The SAFAR Film Festival is the largest festival in the UK dedicated to cinema from the Arab world. Founded in 2012 and now running annually, SAFAR offers a unique space for audiences to explore and celebrate Arab cinema past, present and future.

Through SAFAR, we showcase the broad range of talent from the Arab world by working with curators on themed programmes and inviting filmmakers for live Q&As. We develop the UK film landscape through industry events and opportunities for early-career Arab British filmmakers and curators. We increase access to Arab cinema in the UK by working with screening partners across the country, as well as digital programmes.

SAFAR Futures is our strand of activity which focuses on developing the next generation of Arab British industry talent. In 2022 we piloted the SAFAR Futures Young Curators Programme which invited 3 early-career Arab-identifying curators to collaboratively devise and deliver an event at the Festival, taking ownership of it from start to finish whilst also benefiting from mentoring sessions with industry experts and the SAFAR team.

This year, we are excited to bring back the Young Curators programme for a second edition, this time in partnership with Curate-It, an eight-step digital programme that teaches film theory, film curation and the practical and logistical elements needed to create film events.

 

SAFAR Futures Young Curators Programme

We are looking for 3 early-career Arab-identifying film curators to participate in this year’s edition of SAFAR Futures.

Over 15 weeks of online workshops and mentoring meetings you will work together to collaboratively plan and deliver a film event / programme at the Barbican Centre during SAFAR Film Festival 2023.

The programme will be structured around the Curate-It course which consists of eight steps: Watch-it, Analyse-it, Curate-it, Finance-it, Market-it, Execute-it, Evaluate-it and Screen-it. Each step consists of written information, activities, tailored reading lists and videos featuring film experts sharing their knowledge. The programme is aimed at beginners or those with intermediate knowledge. At the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Critically analyse films you want to curate
• Understand the theories and practices of film curation
• Negotiate rights to films
• Develop marketing strategies
• Create budgets and funding applications
• Implement screenings and events
• Monitor and evaluate events
• Screen events online or in real life

The workshops will be led by Justine Atkinson, founder of Curate-It and Lecturer in Film and Television Studies at the University of Glasgow, alongside the SAFAR Film Festival team. The workshops and Curate-It programme will be specifically focused around Arab cinema and will also include 3 mentoring sessions /workshops with film industry professionals.

Participants will receive a £500 bursary to cover any expenses incurred during their participation.

 

Person Specification  

• Aged 18-30
• Identifies as Arab*
• Based in the UK
• Have a demonstrable interest in film from the Arab world
• Enthusiastic, open minded and enjoy working in a team
• Committed and reliable – spaces are limited so we really want participants!
• No prior qualifications required

*The Arab world is defined as the 22 countries who are members of The Arab League: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

SAFAR Futures welcomes applications from all people from or with heritage from these countries and cultures. While for some this may refer to nationality, for others the reference might be to identity and/or regionality.

Whether you are born in or recently migrated to the UK, we recognise that the way participants self-identify is complex and personal and we welcome applications from all who want to be involved.

 

Time commitment and Dates

• The programme starts week commencing 27 March with 2 hour meetings weekly. Workshop timings and days will be agreed collectively once the group is selected and will run weekly from then until SAFAR Film Festival runs from 29 June – 9 July.
• Outside of the meetings, participants will have collective and independent group work to develop their event (time commitment will vary but we anticipate around 1-2 hours per week)
• Participants will also separately work through the Curate-It course (structure for this will be provided and is flexible)
• Participants must be available between 29 June and 9 July to attend SAFAR Film Festival in London and run their event

 

How to Apply 

Please fill in the form below to apply for this opportunity. Deadline to apply is Thursday 16 March at 5pm. Successful applicants will be contacted by Monday 20 March.

 

APPLICATIONS FOR SAFAR FUTURES ARE NOW CLOSED

 

 

The SAFAR Futures Young Curators Programme is supported by the City Of London’s Inspiring London Through Culture fund.