REEF’s second edition (8th – 21st of October 2020) was meant to be launched in Kobayat’s Silk Factory and to hold open-air screenings, conferences, and environmental activities, however, the spread of COVID-19 in Kobayat has made any gathering impossible, pushing us to amend the festival’s path. We endeavored to overcome the challenges of 2020 and launch the second edition of REEF, in a new format, all the while exploring urgent issues from our actuality, including COVID-19, nature’s generosity in times of economic crisis, and the fight to save the Bisri Valley against the construction of a controversial dam.
REEF 2020 took place between October 8th and October 21st, in both the virtual sphere on aflamuna.online, and in the physical sphere through an in-person, socially-distanced event in the Bisri Valley.
Between the Pine trees of Bisri, “The Bisri Valley victory… What’s next?” a panel was held, where we heard from the residents of the region, the legal and environmental experts as well as activists who struggled together to save and protect the valley. The debate was followed by the screening of “The Land” by Mohammad Sabbah. A Short Film Competition for films that deal with the pandemic’s impact on our lives and nature was launched by asking Lebanese youth to create short films translating their emotions and reflections on the crisis. Twenty films were selected and screened on Aflamuna and the best film was picked by the audience who voted online. A Jury composed of singer Rima Khcheich, actress Carole Abboud, and Filmmaker Ahmad Ghossein was awarded two prizes as well. Other than the short film competition, the online platform featured for 3 weeks a series of films centered around three strands: Portraits of Rural Lives, Land is Political, and Rethinking the World.