The Land and its Keepers Residency: Call for Applications

Date

Deadline to Submit: 12 January 2026 - 11:59 PM Beirut Time

Location

Lebanon

Part of REEF’s Biodiversity & Cinema’s Program, The Land and Its Keepers is a residency, training, and creation project based on a collaboration between Filmmakers, and Environmental advocates or land practitioners.

The program gathers participants from diverse backgrounds for a one-week residency focused on exchange and learning with a multidisciplinary panel. After the residency, participants will collaborate on film concepts that will be ultimately developed into short documentaries. The project builds on REEF’s Biodiversity and Cinema’s first edition in 2023 and aims to strengthen environmentally engaged creative storytelling on land an resources issues.

As a starting point, REEF is launching the Call for Applications for the residency. To proceed, learn more about the full program guidelines, eligibility criteria, themes, timeline, and the application process.

Project’s Context

In 2025, Lebanon faced overlapping environmental emergencies. In the south, widespread destruction by Israel of farmland and villages devastated ecosystems.

Across the country, wildfires, drought, and illegal logging accelerated biodiversity loss, with suspected arson fires occurring without accountability.

Coastal violations also increased, as in Amchit, where engaged citizens and local NGOs blocked illegal works threatening the Mediterranean monk seal’s breeding cave.

Against this urgent backdrop, REEF Association wishes to explore through this project land-based struggles that are particularly acute in Lebanon and the region facing severe environmental and cultural destruction that stems from various pressures, including Israeli colonial power and its devastating impacts, savage liberalism and uncontrolled capitalism, as well as corruption practices that disregard the common good.

Program themes and structure

During the residency, the selected participants will engage with a multidisciplinary panel of experts, and artists who will share their knowledge and insights.

The participants will also build strong bonds with each other, connecting and sharing their respective fields of work.

Together they will explore themes such as destructive land practices caused by misuse of resources, savage urbanization, corruption and ecocide, but also how native wisdom, local communities, ancestral traditions, and inherited knowledge offer paths towards a harmonious coexistence and the vital protection of the land and its inhabitants.

Following this immersive phase, the participants will embark on a dedicated research and creation, working together on joint short documentaries of a maximum length of 20 minutes that will serve as a tool to contribute to a broader dialogue on land care and environmental advocacy.

Selection process and Program Timeline

A total of 20 participants will be selected, with up to 10 candidates from each category. The eligibility criteria are detailed below. Pre-selected candidates will be invited for online interviews before the final selection that will be announced on 23 January. Selected participants commit to attending a fully funded residency taking place from 16 to 22 February 2026. The location will be confirmed at a later stage. Following the residency, participants will be organized into 10 interdisciplinary working teams. Each team will develop a short documentary project, which will be presented during a pitching session on 20 March 2026. A jury of experts will select five projects, each of which will receive a small production grant. The completed films will premiere at REEF Encounters in September 2026.

Timeline

12 January 2026: Deadline for submission of applications.
12-21 January 2026: Selection phase, online interviews.
23 January 2026: Announcement of the selected candidates.
16-22 February 2026: One-week residency.
22 February – 18 March 2026: research development and follow-up sessions.
20 March 2026: Pitching session.
April – August 2026: Production and post-production of film projects.
September 2026: Premiere of the shorts films in Kobayat at REEF Encounters 8th edition

Eligibility Criteria

This call is open to applicants in two categories. If a filmmaker and an environmental advocate already have an established collaboration or intend to apply as a pair, each must apply separately, but they are required to clearly state this partnership in their respective applications.

A. Filmmakers Requirements

Be beyond student level, early or mi-careeers
Have prior experience in film direction
Demonstrate a clear artistic voice through previous work
Show strong interest in socially engaged and documentary filmmaking

Preference will be given to filmmakers with experience in environmental, social, ecological, or nature-related topics.

B. Environmental Advocates or Land Practitioners

Including but not limited to:

Researchers, journalists, activists, lawyers
Farmers, mountain guides
Environmentally engaged citizens

Applicants should demonstrate prior engagement or work with ecological or land-related issues through:

Academic or journalistic work
Advocacy campaigns or activism
Land-based practices (e.g., farming, guiding, conservation work)

Requirements (Both Categories)

Applicants must primarily reside in Lebanon
Proficiency in spoken and written Arabic is required
Working knowledge of English is an asset, as some sessions will be conducted in English
Applicants must be available for all project dates

Rules and Guidelines

Commitments and Ethical Guidelines

Participants must fully commit to the project timeline and all activities
Participants commit to respect the environment and adhere to sustainable practices during research and filming, unless there is no other alternative
Collaboration, communication, and mutual respect within teams are essential
Participants must inform organizers promptly in case of withdrawal; replacements may be considered when feasible
Production funds must be managed responsibly and used exclusively for project-related expenses

Rights & Credits

Filmmakers retain full intellectual property rights
Films must acknowledge the project, its organizers, partners and supporters
Organizers, partners and Supporters reserve the right to showcase project-related documentation on their platforms

Conduct & Safety

No form of violence, harassment, discrimination, sexism, or racism will be tolerated
Participants are responsible for their own safety throughout the residency, research, and production phases
Participants are encouraged to inform organizers of any medical conditions or allergies requiring attention

How to Apply & Inquiries

Please note that only online applications will be accepted. You can find the online application forms at the links below:

For any further information or inquiries regarding the residency, the application process, or the program structure, please contact us directly: info@reefassociation.org.

THE LAND AND ITS KEEPERS project is initiated by REEF Association with the generous support of the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) and the Global GreenGrants Fund (GGF).