KINO GUARIMBA

Kino Guarimba is a twelve-day international film residency in Amantea, Calabria, Italy’s wildest region.

Fifty directors, cinematographers, technicians, actors and writers arrive from all over the world, form their crews, shoot their short films in the streets of the town together with the locals and, on the last evening, screen them for the whole of Amantea.

You don’t need to arrive with a full set of gear or a perfect script. You need the willingness to dive in, collaborate and let yourself be surprised.

WHEN

The 15th edition will take place in Amantea (CS) from 10 to 21 June 2027. The 16th edition will take place from 10 to 21 September 2027.

“This felt like therapy but better!”

Maria Clara Valença, Kino Guarimba, September 2026

HOW IT WORKS

The twelve days of the residency are divided into three parts.

1. Meeting and inspiration

• Welcome dinner, speed dating and a guided tour of Amantea, to get to know the other participants and the town.
• Masterclasses on production, camera and lighting, on location sound and sound production, on editing and on distribution.
• Pitching and casting: if you have an idea, you pitch it; if you want to join a project, you find your crew. You decide who you work with.

2. Shooting

• Crews organise themselves freely and shoot in the streets, homes, beaches and bars of Amantea, often with locals in front of and behind the camera.
• You can direct your own film and work on other people’s projects: most participants take part in four, five or six projects and try roles they had never done before.
• Tutors are available for camera, sound and editing throughout the residency.

3. Editing and screening

• Mentoring sessions on your edit, to get an outside perspective and make your film stronger. We recommend scheduling them from the start: those who took part consider them one of the most useful moments of the residency.
• Final screening: on the last evening, all the short films are screened in public, for the participants and the people of Amantea.

WHAT PARTICIPANTS SAY

At the end of every edition we ask participants to tell us about their experience anonymously. In the September 2026 edition, 38 out of 39 participants said they would definitely recommend Kino to a friend or colleague, and almost two out of three took on a role on set they had never done before.

When asked “what did you learn?”, more than half gave the same answer in different words: letting go of perfectionism, diving in and trusting the process.

“I learned that it doesn’t take too much to make a short film. I tend to over-analyse and be a perfectionist, but doing this in less than 10 days has shown me how capable I am, and that everything does not have to be perfect to just start.”

Participant from the United States, September 2026

“The town is so beautiful and very inspiring! It’s big enough to all make a film, but small enough for it to feel like home in two weeks.”

Participant from the Netherlands, September 2026

“Magical things can happen when talented people come together with empathy, curiosity and a real willingness to help each other.”

Participant from the UK and Argentina, September 2026

AMANTEA AND ITS PEOPLE

Amantea is a town of around 14,000 people on the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria. For many participants it is their first time in Italy, and for almost all of them their first time in Calabria. What they remember most is the welcome: neighbours bringing food, shopkeepers lending their premises for a scene, strangers lending a hand even without sharing a language. In our latest survey, the town’s welcome received an average score of 4.7 out of 5.

Amantea is a small town in the South of Italy with its own rhythm, and it’s good to know that before you come: many shops close in the early afternoon, there are few cafés with WiFi to work from, pharmacies and ATMs are not everywhere, and getting here by public transport takes some planning. You’ll find practical tips in the F.A.Q. and on the How to get to Amantea page.

OUR APPROACH

Freedom with clear rules. Kino Guarimba’s educational approach is based on Cooperative Learning and Montessori Education: sharing, independence and the search for creative solutions to problems. You’ll work with complete autonomy and creative freedom, within a few clear rules, with the freedom to choose, to make mistakes and to find your own path.

You make the films. Our team’s role is limited to coordination and logistics: we don’t take over the production or organisation of the shoots. The tutors accompany you without interfering with your personal process of learning and making mistakes.

Process over results. The residency is based on the Kino method, which promotes the non-competitive development of many different projects, with crews working together towards common goals. You don’t have to deliver a perfect product: you have to live the journey, learn and work as a team.

WHO IT’S FOR

Participation is open to people of any nationality who are over 18 at the time of application.

We’re looking for directors, camera operators, technicians, actors and writers willing to learn and engage with others, even when communication is more difficult. We’re not only looking for experienced professionals, but also students and people approaching the world of film with enthusiasm and a willingness to help.

WHAT WE OFFER

• 12 nights of accommodation in an apartment in Amantea (except option C, in a B&B).
• Welcome kit with a tote bag and gifts.
• Welcome dinner, speed dating with breakfast, social lunch and guided tour of the historic centre.
• Four masterclasses: production, equipment and lighting; location sound and sound production; editing; distribution.
• Tutor support for camera, sound and editing throughout the residency.
• Mentoring sessions on the edit of your film.
• Use of our equipment for sound and lighting, and of our computers for editing.
• A public screening of your short film for the people of Amantea.
• Distribution mentoring for the short films made.
• Networking events with the other 49 participants from all over the world.
• Professional photos and videos of the activities, including an individual portrait.

HOW MUCH IT COSTS

• A) Participation badge + 12 nights in a shared room (max 3 people) in a shared apartment: €579
• B) Participation badge + 12 nights in a private room in a shared apartment: €811
• C) Participation badge + 12 nights in a private room in a B&B: €1250

Important information

• The participation fee is paid after being selected, not before.
• The project does not cover travel expenses.
• The apartments have a kitchen and bathroom, but no air conditioning or WiFi.
• If you’d rather not share a room, we recommend booking a private room.
• The B&Bs have air conditioning, WiFi and a private bathroom, but no kitchen.

HOW TO APPLY

• Form. Fill in the form by 20 February 2027. We’ll read your application and get in touch by email once the call closes. Results will be announced by 5 March 2027.
• Interview. We’ll meet for an informal 15-minute video call on Zoom.
• Selection. If you’re selected, we’ll email you all the details about the next steps.
• Confirmation. You confirm your place by paying the participation fee within 30 days of the selection email.

There are 50 places per edition, awarded on the basis of profile, enthusiasm and eagerness to create. Selection takes place between January and April: don’t wait until the last day, as places may fill up earlier.

KINO FILMS AT FESTIVALS

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

Watch a selection of films made at Kino

RULES OF THE GAME

• All participants go through a selection process that includes filling in a form and an interview with our team.
• Selected participants must arrive in Amantea on day 10 between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
• Participants are hosted for 12 nights, from the 10th to the 21st (including the night of the 21st). Rooms must be vacated on day 22 by 9:30 AM.
• Participants commit to staying in Amantea for the entire residency. It is not possible to arrive later or leave earlier.
• Every short film must include at least one outdoor scene shot in Amantea.
• Filming outside Amantea is not permitted.
• The maximum length of the short film is 6 minutes.
• The final work must be delivered in person on day 21, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, following the technical instructions provided.
• Office hours are sacred. Our team has the right to rest too.
• During the residency we communicate through a WhatsApp group, which is mandatory to join.
• La Guarimba is a community of adults, not a summer camp. If you have an issue with someone, talk to them. If you still can’t resolve it, come to us.
• Don’t promise anything to anyone before arriving in Amantea. Even if the script and the person seem great, wait to meet everyone and let yourself be inspired by Calabria.
• Don’t monopolise people or equipment. We’re here to help and will do our best to support you, but we’re not your production assistants. Remember: local people want to take part too. Invest more time in building connections than in making requests.
• Any form of insult, offensive language or lack of respect towards the organisation, its members or its mission will not be tolerated and may result in immediate exclusion from current and future activities.
• Adapt and learn. This is a growth experience. Don’t focus on what you don’t like about the local people: try instead to understand what you can learn from their culture and way of life.

CREDITS

All films must include the following text for 5 seconds, either at the beginning or at the end:

Conceived, shot, and edited during
Kino Guarimba 2027

Each film must also include the logos of the organisation and of all partners and sponsors. All required files will be provided at the beginning of the residency.

REFUND POLICY

If a participant withdraws after having paid the participation fee, the organisation can provide a refund of 50% of the amount paid only if the withdrawal is communicated at least 45 days before the start of the residency and is due to a valid reason.

If the organisation agrees to defer a participant’s participation to a future edition, the amount already paid will be transferred to the new edition. By accepting the deferral, the participant acknowledges that the payment becomes non-refundable. Any subsequent withdrawal after a deferral will not be eligible for a refund.

INSURANCE

The organisation accepts no responsibility for any injury, damage, loss or theft affecting participants or their personal belongings before, during or after Kino Guarimba, regardless of the circumstances, including when participants have followed the organisation’s instructions and guidelines.

Participants are responsible for their own personal belongings and are advised to arrange appropriate personal and travel insurance for the duration of their stay.

LEGAL ASPECTS

• Filmmakers must ensure that they have obtained all necessary rights and permissions for the music, script and use of the actors’ images in the short film. We particularly recommend using copyright-free or properly licensed music: if you later wish to submit your film to festivals, everything needs to be cleared.
• By participating, the filmmaker assumes full responsibility for the final work.
• Participants grant the organisers the right to use the works exclusively for cultural purposes and only in ways that do not interfere with or negatively affect the short film’s festival career.

PERSONAL DATA PROCESSING

Pursuant to Italian Legislative Decree 196/2003, the data requested in the application form will be used exclusively for the purposes set out in this call, and will be processed with or without the aid of IT tools, in full compliance with the above regulations and confidentiality obligations.

During the residency, a photographer and a videomaker from our team will take photos and videos of the activities. By taking part in Kino Guarimba, participants consent to being photographed and/or filmed, and to the reproduction and publication, by any technical means, of their images for journalistic and institutional-promotional purposes related to the event’s activities. Individual portraits will also be taken. If you do not wish to be filmed, we recommend not taking part in the residency.

For further information, write to us at info@cinemambulante.com.

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