Kino Guarimba Film Residency

KINO GUARIMBA

An international film training program in the form of a 12 days artistic residency in Calabria, the wildest region of southern Italy, where a group of international creatives who don’t know each other get together to write, shoot, edit, and screen short films.

The goal of the residency is not to create masterpieces, but to give the opportunity to the participants to live a community experience where they can grow, learn and discover new cultures.

The 12 days residency is divided in 3 parts:

  • 1° Inputs & Networking: Playful-pedagogical activities, workshops on different aspects of film production focused on socialization, and training activities, where participants can get to know each other, present their ideas and form working groups. 
  • 2° Filming: Dedicated to the making of short films: the work teams organize themselves to freely decide the structure and production times, in compliance with the rules of the residence.
  • 3° Screening: On the last evening we organize a public screening of all the short films made during the residency, and we invite both the participants and the locals.

WHEN

The 11th edition will take place in Amantea (CS) from the 13th to the 21st of June, and the 14th edition will be from the 10th to the 21st of September.

THE PROCESS

Pedagogy

​​Kino Guarimba’s educational approach is based on the non formal education theories of Cooperative Learning and Montessori Education, based on sharing, independence and finding creative solutions to problems.

The training also involves sharing living spaces, equipment and the people they work with. The role of our entire team is limited to coordination and logistics, and we will not replace your crew. We want to empower participants by making them more independent.

Production

You will work with complete autonomy and creative freedom, according to the Montessori principles of empowerment through clear rules, freedom to choose, to make mistakes and to develop their own path in a natural and spontaneous way. We create a safe environment where you will challenge yourselves and collaborate with others in complete confidence. The residency tutors will guide participants on this path, without interfering with their personal process of learning and making mistakes.

The Kino method

Our residency is inspired by the Kino method, which promotes the non-competitive development of different projects, with the various teams working together to achieve common goals. This method invests more in the process than the results, to move away from the anxiety of delivering a finished product and to make people understand the importance of teamwork and learning. 

TO WHOM?

Kino Guarimba is open to anyone, Italians or foreigners, who have already turned 18 at the time of their submission.

If you’re a filmmaker, have technical skills, or and actor willing to learn and interact with others and to get stuck in even when communication becomes complicated. We are not only looking for experienced professionals, but also students and people who are approaching the audiovisual world with enthusiasm and a desire to help.

2026 EDITION

Our main goal is to create a multicultural film community with professionals, students, and film enthusiasts. A community capable of engaging with the local population regardless of the language barrier. We use cinema as a tool to create an open society.

WHAT INCLUDES

The residency includes:

  • 12 nights accommodation in an apartment in Amantea (except for Option C, which does not include accommodation).
  • 1 Welcome kit including a tote bag and some gadgets.
  • 1 Welcome Dinner.
  • 1 Speed Dating + Breakfast.
  • 1 Social Lunch.
  • 1 guided tour of Amantea historical center.
  • Assistance from our tutors during the shooting, sound recording and post-production.
  • The use of our technical equipment for sound, lighting and editing.
  • Networking events with other 49 participants from all over the world.
  • A Masterclass on Film Production and Lighting.
  • A Masterclass on Live Sound Recording and Sound Production.
  • A Masterclass on Editing.
  • A Masterclass on Short Film Distribution.
  • Mentoring for the distribution of your film after the residency.
  • An unforgettable experience.

HOW TO APPLY

  • Form. Fill the form before March 20. We will read your application and contact you via email after the deadline.
  • Interview. We will meet in a 15-minute informal video call on Zoom. The results will be notified on April 5.
  • Selection. If you are selected, we will contact you again via email explaining all the next steps.
  • Confirmation. To confirm your place, you have to send us the participation fee before April 20.

There are 50 available places for participants which will be determined by a selection process based on portfolio, enthusiasm, and willingness to discover.

Don’t wait until the last day to send your application, because we usually fill all the places before.

PARTICIPANT FEES

  • A) Residency + shared accommodation max 3 people per room (12 nights): €479
  • B) Residency + private room (12 nights): €611
  • C) Residency + no accommodation: €389

Important notes

  • Participation fees must be paid after being selected and no later than the 20th of April.
  • The program does not cover travel expenses.
  • Each apartment is equipped with a kitchen and bathroom.
  • The apartments do not have air conditioning or WIFI.
  • If you prefer not to share an apartment or would like additional comforts, we recommend choosing Option C and arranging accommodation independently.
SEND YOUR APPLICATION

Kino Guarimba selected on international festival and winners

  • “Amantea”, made by the Dutch director Laura Hermanides on Kino Guarimba 2018 won the “Best Dutch Film” award at Da Bounce Urban Film Festival 2019 and the “Best Short Film” award at Elba Film Festival 2020.
  • “La Torta”, made by the Australian filmmakers Gabrielle Gregoire and Olivia Lawson on Kino Guarimba 2019, has been finalist at Roma Short Film Festival 2021 and Paris International Short Film Festival 2021, winning the “Best Editing” award at FlickerFest International Short Film Festival 2021 and the “Best Experimental Short Film” award at Berlin Short Awards 2021.
  • “Long Live The Panda” documentary, made by the Dutch directors Bo van der Meer and Roswitha de Boer on Kino Guarimba 2020, won the “Best Documentary” award at Shortcutz Amsterdam 2022 and “Best Italian Film” award al Reale Film Festival 2021.

REFUND POLICY

In the event of a withdrawal of the participant who has already paid the registration fee, the organization can guarantee a 50% refund of the sum only if the withdrawal is communicated within 45 days before the start of the residency and is caused by a valid reason.

INSURANCE

It is your responsibility to seek cover for yourself and your belongings. Our organization will not take responsibility for damage or loss of personal property before, during, or after the residency.

CREDITS

All films must include 5 seconds of the following text before the opening credits and after the closing credits:

Conceived, shot, and edited during
Kino Guarimba 2026

All films will have to include logos of partners and sponsors. These files will be supplied at the start of KINO.

LEGAL

Know our legal aspects:

  • Filmmakers will have to ensure they secure rights for the use of music and the actor’s image and voice. We recommend using copyright.
  • Free music. If the filmmaker decides to submit the film to festivals, it will be the filmmaker’s responsibility to ensure they have not infringed any law pertaining to intellectual property.
  • By participating, directors take legal responsibility for their films.
  • By participating, filmmakers give rights to La Guarimba to use the finished film for promotional activities, on the understanding that this use will not damage or interfere with any festival strategy previously agreed with the filmmaker. If the film gets an award, it will go to the filmmaker.
  • During the residency, a photographer and a videomaker from our team will take photos and videos of the activities. By participating in Kino Guarimba, participants consent to be captured in photos and/or videos, to the reproduction and publication by any technical means of their images for journalistic and institutional-promotional use of the activities related to the event.
  • Individual portraits will also be taken. In case you do not want to be filmed, we advise you not to take part in the residency.
RULES OF THE GAME

We have some important rules:

  • All participants must go through a selection process that includes filling out a form and an interview with our team.
  • The selected creatives must arrive in Amantea on day 10 between 9:00 and 18:00.
  • The participants will be hosted by the organization in single or shared rooms for 12 nights, from the 10th to the 21st (including the 21st). The rooms must be vacated on day 22 by 11:00.
  • The participants undertake to stay in Amantea during all the days of the Residency. It is not possible to arrive after or leave before the days indicated.
  • The shorts must have at least one outdoor scene in Amantea.
  • It will not be possible to shoot outside the city of Amantea.
  • The maximum length of the short film is 7 minutes. You are completely free to change the length of your short after the end of the residency.
  • The final work must be delivered in person on day 21, from 9:00 to 13:00, following the technical instructions that will be provided.
  • Office hours are sacred. Our team has the right to rest.
  • We will use a WhatsApp group during the days of the residency to communicate with the participants. Registration to this group is mandatory.
  • Guarimba is an adult community, not a summer camp. If you have a problem with someone, talk to us. If at that point you still can’t solve the problem, come to us.
  • Don’t promise anyone anything before arriving in Amantea. Even if the script and the person seem great, wait until you meet everyone and get inspired by Calabria.
  • Don’t monopolize the people and the technical material. We are here to help and will do our best to help you, but we are not your production help. Remember: locals want to participate. Invest more time in making connections, rather than making demands.
  • Any form of insult, offensive language, or disrespect directed at the organization, its members, or its mission will not be tolerated. Violations of this rule may lead to immediate exclusion from current and future activities.
  • Adapt and learn. This is a growth experience. Amantea has a lot to offer to your personal journey. Don’t focus on what you don’t like about the locals, but try to understand what you can learn from their culture and way of life.

INFORMATION

For further information, you can contact the organizers directly: via email info@cinemambulante.com

F.A.Q.

How many participants will there be?

The residency accepts a maximum of 50 participants per edition. You can tell your friends and colleagues about the project and invite them to apply. Take into consideration that the inhabitants of Amantea can also be part of your projects.

What kind of equipment do you provide?

We can lend lights, reflectors, sound recording kits, gears, and some laptops for editing. The rest is up to the participants to bring. Keep in mind that this experience values the idea and the learning process more than the equipment. We’re not a professional studio and we believe in the “doing more with less” philosophy. 

I want to shoot a film, but I don't own a camera. Can I participate anyway?

Ideally, those who want to shoot their own film should bring their own camera, but you can also find a cinematographer to help you with your project and shoot it with theirs. In the past, some very good movies have been made with mobile phones.

Are you deciding the teams?

Not at all. We help all the participants to meet each other, based on their needs and talents. But you will have the last word on who you want to work with. We will organize a speed dating, a casting and a pitching session, allowing you to find the perfect team for your project.

How many projects will be made?

It depends on the participants, in each edition we have different numbers. If you are curious to know them in detail, you can read the reports of previous editions on our website.

Can I bring a friend/partner/colleague?

Those who want to participate in the project must go through the selection process. You will not be able to host external people in the apartment. If you know other people who might be interested, please share this call with them.

Can I apply with my friend/partner/colleague?

The entire selection process is made individually, including the interview. There may be a possibility that we will only select you, and not your friend/partner/colleague.

Should we arrive with a finished script?

It’s totally up to you. Some people prefer to come with an idea, some with a ready script, and others prefer to get inspired by Amantea and its wonders. We don’t have a particular preference. We do recommend you to come with an open mind. Remember that everything can change.

How many projects can I be part of?

We don’t have limits on this aspect. You can direct your own film and then help other participants to make their own. You can even make more than one film, if you want. 

Does my film have to be a specific genre?

Nope. All formats and all genres are accepted. We only have something to say about the length of the film. Considering the tight schedule and the fact that on the last day we will be screening all the films, we ask you to make films under 7 minutes. 

Can the films participate in La Guarimba?

As you might know, we also organise La Guarimba International Film Festival in August. This is a separated project from the residency.
In the past, we had screened a selection of short films from Kino in a non-competitive program of the festival. If you don’t want to be included, just let us know.

How much money will I spend for food?

If you know how to cook, you could go to the supermarket and with €50-70 be set for the entire residency.
If you prefer to go outside every day, you should calculate at least €25 per day to be completely safe, depending on what you eat.
Consider that a breakfast (cappuccino & croissant) cost around €2,50 and a meal can cost around €15-20. A pizza is around €7

I would like to come to Amantea some days before, can you host me?

If you want to come to Amantea (or Calabria) before, there’s no problem, but our apartments will be available only on the days indicated.

You can find your accommodation independently, and here are some suggestions:

  • B&B La Spagnola
  • B&B Villa Mariotta
  • A’Mantia Hotel
  • B&B U Casinu Da Scala (if you’re coming by car)

In alternative, you can look for a place on Airbnb or Booking.

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