BeirutDC launched in partnership with DOC Society the pilot edition of its latest program MASAHAT, supported by the British Council Digital Collaboration Fund, which supports the UK and overseas cultural partnerships to develop digitally innovative ways of collaborating.
Masahat, Arabic for “Spaces”, aims to create a pan-Arab network of non-commercial screening spaces. A virtual solution to connect independent, community-led physical spaces with independent filmmakers, producers, and impact producers, reaching audiences across the region.
Masahat includes an online network of community-led non-commercial screening spaces, an online library of independent Arab films, a digital distribution solution adapted to the lack of high-speed Internet, all of which allows spaces in remote areas access to films and therefore organize screenings to their communities.
Space managers were trained for this pilot edition on curation, impact, outreach, and screening technicalities. We are also in the process of designing a detailed toolkit to make spaces more accessible to all, a kit we are looking forward to sharing with the public very soon!
This pilot edition was launched in Lebanon, in 2021, where Masahat successfully organized 15 screenings for 8 films in 6 different regions all over the country to an audience that exceeded 750 people!
This is only the beginning for Masahat. As we wrap up the pilot edition, we are excited to embark on a bigger journey with plans to expand to other Arab countries, more rural regions & greater reach to different communities across the Arab world!
