REEF Encounters 8th Edition is co-funded by the European Union, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture within the Culture for All project.
Supported by: Heinrich Böll Stiftung – Middle East • Global Greengrants Fund (GGF) • Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) • Goethe-Institut • International Media Support (IMS) • Horisis Consulting • Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF)
As part of the 8th edition of REEF Encounters, REEF Association will reveal the ten new films of its Biodiversity & Cinema Program Click here. These short documentary films were created through a collaboration between filmmakers and environmental advocates. The ten films explore different dimensions of Lebanon’s environmental and human realities that range from a shepherd’s mountain route and a threatened monk seal to a city cemetery, the salt pans of Anfeh, the beekeepers, farmers and families struck by an ecocidal war . Together they highlight the land and all its people, animals, and plants holding on to each other.
The films will be presented on Friday and Saturday, 25 and 26 September 2026 across two thematic sessions with each followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers:
Screening Session 1: Between Serenity and Disappearance
Screening Session 2: Rooted in the Land
The ten Biodiversity & Cinema films premiering in REEF Encounters will compete in the short film competition. A professional three-member jury, along with REEF Ambassadors and the audience, will present the following awards:
– Haykal Michael Award for Best Environmental Short Film
– Best Short Film
– Audience Award for Best Short Film
– REEF Ambassadors Award for Best Short Film
– Special Mentions by the Jury and REEF Ambassadors
The awards ceremony will take place on Sunday 27 September at 6:30 PM.
The jury members
Nezar Andary – Filmmaker, Professor, Curator
Nezar Andary is a filmmaker, professor, and curator who builds rooms where cinema, literature, and ecology meet. His award-winning Unlocking Doors of Cinema (2020) was screened worldwide. He is completing We Are Not Islands, We Are the Water Between Them, an essay film on friendship, grief, and ecology. He is the Artistic Director of Al Sidr Environmental Film Festival. His story “Y’all Come Back Now” recently appeared in The Markaz Review.
Lara Abou Saïfan- Independent Film Producer
Lara Abou Saïfan is an independent producer based in Beirut, Lebanon. Her work spans writing, directing, and producing for television, alongside producing international, regional, and local documentary and fiction films. She co-founded Placeless Films, a company dedicated to producing, co-producing, and supporting short & feature films that bring social and/or human issues to the fore, receiving awards in local and international festivals.
Saada Allaw – Investigative Journalist & Researcher
Saada Allaw served as senior reporter and head of the investigation department at As-Safir newspaper, and directed the journalism department at Legal Agenda. She has produced complex field studies and in-depth reports for local and international organizations covering women’s rights, female refugees, migrant domestic workers, and natural resources. She teaches media production at the Lebanese University, conducts training in investigative, community, and human rights journalism, and has authored several books and publications.
Water and seeds are the pillars of our self-reliance, and local independence. REEF Encounters will host two dedicated afternoons of film, critical dialogue exploring the struggle for seed sovereignty and investigating the urgent crisis facing Akkar’s river basins on the other
Seeds of Dignity (30’), directed by Ali Alsheikh Khedr, is a collective film produced by Buzuruna Juzuruna, following the work of farmers and seed activists in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley as they revive heirloom seeds, reclaim food production and work towards food sovereignty. Against a backdrop of economic crisis, conflict and agricultural dependency, the film explores how seeds and the knowledge surrounding them can become tools for resilience, autonomy and collective action.
Happening on Saturday 26 September at 4 PM, the screening will be followed by a discussion with Serge Harfoush from Buzuruna Juzuruna on seeds, food sovereignty and the importance of preserving local agricultural knowledge wًًith the participation and presence of the environmental activists taking part in the Environmental Activists Forum.
Friday, 25 September, 4:00 PM – Al Carmelia School, Kobayat, Akkar
In partnership with The Legal Agenda
Speaker: Journalist and researcher Saada Allouh
The panel will present the main findings of an investigative study conducted by journalist and researcher Saada Allouh, in collaboration with The Legal Agenda, examining the environmental challenges facing Akkar’s rivers and the unlawful practices that are destroying one of Lebanon’s most important water resources. It will also explore the impact of these practices on Akkar, its people, economy, environment, and natural resources.
The study documents the current state of the four main river basins: Al-Bared, Arqa, Al-Asfouran, and Al-Kabir Al-Janoubi. It draws on investigative field observations and compares what can be seen on the ground with the findings of numerous scientific studies by academics and experts in water, hydrogeology, and pollution. It also highlights the importance of environmental governance and local community participation in protecting water resources.
The panel is open to the public, with the participation of environmental activists taking part in the Environmental Activists Forum.
Saturday, 26 September, 5:00 PM – Al Carmelia School, Kobayat, Akkar
As part of the 8th edition of REEF Encounters, a special day will pay tribute to the memory and legacy of Haykal Mikhael, a farmer who transformed Al-Shambouk in the Akkar highlands into a place of encounter, community and connection with the land. His son, Thomas Haykal is now continuing his father’s work.
The day will bring together three activities, open for registration with limited capacity:
In the heights of Kobayat, from the first Cilician fir tree in northern Lebanon to Haykal’s farm in Al-Shambouk. An easy and short 4 km downhill hike, starting from Bat’ha Al-Shoh, passing through a wild pine forest, and ending at Haykal’s restaurant, followed by a visit to his fields, farm and the shepherding trail he used to take. Open for registration on the following number 81 073 756–– limited to 70 participants. A small contribution will be requested to cover the bus trip.
A bus will pick participants up from their school at 8:00 AM and bring them back at around 11:00 AM. Maximum number of participants: 25 Reservation number: 81 073 756
These activities are supported by Al-MU7AFFIZ – Cultural Grant of the Goethe-Institut Libanon.
Saturday, 26 September at 7:00 PM
A tribute to the environmental advocate Mona Khalil, a pioneering figure in the protection of Lebanon’s sea turtles and coastal ecosystems. For more than two decades, she dedicated her life to protecting the nesting grounds of endangered sea turtles on Al-Mansouri beach and created the Orange House as a centre for conservation and community engagement. On 4 June 2026, Mona was critically injured when an Israeli airstrike hit her home in Al-Mansouri. She died from her injuries on 19 June 2026. Known as the Orange house, it became a symbol of environmental commitment and a gathering place for researchers, activists, and nature lovers.
The tribute will feature testimonies by journalist, Fadia Jomaa and herpetologist, Rami Khashab from the Hima Al-Mansouri team, who worked closely with Mona and are continuing her mission to protect the turtles and their habitat. The testimonies will be followed by a screening of the short film “Nafas”, presented by filmmaker Sabine Chamaa.
As part of REEF Encounters, a series of workshops will invite participants to explore the connections between creativity, sustainability, traditional knowledge and the natural environment. Workshops on upcycling and natural pigments offer hands-on opportunities to create while reconnecting with environmentally conscious practices. A sewing workshop for women, meanwhile, focuses on developing practical skills that can be turned into income-generating activities.
Artist, educator and founder of Washtathi, Takla Khoueiry will lead two workshops exploring artistic practices rooted in nature. Participants will learn how to extract colours from plants and fruits to create natural pigments, while the eco-printing session will introduce younger participants to creating natural patterns on fabric and T-shirts. The workshops encourage participants to observe and collect materials from their surroundings and transform them into unique, environmentally rooted artworks.
Participation in the workshop is subject to advance registration on the following number 81 073 756, with limited places available.
These activities are supported by Al-MU7AFFIZ – Cultural Grant of the Goethe-Institut Libanon.
Lebanese fashion designer Rytta Tanios, founder of Rytta Couture, will lead a hands-on workshop focused on upcycling traditional fabrics. Participants will work with discarded curtains, tablecloths and linens, learning how to cut, assemble, and sew them into handmade cushions. or scarfs. The workshop brings together sustainability, contemporary design and traditional craftsmanship, giving new life to materials while celebrating the cultural memory embedded in local textiles.
Participation in the workshop is subject to advance registration on the following number 81 073 756, with limited places available.
This activity is supported by Al-MU7AFFIZ – Cultural Grant of the Goethe-Institut Libanon.
“ Make it fit “ Not just a sewing workshop… it’s a space for women’s empowerment, and for skill that becomes a trade in their hands. A workshop bringing together refugee and displaced women, offering them an opportunity to learn practical skills they can build upon: from operating a sewing machine, and how to cut and hem trousers or skirts, all the way to hand-sewing techniques. Because when a woman holds the skill, she becomes capable of crafting, producing, and opening a new door for herself. And “no effort is spared”… not in work, nor in quality. Because mastery is also empowerment!
The sewing workshop is part of REEF Association’s Land is Woman project and is open to women selected through an open call in Akkar, including women from displaced, refugee and host communities. Land is Woman is a project implemented by REEF Association, funded by the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), with technical support from UNDP Lebanon.
After the closing ceremony on Sunday evening 27 September, REEF Encounters will screen the Feature Saudi film Hijra (2025) by Shahad Ameen. A co-production between Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt and the UK, the 115-minute film follows twelve-year-old Janna and her grandmother as they set off on a life-changing journey across the country to find Janna’s teenage sister, Sarah, who vanished without a trace on their way to Hajj.
Hijra gained widespread international and regional acclaim, winning both the NETPAC Award at the Venice International Film Festival and the Yusr Jury Prize at the Red Sea International Film Festival.
As part of REEF Encounters, Ziyad Sahhab, Lebanese composer, oud player, singer and writer, will present an evening of classical Arabic music on Saturday, 26 September at the historic Silk Factory in Kobayat. Born into a family of musicians, Sahhab began playing the oud at the age of seven and joined the Beirut Arabic Orchestra at eleven, before performing as a soloist at the Cairo Opera House at thirteen. Throughout his career, he has developed a rich musical practice rooted in Arabic heritage, while exploring new arrangements and influences across different genres. He has released several albums and performed at festivals and cultural events across Lebanon and the region, including the Baalbek International Festival. His concert at REEF Encounters will bring this musical heritage into dialogue with the distinctive setting of Kobayat and the wider theme of the Encounters: connecting culture, memory and place.
This activity is supported by Al-MU7AFFIZ – Cultural Grant of the Goethe-Institut Libanon.
Part of Land is Woman Activities
An archaeological trail led by female mountain guides from Akkar set amid beautiful landscapes and panoramic rocky scenery. From Akroum village, the hike ascends to Jabal Al-Hossein, where Roman temples, their annexes and quarry can be found, on a hill overlooking the Akkar and Syrian coast, Wadi Al-Nasara and the Alawite Mountains, extending as far as Lake Qattine and Homs. The trail then descends along an easy and scenic path to a small elevation called Al-Nayr, followed by a visit to Umm Babin Cave, with its spectacular view over Wadi Al-Sabaa. The trail then continues to a rock carving depicting a Babylonian man wrestling a lion, dating back to the campaign of Nebuchadnezzar II in 550 BC.
8 km – Easy to moderate difficulty
Sunday, 27 September – Departure at 8:30 AM from Kobayat
Prior registration required – limited places. The meeting point and departure details will be communicated directly to registered and confirmed participants. A small contribution will be requested to cover the bus trip.
This activity is part of REEF Association’s Land is Woman, a project implemented by REEF Association, funded by the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), with technical support from UNDP Lebanon.
REEF Encounters will host the screening of six short films created under the Land is Woman Program. Written and co-created by women participants from Akkar, Tripoli and Hermel, including women from host, displaced and refugee communities under the guidance and training of professional filmmakers. The films highlight women’s diverse roles in caring for the land, advancing sustainability and taking leadership in their own ways and communities.
Films:
Not Just a Tree (Roukaya Charaf Al-Dein, Rim Al Amine, and Nour Diab)
The film follows three women from Bilad Al Sham, who share a deep connection to the olive tree. Through their intertwined stories and experiences, the tree becomes more than a mere element of nature: it emerges as a witness to history, a keeper of memory, and a living site of resistance.
Raghdaa (Doha Ali and Alaa Shkhaidem)
The film follows Raghdaa between her orchard and her home, tracing her determination to keep planting despite the devastating loss of four of her children since 1994. Her story raises a profound human question: How does one continue to give when loss keeps returning? A story of resilience that can only be understood through love.
Zaher El Rumman (Rima Farah, Randa Matar, and Helena Makhoul)
Set in the village of Terbol, the film follows three women alongside Om Waleed through the wheat-boiling season, interwoven with the shadow-theatre tale of Zahr El Remman, a woman denied her inheritance. Through wheat and memory, the film explores women’s enduring connection to the land despite displacement and injustice.
Fadwa for the Land (Marina Awad)
In Lebanon’s Akkar Plain, Fadwa Zehrman turns hardship into a life rooted in the land. Walking on crutches and facing the challenges of a male-dominated society, she works her land, builds a livelihood, and supports the women of her village. Fadwa… For the Land is a story of strength, dignity, and a woman who, against all odds, turned loss into a source of growth and giving.
Your Grandma is Calling (Fadwa Annous)
As Fadwa learns to make maamoul with her grandmother, she uncovers the memories, sacrifices, and wounds passed down through generations of women. Through this intimate ritual, she begins to question what she chooses to carry with her into the future.
Against the Tide (Batoul Dandash)
Batoul returns to the Al-Assi River in Hermel, a place where she feels a deep sense of belonging, and to her father’s nursery, where he teaches her how to plant. A personal journey through the river, her father, and the land, exploring the meaning of roots and belonging.ather, and the land, exploring the meaning of roots and belonging.
Parallel to the film screenings, the program features a dedicated market bringing women producers in Akkar to offer local food products, traditional preserved goods (Mouneh), and handmade crafts.
Prior to the market launch, participating women receive intensive preparatory and practical training covering sales skills, marketing, product presentation, packaging, and customer relations. This market provides an open platform for women entrepreneurs to apply what they have learned, showcase their goods, and connect directly with the public, with producers keeping 100% of their sales revenue without any deductions. Furthermore, the program creates sustainable prospects by selecting outstanding participants, granting them opportunities to access and maintain a presence on permanent sales and marketing platforms.
Building on years of youth engagement through its REEF Ambassadors programme and the establishment of its Youth Committee, REEF is integrating a dedicated youth programme into the 8th edition of REEF Encounters. The activities are open to youth of all ages while particularly targeting teenagers aged 13 to 17, with a focus on environmental engagement, creative expression and active participation.
Through his personal journey, Antoine Daher will explore and discuss with the youth how environmental activism can begin at an early age and develop into long-term civic engagement. The session will present examples such as Eco-Clubs and the REEF Ambassadors initiative, followed by a screening of three short environmental films produced by REEF Youth Ambassadors in 2025. This activity will take place on Friday 25 September at 8:00 AM.
Presentation of the art of Animation used to explore how animation can be used to engage young people around biodiversity and environmental protection, followed by a screening of short animated films done with schools in Akkar. This activity will take place on Friday 25 September at 9:45 AM.
A practical presentation and exchange of ideas on circular economy solutions, waste reduction and innovative environmental practices that can be implemented by youth in their schools, villages and town. This activity will take place on Friday 25 September at 11:30 PM
As part of the tribute day to Haykal Mikhael on Saturday 26 September at Al Chambouk Farm, young participants will visit Al-Shambouk and take part in a hands-on workshop with Thomas Haykal, discovering the traditional practice of goat herding and cheese-making. The workshop will introduce participants to rural knowledge and food heritage through direct, practical engagement with the farm and its activities. On registration and limited to 25 participants.
A youth amateur jury, composed of young people previously trained by REEF Association through its Ambassadors Program, will attend screenings of the Biodiversity & Cinema short films on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 September. ِDuring a deliberation session, the young jury members will vote for their favourite film. The winning film will receive the Youth Award as part of the short film competition.
As part of the Land is Woman project, girls previously trained in storytelling through podcasts will lead the recording and production of some B-rolls and reels during REEF Encounters. The youth will cover the subjects, activities and discussions taking place during the Encounters, documenting the event from their own perspective. This activity will take place under the supervision of Podcast Akkar, media partner of REEF Encounters 2026. The podcast training is part of the Land is Woman project, implemented by REEF Association, funded by the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), with technical support from UNDP Lebanon.
harnesses the power of arts and knowledge-sharing to raise awareness of environmental protection, foster connections among rural communities, and inspire the crafting of a new collective narrative.