “Imagine, Create, and Inspire” in order to help continue their love for the arts. San Joaquin is home to many talented filmmakers and artists, so every student in the county is encouraged to come and be involved!  To imagine, every idea begins with a vision: and every vision begins with a story. Every story deserves to be told, not be left unheard, and seen by everyone. It’s not just a Stockton story, a Lodi article, a Tracy tale, or a Lathrop chronicle—it’s a representation of the 209.   


“Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? Proving nature’s laws wrong it learned to walk without having feet. Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams, it learned to breathe fresh air. Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared.” —Tupac Shakur


 To create, artists taking part of the festival may submit art of many genres: film, painting, photography, and three-dimensional. All art must be school-appropriate and original, and films must be no longer than 15 minutes. By offering more than just films, the audience has a unique opportunity to see different forms of art. And most of all, student artists have a beautiful platform to showcase on. 


 To inspire, the festival is hosted at Delta College’s Atherton Auditorium. With a giant screen showing the finalist film submissions, and sophisticated lobby presenting the other visual submissions, the experience is immersive and irreplaceable. Winning films and artwork will be determined by audience vote.  The Yesterday Again Film Festival’s first coordinators' dream was to help preserve the love for the arts in San Joaquin County high school students. This remains to be the mission and goal of our team today. Your voice, your story, your art is powerful. Do not let it be unseen and unheard of. Work your camera, pick your paint, and shoot for the moon, because even if you miss, you'll land on a star at the 2021 Yesterday Again Film Festival.