Support Here & Elsewhere Film Festival in it's 2nd Edition
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Hi, glad you found us!
We are H&E, a Beirut based collective focused on promoting the voices of emerging SWANA filmmakers and uniting communities through film.
In 2025 we launched the first edition of our community-based film festival and it was fully funded by donations! We couldn’t be more grateful to the donors and volunteers that made it possible.
We are now launching a second edition and we're asking for your help to make it happen.
Why now:
We believe that it is now more urgent than ever to support the SWANA artists and community: in the midst of conflict, political differences and a general sense of hopelessness, we want to create a space where filmmakers can portray their unique views, challenge assumptions of the Western discourse, and regain a sense of self that is not only shaped by conflict. We are so much more than just survivors.
Beyond the films, we also create a space for connection: to meet, to exchange ideas, to feel together. Because there's nothing more comforting that feeling represented and heard, specially in moments as difficult as these.
How we do it:
1. We begin by scouting and reviewing submissions from emerging SWANA filmmakers.
2. From these, we curate a selection of films that reflect a range of perspectives, styles, and lived experiences. We prioritise originality, authenticity, and different types of storytelling.
3. One filmmaker will be selected as our Spotlight Director. A portion of the festival’s ticket sales will go toward supporting the development of their next film. The remaining portion of the ticket sales will go towards a charity (last years was: G@za Skate Team, a charity focused on supporting youth in G@za)
4. The spotlight director will also join us in Beirut to participate in panels and engage directly with the audience.
5. The selected films will be showcased during a 3-day festival at the Beirut Art Center, our venue partner.
6. Alongside the screenings, we will host a series of community-centered events designed to foster connection and dialogue, including Q&A sessions, panel discussions, and gatherings for filmmakers and attendees.
Why we need your help:
We are a small collective of artists, dedicating our time and energy to make this project possible. While the work is driven by passion, the festival itself requires real resources to come to life.
Contributions will go towards (approx.):
30% – Stipends for our volunteer team, in recognition of their time, effort, and commitment
20% – Travel and accommodation for the Spotlight Director and key team members attending the festival
20% – Programming costs, including film selection, panelists, and guest speakers
10% – Technical crew, covering essential production staff who make the festival possible
10% – Printing and physical materials
10% – Contingency fund to ensure smooth delivery and cover unexpected costs
Let's make it happen again!
Organizer
