Network of Arab Alternative Screens (NAAS)

Membership Policy and Procedure (effective 31 March 2021)

General Conditions:

1. Applicants must be a legal person (representing an organization, company, or nongovernmental cinema initiative) with operations in the Arabic-speaking region, whose goals are compatible with those of NAAS, and who commits to proactive collaboration toward achieving these goals.
2. Applicants must adhere to the following shared values:
   1. Diversity of cinema content and in approaches to the collective experience of watching films
   2. Respect for copyright
   3. Transparency and accountability
   4. Open knowledge
   5. Commitment to enriching cinema content and history in Arabic, the official language of the network
   6. Support for local and regional cinema culture

Membership Categories:

1. Core
2. Affiliate

 

1. Core Membership

Eligibility Requirements - Core Membership

1. Applicant must demonstrate sovereignty in governance, finances, and activities.
2. Applicant privileges the exhibition and screening of films and is one or more of the following:

            - Cinema space with daily program and box office*

            - Ciné-club, film society, and/or film festival offering a platform, programs, and/or access to knowledge

            - Multidisciplinary space with at least a dozen screenings a year*, with a focus on Arab films

      3. Applicant maintains a community around film throughout the year.

 

*Not applicable during lockdown due to pandemic 

Obligations - Core Membership

1. Pay annual membership fee of $150 (one hundred and fifty USD) within sixty (60) days of invoice date (see Fees section below)
2. Complete or update membership form annually
3. Self-nominate and serve on Steering Committee and other committees or juries
4. Participate proactively in collaboration initiatives, in network dialogue, and in the exchange of resources and services across the network
5. Support the administration of NAAS-related events in your area
6. Enhance the health and dynamism of the network
7. Integrate NAAS acknowledgments into communications activities

 

Privileges - Core Membership

1. Exchange and collaborate with core and affiliate members
2. Engage in the governance of NAAS and participate in committees and juries
3. Stewardship opportunity to shape and implement network-wide initiatives and projects
4. Increased visibility resulting from NAAS communications initiatives
5. Access to film programs, film festivals, networking events, trainings and workshops at reduced fees, and other opportunities via NAAS
6. Access to programs and other resources provided by NAAS
7. Access to consultancy services provided by the staff and independent experts

 

2. Affiliate Membership

Eligibility Requirements - Affiliate Membership

1. Applicant must demonstrate sovereignty in finances and activities.
2. Applicant is one or more of the following:

           - Media and publishing platform

           - Educational initiative

           - Network

 

Obligations - Affiliate Membership

1. Pay annual membership fee of $50 (fifty USD) within sixty (60) days of invoice date (see Fees section below)
2. Complete or update membership form annually
3. Self-nominate and serve on Steering Committee
4. Participate proactively in collaboration initiatives, in network dialogue, and in the exchange of resources and services across the network
5. Enhance the health and dynamism of the network
6. Integrate NAAS acknowledgments into communications activities

 

Privileges - Affiliate Membership

1. Exchange and collaborate with core and affiliate members
2. Increased visibility resulting from NAAS communications initiatives
3. Access to film programs, film festivals, networking events, trainings and workshops at reduced fees, and other opportunities via NAAS
4. Access to programs and other resources provided by NAAS
5. Access to consultancy services provided by the staff and independent experts

 

Membership Procedure:

 

Applicants who fulfill the relevant eligibility requirements may complete the membership form.

 

NAAS accepts new membership forms on an ongoing basis, and they are reviewed annually by the staff, which shares the list of qualified applicants with current members to consult them for a  period of two weeks. Accordingly, the staff makes recommendations to the Steering Committee and Administrative Board, both of whom must authorize decisions to accept or reject applications. The staff may request to conduct an interview with applicants.

 

Once a new applicant is accepted as a member, NAAS will issue a letter confirming the membership category, and the applicant will sign a deed of adherence to this policy. If the new applicant is denied membership, the reason for the decision will be outlined in a letter.

 

Members must update the membership form on an annual basis. The staff, Administrative Board, and Steering Committee assess and review all memberships on an annual basis, taking into consideration the circumstances and contexts of applicants.

 

Current members may apply for a different membership category if their eligibility has changed.

 

Members are required to integrate NAAS acknowledgments into their communications activities upon signature of the memorandum and to pay the annual membership fee sixty (60) days of invoice.

 

Membership Fees:

NAAS uses a flexible sliding scale for the membership fee system that is adjustable to accommodate its members’ specific context and economic situation. We, therefore, invite our members to contribute with the amount they deem affordable and fair to them. Thus, the amount of $150 for core members and $50 for affiliate members is a suggested contribution rather than an obligation.

NAAS recognises the support gesture of members who wish to contribute an amount higher than the proposed annual membership fee to make the services provided by the network accessible to all regardless of their financial situation.

Membership Cancellation:

 

Membership is canceled in the following  cases:

 

1. A member submits a cancellation request.
2. A decision by the Administrative Board and Steering Committee to cancel a membership for the following reasons:

                - A member does not fulfill one or more of the relevant conditions and/or eligibility requirements.

                - A member violates the shared values of NAAS and/or the objectives of the organization as per its bylaws

                - Incapacity to follow through with commitments of membership as stated herein

 

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