calls and
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Masahat AFLAMUNA ::
Open Call for Community Cinema and Film Clubs Training

This is an open call for emerging Community Cinema Makers from Tunisia to receive training and access to films, and become the first cohort of the Masahat network.

Deadline extended: 22/11/2024

About Masahat AFLAMUNA

A pan-Arab network of Community Cinemas (non-commercial screening spaces). A new model of truly independent, inclusive, and decentralized film distribution to bring Arab cinema back to Arab audiences.

Masahat AFLAMUNA aims to transform spaces of all kinds across the Arab region into vibrant, accessible, and inclusive Community Cinemas. Through mapping, training, and a film library, the initiative empowers cultural organizers to bring independent cinema and culture to their communities. The project also provides independent filmmakers with an infrastructure to self-distribute their films and reach new audiences as easily as possible.

(Simply, we want to encourage and support film clubs in the Arab region, help them become more organized and equipped, and connect them to independent Arab filmmakers.)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does Masahat AFLAMUNA offer to participants?

  1. A training program for 20 emerging Community Cinema Makers, from Tunisia, that will cover curation, marketing, community engagement, and technical, operational skills, and other knowledge and tools they need to create and sustain community cinemas.
  2. A library of independent Arab films with rights cleared to be screened free of charge for their communities.

What is required from participants?

  • Selected participants (spaces & individuals) must be committed to attending all of the online training sessions. The sessions will be conducted on  21, 22, 28, and 29 December 2024.
  • As a large portion of the program will take place online, participants need to ensure – within the realm of their control – that they have the necessary equipment and broadband. AFLAMUNA will assist, to the best of its abilities, selected participants who face difficulties in this area.
  • Selected participants (spaces & individuals) are required to conduct 5 film screenings, duting 2025, using the MASAHAT library of independent Arab films.
  • Selected individuals must have a written agreement with at least one space that is ready to host the film screenings planned during this program.
  • Selected participants are expected and required to adhere to AFLAMUNA’s non-discrimination policy, and to actively contribute to making the program a safe space for other participants. During the program and all activities that result from it, no discrimination will be tolerated.

Who is eligible for this program?

  • Individuals, spaces, and collectives from all backgrounds and walks of life who are interested in bringing independent Arab cinema to their communities are eligible to apply.
  • Individuals and collectives who do not represent a space must have a written agreement with a space willing to host the screenings they will organize.
  • Spaces and collectives must appoint an individual who will receive the training and be the main point of contact to host the screenings.
  • Participants of the training program must be Arab nationals residing in Tunisia.
  • Participants of the training program must be Arabic speakers.
  • Participants of the training program must be over 18 years old.

How and when will we select the participants?

  • The selection will be conducted through a different external jury of practitioners. 
  • Applications will be screened for eligibility by the program team and all eligible applications will be transmitted to a three-person jury. 
  • After they review and score the application material individually, they will be brought together to deliberate before making the final selection.

The selection criteria

Individuals

Engagement in the local community.
Relevance of professional background.
Relevance of personal projects and motivation.
Diversity of geographical locations (with a priority for underserved geographies, especially rural areas and refugee camps).
Diversity of professional backgrounds.
Gender parity.

spaces & collectives

Engagement in the local community.
Legal status (priority will be given to nonprofits). Relevance and feasibility of community screenings plan.
Relevance of the space/collective’s general strategy (with a special focus on community-driven activities).
Diversity of geographical locations with a priority for underserved geographies.

Submissions Close On November 22, 2024.

If you have any doubts about your project’s eligibility
or the application requirements, or about the Masahat AFLAMUNA project in general,
do not hesitate to contact us at programs@aflamuna.org 

AFLAMUNA is dedicated to being a safe space and believes in freedom of expression as a fundamental human right.
Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or disability.

With the support of

In partnership with