Local editions of Impact Lab بالعربي

Hosted by Beirut DC, in cooperation with the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Beirut Office - Middle East, Local Impact Lab بالعربي Syria - Lebanon opens the submission call for film projects and individual participants. 

Local editions of Impact Lab بالعربي are highly interactive and participatory four-day labs that aim to examine the practice of impact distribution, to consider how it translates for the local filmmaking industry, and to help catalyze a new profession within the industry; the Impact Producer. 

Local Impact Lab بالعربي Syria - Lebanon, will be held in June, 2022 for filmmakers and participants from the fields of film production and distribution, campaigning, journalism, politics, marketing, and PR. We are glad to announce that, once again, the lab will be held in Arabic with a few translated interventions. The lab is planned to be held physically unless circumstances impose a virtual option. 

The results of the previous regional and local Impact Labs بالعربي continue to unfold as participants become active impact producers and film projects launch Impact campaigns. 

ART OF IMPACT / IMPACT OF ART 

Initially designed by the UK based DocSociety, the impact model aims to build a community around documentary films by bringing together filmmakers with foundations, NGOs, policymakers, philanthropists, media, etc. in order to address leading social issues, to create new forms of partnerships and to train potential individuals on how to become ‘Impact Producers’.  Their role is to take the film campaign from production to impact by delivering an impact campaign, securing key partners, and overseeing the execution of the campaign. 

In a time of huge disruption in traditional funding and distribution models in documentary film, an emerging generation of filmmakers is looking for creative ambition and critical acclaim and wants to put their documentary films at the service of profound social change.  

Through previous local and regional impact labs, we are seeing a budding impact production network in the Arab region. Films from our region continue to tackle complex topics such as gender, public and individual liberties, sexuality, wars/revolutions, and social minorities, they are tools of communication within the society and can create social impact by collaborating with figures from civil society. The impact labs, especially local ones, create bridges for films to reach new audiences and engage civil society actors in the respective themes they represent.

Local IMPACT LAB بالعربي Syria - Lebanon

We will be selecting up to 4 film teams and 15 participants interested in becoming Impact Producers.

Eligibles for selection to this local edition of the lab are:

Lebanese and Syrian citizens inside and outside their home countries. 

Citizens of any Arab country residing in Lebanon
 

During the lab, the participants will be guided through the theory and practice of creating impact with documentary films and shown inspiring case studies relevant to their projects. The lab will also allow time and space to share the individual projects' details, creative ambitions, and impact goals. 

After an introduction based on the modules of the Impact Field Guide, the group will embark collectively on extensive brainstorm sessions for each of the selected projects to map out the team's individual needs and define a set of ambitious impact goals and dream partners. 

This lab is a place to imagine how we can collaborate with the best storytellers of our generation and unlock the power of narrative to communicate complex ideas in these complicated times using documentary filmmaking as a core part of social and environmental change. 

Who can apply?

Are you a filmmaker aspiring to create a positive social impact?

Are you a professional in film production and distribution, campaigning, journalism, politics, and marketing & PR and curious about stepping into the “Impact Producer” role as part of your career development? 

Come and join us!

To Submit a film project:   

• Lebanese and Syrian filmmakers inside and outside their home countries, with a feature documentary film* project, are eligible 

• Filmmakers of any Arab country residing in Lebanon, with a feature documentary film* project are eligible. 

• Film Projects at any stage of production are eligible

• Historical subjects and Trans-media projects are not eligible 

• The film project should directly or indirectly, raise important contemporary global and national issues and enhance our understanding of the world.

*Fiction features or other formats will only be considered if they have impact potential and tackle social or environmental issues. 

Director with a Film Submission Form  

To apply as a participant without a film project, you can be among:

Lebanese and Syrian citizens inside and outside their home countries. 

Citizens of any Arab country residing in Lebanon. 

• Filmmakers without a feature project 

• Producers 

• Campaigners 

• Foundations 

• Film Funders 

• Distributors 

• NGO Representatives

• Media Representatives

• philanthropists

• policymakers 

• Journalists 

Participant Submission Form  

 Submissions close on April 25th 2022

For inquiries: [email protected]

The Beirut DC Impact Program is supported by the Ford Foundation and in collaboration with Doc Society.