Rewriting the Self – Cinema as a Laboratory of Becoming is a new participatory initiative of ALFILM Arab Film Festival Berlin in collaboration with the Network of Arab Alternative Screens (NAAS). The project reimagines cinema as a collective practice that can strengthen Arab –diaspora– communities in the face of political and social upheavals. The workshop works on transforming spectators into writers and cultural mediators, aspiring to position the festival as both a site of exhibition, and a space for shared intellectual inquiry and imaginative becoming.

The participants will undergo a preparatory session before the festival and a concluding workshop afterward, through which they will take part in an intensive programme. Combining film analysis, reflections on Arab cinema history, and creative-critical writing exercises, the workshop encourages participants to engage deeply with the films screened.

The programme culminates in the potential publication of original essays or creative texts in Arabic on Malaffat.

Workshop Overview

Through the workshop, participants will develop short creative pieces inspired by the films screened during the festival. These works will be published on Malaffat.

The workshop will consist of three sessions:

20 April 2026 - Introductory Session (Virtual)
Introduction to the workshop's concept, the organizing institutions (ALFILM and NAAS), and the mentors, as well as familiarizing the Participants with the festival schedule and screenings. The session will provide an opportunity for participants to share their interests, expectations, and initial ideas.

24 - 30 April 2026 - Attending ALFILM (In Person)
Participants will attend the ALFILM Festival and watch a selection of screenings as part of the program.

07 - 08 May 2026 - Intensive Workshop (In Person)
Participants will attend a two-day workshop on writing and film-criticism. During these sessions, mentors will guide them through key topics such as reading film and writing about film, supporting them in developing their creative responses to the films they have seen.

Eligibility Criteria

This call is open to emerging critics, writers, film students, cultural journalists, and artists interested in writing about cinema. Applicants must:

• Be based in Berlin or able to attend the workshop in Berlin
• Be available to attend the festival screenings and all workshop sessions
• Demonstrate an interest in film criticism, cinema studies, or creative writing
• Have basic writing experience (published or unpublished)

No formal academic background is required.

Key Dates

• Applications open: 18 March
• Applications close: 31 March
• Selected participants will be announced on: 10 April
• Introductory Session (virtual): 20 April
• ALFILM Attendance: 22 - 28 April
• Intensive Workshop (In Person) : 7 - 8 May

To apply, please fill out this application form until March 31st.

Please note: 

• The workshop is in person
• No travel or accommodation support will be provided
• Participation is limited to 6 participants
• The participants will be granted free entry to ALFILM Screenings and Panels
• The participants are required to produce a written output within  one month after the workshop, with the possibility of it being published on Malaffat