From June 10 to 21, 2026, La Guarimba hosted the thirteenth edition of Kino Guarimba, a film training programme dedicated to filmmakers from around the world. The filmmakers arrived in Amantea, Calabria, to embark on this journey of artistic collaboration and cultural exchange. This year’s Kino was made possible thanks to the collaboration with CinemAmbulante, the Caribe Atómico Film Festival (Venezuela), Proimágenes Colombia, and MyAirBridge.

On June 10, 48 filmmakers from 29 different countries arrived to take part in a 12-day film residency, during which they conceived, shot, and edited their short films.

THE PROGRAMME

Kino Guarimba offers professional training workshops, access to cultural events, and encourages collaboration between filmmakers and the local community of Amantea.

The first days of the Kino are designed to foster connection among participants and to introduce them to the town of Amantea, its rich history, and its culture.

On the first day, participants arrived throughout the day and received the new edition of the Kino tote bag: cinema to the people and the people to cinema. Inside was a pencil case with a Bic pen and a notebook from the Moleskine Foundation — which supported the residency by donating notebooks and pencil cases for every participant — to be used during their stay.

After being settled into the apartments rented for the residents, they had the opportunity to explore the town and the beach. At 8:30 pm, the Meet & Greet welcome dinner began at Il Terrenito. Here, all participants had the chance to socialise and officially meet their fellow filmmakers. The dinner was prepared by Beatrice De Vita, a local cook, who based the entire menu on Calabrian flavours and traditional Amanteano dishes.

The second day began with breakfast at Lido Azzurro, followed by a speed dating exercise among participants. In two sessions, the young professionals had one minute each to introduce themselves to one another — an exercise to sharpen their pitching skills and an opportunity to exchange ideas. The day continued with lunch at Cantina Amarcord 1985, to savour traditional Calabrian cuisine and wines and to encourage conversation and connection among participants.

In the evening, director Giulio Vita led participants on a tour of Amantea, through the historic centre and up to the ancient ruins at the top of the hill. This gave participants the opportunity to do an initial scout for possible filming locations.

After this brief excursion under the Calabrian sun, the tour concluded at Bar Sicoli for a taste of their famous pistachio gelato.

The third day began and ended with masterclasses led by industry professionals and the residency’s tutors. All five masterclasses were attended by the 47 filmmakers. The first two took place at Lido Azzurro, while the last three were held in the conference room of La Piccola Biblioteca di Amantea, inaugurated in August 2024.

The day opened with “How to Organise a Kino Production”, led by residency tutor Oscar Peña González, a Spanish director of photography with experience on sets in Spain, Italy, and Latin America. Oscar explained how to best organise a small production team, offering practical advice on managing actors, locations, and the production schedule.

Next came “Live Sound Recording” with Anna-Maria Jams, an Estonian foley artist and former Kino 2024 participant. She provided an overview of proper audio equipment use, ambient sound recording, and dialogue capture to create an effective film soundscape.

In the afternoon, director Giulio Vita led the masterclass on “Film Distribution”, explaining how and where to distribute an independent film from the ground up, with practical advice for young filmmakers.

Filmmaker and editor Fortunato Valente held a masterclass on “The Basics of Editing”, designed to give curious filmmakers the fundamental notions of post-production.

Anna-Maria Jams led the third masterclass on “Sound Post-Production”, focusing on how to edit dialogue, incorporate atmos (ambient noise), music, and Foley in the post-production phase.

To involve the residents of Amantea and the surrounding area, an open casting was also held, during which local aspiring actors aged 7 to 74 had the opportunity to present themselves and showcase their talents to the filmmakers. The open casting serves a dual purpose: on the one hand, it offers the community a chance to work on a film set and meet international filmmakers; on the other, it gives the filmmakers an additional opportunity to deepen their connection with the community of Amantea and its culture.

June 13 was the last day of scheduled Kino activities before residents began shooting. Everyone gathered at La Piccola Biblioteca di Amantea for a coffee courtesy of Caffè Guglielmo and freshly baked pastries from Bar Caruso, before pitching their film ideas.

Each filmmaker presented a brief synopsis of their project, the genre, the role they would take on, the roles still needed, and the number of shooting days required. In total, 37 of the 47 filmmakers presented their ideas — some developed in collaboration with others — for a total of 37 pitches, spanning comedies, dramas, documentaries, fiction, and experimental shorts.

In the late afternoon, Amantea celebrated the Feast of Sant’Antonio da Padova with a mass and a procession through the entire town. Participants were invited to join the procession to immerse themselves in Italian religious traditions and seize the opportunity to capture evocative footage and record ambient sounds. The procession ended in the historic centre with an outdoor festival featuring fairground rides, food trucks, and a main stage with live music.

THE BEACH CLEAN-UP

During the Kino, at the suggestion of one of the participants, we organised a collective beach clean-up along the shore of Amantea. At seven in the morning, organisers and filmmakers gathered on the beach: La Guarimba distributed bags and gloves and coordinated with the Municipality of Amantea for waste collection and disposal. A simple and spontaneous gesture, born from within the Kino’s temporary community, that turned a sense of responsibility toward the host territory into concrete action.

THE SHOOTING PROCESS

From June 13 to 20, the young professionals shot their projects. Following the philosophy of the Kino method, we did not intervene in this process, encouraging participants to form their own teams and allowing collaborations to emerge organically and spontaneously.

Kino Guarimba provided basic shared equipment — audio gear, lights, reflectors, and tripods — for all 47 participants. Oscar and Anna-Maria offered additional support to the filmmakers, advising on the most suitable equipment for each shoot and how to make the best use of it for the scenes they had in mind.

The filmmakers shot their films all across Amantea: in the historic centre, among the ruins of the tower, inside bars and restaurants, on the beach, and in private homes for interior scenes.

THE FINAL SCREENING

After 12 days of sharing, shooting, and editing, Kino Guarimba concluded with the screening of all 40 films produced.

The 2026 edition of the Kino Guarimba film residency saw the delivery of 40 short films, with a total running time of 3 hours and 19 minutes. The films were made by filmmakers from 25 countries, with a geographical reach spanning Europe, Latin America, Central Asia, the Middle East, and North America, confirming the residency’s international profile.

21.95% of the works (9 out of 40) were directed by first-time directors, a figure that attests to the programme’s role in discovering and nurturing talent. 68% of the films (28 out of 40) feature local actors recruited from Amantea and Calabria, reflecting the project’s ability to weave together the international dimension of the residency with direct and structural community involvement.

The films were screened at Il Terrenito in Amantea on June 21, where all participants, actors, and the local community were invited to attend.

Approximately 150 people attended the final screening.

THE PARTICIPANTS

Forty-seven participants arrived from around the world, forming a diverse group of filmmakers. Coming from different geographies, ages, and professional backgrounds, each participant brought a unique perspective to the group, united by a shared desire to exchange knowledge, collaborate, and create together.

To expand the visibility of our film festival, we carried out promotional activities through several channels. We successfully had Kino Guarimba featured in newsletters directed at film students. At festival markets such as Clermont-Ferrand and Winterthur, we held meetings with representatives from film institutes around the world to discuss our project and mission. Together with our partner Community Arts Network, we ran an Instagram campaign that reached filmmakers in diverse locations. We also welcomed Sara Paolella and Geremia Trinchese from the magazine Scomodo, who documented the opening of the training programme.

From 365 applications, 50 audiovisual artists from 29 nations were selected: Argentina, the Netherlands, Italy, Lebanon, Peru, Portugal, Ukraine, Greece, Slovenia, Romania, Ireland, USA, Spain, Kazakhstan, Venezuela, Colombia, Bulgaria, Germany, Tunisia, France, Hungary, Finland, Kuwait, Latvia, United Kingdom, Norway, South Korea, Mexico, and Nigeria. Unfortunately, due to political and social issues, 3 artists were unable to leave their countries: 2 Nigerian artists had their visas refused despite having all the correct documentation, and one Kuwaiti artist was unable to travel due to the ongoing conflict in their territory.

This year we hosted two Colombian filmmakers, made possible by our partnership with Proimágenes Colombia, and the scholarship winner from the Caribe Atómico Film Festival (Venezuela), Janeth Aguirre Elizondo.

The 13th edition of Kino Guarimba saw a strong female majority: 74% of participants were women (37 out of 50), compared to 26% men (13). A figure that reflects a growing trend in the new generation of international filmmakers.

The age profile of the participants is young: the most represented group is 23–27 years old (19 people), followed by 18–22 (12) and 28–32 (11). Only 8 filmmakers are over 33. The average age is 26, with a range spanning from 19 to 48 years old.

The United States was the most represented country with 7 participants, followed by Ireland (5), and Italy and Ukraine (4 each). Fourteen countries were represented by a single participant, testament to the residency’s broad geographical reach.

During the selection process, we also considered the profiles and roles of the applicants. From young students at the start of their careers to professional filmmakers, each person was chosen for the knowledge they could bring to the group. This Kino offers new filmmakers the chance to take their first steps in the industry, and provides a pause for those already working within it.

Filmmakers represent a significant portion of participants, but the residency’s training activities allowed everyone to experiment with different roles. From a survey sent to participants, approximately 59% reported having worked in a role they had never taken on before.

SCHOLARSHIPS

The scholarship programme was established with a clear political and cultural intention: to break down the economic and geographical barriers that often prevent emerging talent from accessing international training opportunities.

Two major international collaborations were structured this edition, each providing full-coverage scholarships:

Caribe Atómico Film Festival Scholarship (Venezuela): Awarded to Janeth Aguirre Elizondo, producer of the short film ALIVIOS, winner of the 2025 edition of the Venezuelan festival. Thanks to this support, Janeth was able to take part in the residency, bringing her professional expertise to the Kino Guarimba community.

The Caribe Atómico Film Festival is an independent film festival based in Caracas, created to celebrate, promote, and champion Caribbean and Latin American cinema. Organised in collaboration with local and international cultural organisations, the festival is distinguished by its strong political and social approach: its stated aim is to “de-gentrify” and reclaim urban spaces in the Venezuelan capital through screenings, workshops, and debates, bringing auteur cinema directly to the most vulnerable communities.

Street Project Foundation Scholarship (Nigeria): Awarded to filmmaker and artist Embeleakpo Joseph-Berepamo. Although the scholarship was duly granted, the winner was unfortunately unable to physically reach the residency due to severe bureaucratic restrictions and delays in obtaining an entry visa.

The Street Project Foundation, founded in 2008, is a Nigerian non-profit organisation and social enterprise that uses creative and performing arts as tools for social mobilisation, youth leadership development, and intercultural dialogue. Through flagship programmes such as the Creative Youth Boot Camp and the ARTvocacy movement, the foundation works to empower disadvantaged young people, women, and people with disabilities.

Kino Guarimba is a continuously evolving project in which every edition teaches us something new. It is a process of trial and error, and our goal is to develop the programme so that each edition is better than the last. We also want to understand the impact the project has on its participants and on the local community of Amantea.

To this end, we collect both qualitative and quantitative data through surveys, forms, and observation. For the international artists, we evaluate the educational impact of the residency. For the people and community of Amantea, we observe the social, cultural, and economic impacts.

EDUCATIONAL IMPACT ON PARTICIPANTS

The film residency structures its educational offering by integrating the principles of Non-Formal Education, Cooperative Learning, and the Montessori Method. The twelve days dedicated to conceiving, shooting, and editing films form an intensive and immersive learning experience. These pedagogical approaches are chosen for their ability to encourage mutual cooperation, promote the sharing of resources and spaces, and grant participants full independence and self-determination throughout the creative process.

During the selection process, the goal is to assemble a group with diverse professional profiles, including directors, directors of photography, sound designers, and editors. Each participant is driven by different motivations: some want to try a new role or practise a new skill, while others seek to deepen an existing craft. Selected candidates are at different stages of their personal and professional journeys — from young beginners at the start of their academic or working life, to professionals looking to reinvigorate their creativity, to those seeking a break from the standardised rhythms of daily working life. In Amantea, residents find the space and time to explore and redefine their artistic identity.

To encourage immediate connection among filmmakers before production begins, structured socialising events are organised. From the welcome dinner to shared accommodation, every dynamic is designed to facilitate the formation of interpersonal bonds. Even when faced with diverging artistic or personal viewpoints, participants are consistently encouraged to listen actively, remain open to others, and seek common ground.

The philosophy of the residency shifts the focus from the final product to the creative process itself. The primary aim is to encourage participants to seize this opportunity to take risks, take on different roles, and allow their expressive potential to emerge freely. In this spirit, mistakes and missteps are reframed as fundamental steps in growth: filmmakers are encouraged not to fear failure, but to see it as a valuable tool for analysis, self-awareness, and professional development.

The final survey reveals four recurring learning themes: overcoming fear and self-doubt (10 mentions), collaboration and community-building (7 mentions), acquiring new technical skills in previously untried roles (6 mentions), and intercultural communication (5 mentions). 59% of respondents reported having worked in a role they had never taken on before.

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY

Nestled on the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria, in southern Italy, Amantea is a local community of approximately 14,000 residents. In June, the community opened its doors to forty-seven filmmakers and film professionals arriving for Kino Guarimba, with an explicit invitation to discover the territory and its people. The core objective of the residency is to encourage participants to integrate deeply with the population, the landscapes, and the narrative heritage of Amantea, transforming streets, squares, beaches, and the corners of the old town into open-air film sets. It is essential that filmmakers embrace the town as an active partner in their work, rather than retreating into an isolated or self-referential bubble.

This collaborative engagement of residents in the making of the short films generates a dual value: on the one hand, it enriches the filmmakers’ experience; on the other, it empowers the whole community. The skills developed in coordinating a production crew, overcoming language barriers by communicating in Italian with non-professional actors, and building meaningful human relationships are a formative legacy that participants will carry with them for life.

During the festival days, Amantea undergoes a form of spontaneous urban regeneration. Through the filmmakers’ gaze, the beauty of the town is rediscovered and celebrated; even neglected or abandoned spaces come back to life as cinematic backdrops, offering residents themselves the chance to see their territory from a new perspective.

Kino Guarimba thus acts as a bridge between the local community, its roots, and the language of cinema. This exchange strengthens the sense of identity and local pride, nourished by the awareness that artists from every corner of the globe have chosen Amantea to bring their works to life.

The arrival of filmmakers from around the world contributes to increasing Amantea’s social and cultural capital, promoting cultural and artistic diversity. During the 12 days of the residency, local residents share their town with the filmmakers: many step in front of the camera as actors, while many shopkeepers and artisans open their businesses as shooting locations.

ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE TERRITORY

The budget for the thirteenth edition of Kino Guarimba was €13,784. Of this, we invested €6,200 in renting apartments for the participants, €1,266.50 in catering — covering organised lunches, dinners, and breakfasts for the group — and €5,702.43 in fees for project collaborators. An additional €500 went to publicity and printing, and €115 to event materials.

This year we hosted 50 filmmakers across 16 apartments provided by local property owners in Amantea, for a total of 12 nights. Collaborators came from Estonia, Spain, Venezuela, and France, alongside Calabrian professionals from Amantea and Rossano. The project also welcomed three interns from the University of Calabria (UNICAL), the Université de Lille, and the Instituto Manolo Banik.

We also analysed the residency’s indirect economic impact, which is equally significant. The participants’ presence had an even greater effect given that June is a quiet month for tourism compared to August — a transitional period leading into the peak summer season, which the Kino helps to animate in a meaningful way. At the Lido Azzurro bar and restaurant, there was always a group of participants discussing their films, working, having a meal, or simply enjoying the view. Pizzeria Canossa was once again a firm favourite, while Cantina Amarcord — host of the Welcome Lunch for all 60 participants — remained a social hub for drinks and conversation.

Using data collected through the survey, we were able to estimate the average spending of participants in Amantea over the twelve days of the Kino. This includes food, drinks, souvenirs, and purchases made for their films, such as props. The data reveals an average spend of €600 per participant, for an estimated total of €30,000 generated for local businesses in Amantea.

Added to this is the direct impact of the organisational budget: given that almost all spending on accommodation, catering, local collaborators, and materials was kept on the territory, the total direct and indirect economic impact of the thirteenth edition exceeds €43,000.

These figures represent just one of the ways in which the Kino has a positive impact on Amantea and its businesses. The residency also has lasting effects on the image of the town and the region, attracting sustainable international tourism without compromising the authenticity of the Calabrian experience. 78% of participants publicly shared their experience on social media or blogs, generating organic visibility for Amantea and Calabria around the world.

CREDITS

GIULIO VITA – Project Director
LILIBETH BOLÍVAR – Production
OSCAR PEÑA GONZÁLEZ – Residency Tutor
ANNA-MARIA JAMS – Sound Tutor
FORTUNATO VALENTE – Filmmaker and Editing Tutor
ANTONIO REDA – Photographer
PEDRO GUERRA – Intern
ELENA ZANGARO – Intern
JULIETTE REGENT – Intern

ORGANISED BY

IN COLLABORATION WITH

WITH THE SUPPORT OF

Kino Guarimba is part of Territorio Guarimba, a permanent cultural hub operating year-round in Amantea with an open-air arena, an active library, and artistic production spaces. The project is among the three national winners of the 2026 grant from Fondazione Italia Patria della Bellezza, selected from over 270 applications for the strong cultural and social impact it generates in the territory.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ALL THE FILMS PRODUCED
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