Founded in 1980, East Bay Media Center (EBMC) provides a wide range of technical and educational media resources to the diverse communities of the East Bay and is dedicated to putting the power of media production into the hands of as many people as possible.

To provide a public platform for the works of unknown and emerging video artists and producers, EBMC created the Berkeley Video & Film Festival in 1991. This annual, multi-day festival has grown to include narrative, documentary and animated short and feature films, with entries from around the world. The Berkeley Video & Film Festival screens approximately 60 titles each year; films from the festival have gone on to win multiple awards, be broadcast on PBS stations around the country and be selected for the shortlist of films in consideration for the Academy Awards. Through a partnership with the USC School of Cinematic Arts, the festival includes screenings of short student films from their First Look showcase of advanced student projects.

Today, EBMC’s primary programs are the Teen Media Camps, which are held during the school year and in the summer and provide immersive training in media production and post-production; the Berkeley Video & Film Festival, which in November 2022 will celebrate its 31st year; low-cost equipment rentals and editing and other services for members of the local community; and the EBMC Performance Space, which serves as a venue for performing, visual and media artists and community groups. EBMC is unique for the rich range of community media services it provides to Berkeley and the East Bay. Notably, EBMC is home to the Allen Willis Archives, which houses the work of the renowned artist considered the dean of African American filmmakers in the Bay Area.