WHO WE ARE
Cultivating rural heritage and environmental care through art and culture.
REEF was founded to harness the transformative power of art and culture to address environmental and social challenges, especially in rural areas.
We believe in the critical role that rural communities play in preserving Lebanon’s unique natural heritage and cultural traditions. Through audiovisual arts, knowledge-sharing, and community engagement, REEF is creating a platform where rural voices are amplified, talents are nurtured, awareness is raised, and locally-driven solutions are developed for a more sustainable future. Since 2018, we have worked alongside local partners and communities to cultivate a shared vision for environmental preservation, cultural identity, and environmental justice in Lebanon’s rural regions.
Our Mission
REEF's mission is to preserve and revitalize Lebanon’s natural heritage through art, media, and culture while fostering sustainable, community-driven solutions to environmental and social challenges. By harnessing visual arts and storytelling, we raise awareness, inspire action, and promote environmental justice and rural development.
Our Vision
We envision a society that values and preserves its natural and cultural heritage while ensuring its responsible use for the common good. We aspire to communities, especially rural ones, that embrace their identities and contribute to a sustainable, equitable future, recognizing that our natural, cultural, and social ecosystems are deeply interconnected.
Our Goals
- Enhancing rural and environmental narratives through art and media
- Spreading scientific knowledge of environmental and rural issues
- Nurturing local talents and supporting emerging artists
- Building a multidisciplinary network working on common projects and goals.
Our History
REEF, an Arabic word for rurality, began in 2018 as a series of encounters blending cinema and nature in Kobayat, Akkar—Lebanon’s largest rural region. It emerged through a collaboration between AFLAMUNA, a leading Arab cinema organization, and the Council of the Environment, an NGO dedicated to preserving Akkar’s natural heritage. Over the years, REEF expanded to five other regions establishing local partnerships and tailoring its initiatives to each area. Its activities grew to encompass film competitions, performances, creative and educational workshops, sustainability initiatives, and panels addressing local challenges.
Evolving into a nonprofit association, REEF now operates through three main programs: community engagement, skill development, and eco-rural narratives. It has launched pioneering projects such as REEF Ambassadors, a mentorship and stewardship platform for adolescents, and Biodiversity & Cinema, an initiative uniting filmmakers and environmentalists. It has also initiated with its partners a “Rural & Cultural Network” to work together on common goals highlighting overlooked rural areas and environmental issues.
2018
Set in 2018 by a group of passionate people and volunteers, REEF’s edition Zero took place on September 15th and 16th. It consisted of a single night of short movies in Moussa Samaha’s Mill in Kobayat, followed by a day of hiking and visiting the touristic and natural sites of the surrounding villages. This pilot edition constituted the solid foundation for future editions.
2019
Our activities were inaugurated by a storytelling and filmmaking training for 15 young local film enthusiasts coming from Akkar. Named “Stories from Akkar”, it resulted in the creation of 9 short films that were premiered during the 1st edition of the “Rural Encounters on Environment and Films”. Those took place at “Tahounet Smaha”, a historic mill in Kobayat, Akkar, from September 6 to 9. They featured international film screenings, panels on quarries, bees and reforestation, rural dinners, educational hikes and the first REEF short film competition, which awarded 3 films from the “Stories from Akkar” productions.
2020
REEF’s Encounters 2nd edition was adapted to COVID-19 by adopting a hybrid format from October 8 to 21. A socially-distanced event in Bisri Valley featured a panel on the Bisri Valley struggle against the construction of a dam, educational hikes and outdoor screenings.
On the AFLAMUNAONLINE platform, REEF’s second Short Film Competition featured 20 selected Lebanese films exploring the pandemic’s impact, with awards determined by both audience votes and a jury. Additionally, REEF showcased international films online, organized around three themes: rural lives, land politics, and rethinking the world.
2021
Despite severe economic crises, wildfires and a tragic explosion in Akkar, REEF’s Encounters’s third edition took place under the tagline “Despite Everything” from September 9 to 13. The Silk Factory of Kobayat, a historical monument from the 18th century, was renovated especially to host REEF activities. Centered on the theme of “waste,” REEF featured international films, expert panels, a composting workshop animated by professionals in the field and the Food from Nature interactive session. The third film competition invited Lebanese youth to create short films focused on waste. Out of 25 submissions, 17 high-quality films were selected, and 3 were awarded during the Encounters. The third edition also opened its venue for a local market with traditional recipes and crafts and hosted the artist Jahida Wehbe for a musical performance.
2022
- The 4th edition of REEF Encounters was held from September 1–4 in Kobayat. It focused on the theme of “Trees and Solidarity” and introduces Lebanon’s first Zero Waste public event. REEF enriched its activities by organizing a youth animation workshop and a women’s one-minute film workshop. The short film competition, centered on solidarity, featured 10 films judged by an international jury.
- Kobayat also hosted “The Climate Story Lab” with storytellers and environmentalists exploring how cinema can reshape climate crisis narratives.
- We wrapped up the summer with an extension of our Encounters in Rashaya Al Wadi, in the Bekaa region, thoughtfully tailored to meet local needs.
2023
- A two-day extension of the Encounters was held in May at Hammana Artist House (Mount Lebanon Governorate), featuring hikes, film screenings and a panel discussion on the challenges of cultural development in rural areas. The Rural & Cultural Network bringing together over 30 cultural entities from across Lebanon was launched during this extension.
- The REEF Encounters celebrated their 5th edition under the theme of “Transformations” in Kobayat (31 August – 4 September). A record number of 29 films were screened, featuring international short and medium-length film competitions, with awards determined by both audience votes and a dedicated jury. An artistic trail featuring live performances set amidst the stunning Akkari natural landscape, was curated by Collectif Kahraba. A “One-minute film” and artistic expression workshops were held for Akkari women. The “REEF Ambassadors”, a special awareness and engagement program designed for teenagers was also launched during this 5th edition with a 5-day training.
- Shortly after, an extension of REEF Encounters was held in Hermel-Bekaa, in partnership with the Hermel Cultural Association and the House of Orontes. The program included panels addressing the pollution of the Orontes River, performances by local talents, film screenings, rafting and scenic educational hikes. Women from Hermel took part in a “one-minute film” and local youth in an animation workshop.
2024
- As part of a new partnership with Oakenfest Festival – a festival dedicated to independent and alternative Arab music – we organized film screenings, educational hikes, and a zero-waste experiment.
- REEF’s 6th Encounters in Kobayat (26 – 28 July) were held under the theme of “Biodiversity” and marked by the premiere of the eight short films from the “Biodiversity and Cinema” project. The Encounters included three hikes highlighting Akkar’s rich biodiversity, the screening of 18 films competing for four awards and judged by five distinguished jurors, as well as photo exhibitions, upcycling training and rural dinners highlighting Akkar’s food heritage. REEF Encounters also shed light on the ongoing Israeli attacks and ecocide against lands in Southern Lebanon and paid tribute to Palestine through film screenings and a concert by Palestinian Salwa Jaradat. The REEF Ambassadors’ second edition engaged a new cohort of adolescents for a three-day training held during the Encounters.
- The success of the Ambassadors’ initiative led us to launch in October 2024 a year-long mentorship program for youth culminating in Summer 2025.
Our Values
Respect for Identity and Diversity
We honor the identity, culture, diversity, and integrity of the communities we serve.
Commitment to Protection
We are dedicated to safeguarding nature, society, and the dignity of individuals.
Advocating Intersectional Justice
We believe in the intersectionality of environmental and cultural issues with broader justice movements, including feminism, decolonization, and the rights of marginalized groups.
Transparency and Accountability
We uphold the highest standards of transparency and accountability in all our actions and decisions.
Fair and Inclusive Governance
We embrace participatory and equitable decision-making processes, ensuring all voices are heard and respected.
Behind REEF
The organization's founders and executive team bring expertise across four key areas: environmental science, filmmaking, rural-ecological activism and impact campaigns.
Antoine Daher
Founding Member
Environmentalist and nature lover, known for his efforts in the protection and conservation of Akkar’s biodiversity.
Eliane Raheb
Artistic Director and Founding Member
Acclaimed Lebanese filmmaker and cultural catalyzer, recognized for her work highlighting social and environmental issues.
Sandra Sleiman
Executive Director and Founding Member
Environmental scientist and educator, specialist in mycology, dedicated to promoting sustainable practices and raising awareness about Lebanon’s ecological challenges.
Ziad Abi Shaker
Founding Member
Engineer and environmental activist, specializing in waste management and innovative upcycling solutions to support sustainability.
Yara Ayoub
Coordinator of the Rural & Cultural Network and Founding Member
Independent researcher and dedicated Project Manager specialized in NGO management and development, community engagement, and Oral History.
