Cinema without Borders

Applications are now closed.

Upcoming edition

We are pleased to announce a new edition of Cinema without Borders taking place at the Movies that Matter Festival 2023 in The Hague, the Netherlands. The five-day workshop and networking programme on how to organise a human rights film festival or mobile cinema project will take place from 25 – 29 March 2023. We will bring together starting and more experienced film festival professionals from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

Participants will gain practical knowledge and get fresh ideas and possibilities to strengthen their network. By exchanging experiences and best practices, participants are inspired and assisted to further develop their own festival. The interactive workshops will address various aspects of organising a human rights film festival, such as programming films and organising debates, fundraising, impact strategies, promotion and reaching new audiences.

Participants

We will select a maximum of 15 qualified participants from the field of cinema and human rights, who already have some experience in organising at least one socially engaged film event/festival. Requirements for participation include a good level of English and a relationship to a reliable non-profit organisation. Selection is based on motivation and experience. Gender and regional balance of participants is also taken into account. There is no participation fee, costs for travel and lodging will be covered and we expect participants to be available for all the 5 days of the programme.

To get an impression of the programme, watch the aftermovies of Cinema Without Borders 2022 and 2019 below.

Previous editions

Since 2006 seventeen editions of Cinema without Borders were held. Most workshop programmes took place during the Movies that Matter Festival in The Hague. Other editions were held in Burkina Faso (2012), Jordan (2014), Argentina (2018), Philippines (online, 2021), Kenya (2022) and during the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA, 2013). 200+ participants from more than 60 different countries – from Myanmar, Bahrain and Bangladesh to Pakistan, the Philippines and Peru – attended the programmes.