The Council of Environment and Beirut DC are pleased to present the 4th edition of the Rural Encounters on Environment and film that will be held from September 1 to 4, 2022 in Kobeyat. 

Under the title of ZERO WASTE REEF, different forces and creative tools will combine to succeed in this mission, all while exploring important issues from our reality such as TREES and SOLIDARITY.

A year after holding an exceptional 3rd edition of REEF while Akkar was suffering from devastating wildfires, we are more and more involved and concerned about the situation of our trees in Lebanon that are continuously endangered by fire and massive cutting. 

As we believe that maintaining forests and tree species can combat climate change and protect biodiversity, we would like to raise awareness to save and preserve the trees of Akkar and of Lebanon by restoring a healthy relationship between individuals and forests.

The spotted hyena is an archetypal Lebanese solitary animal and an environmental privilege as it helps to make the forest “Zero Waste” by cleaning it from the carcasses. Contrary to their unpleasant reputation, hyenas are pacifist creatures. The myth of the attacking hyena appeared during World War I, when Mount Lebanon was under siege, resulting in famine and the spread of deadly diseases. Subsequently, some residents fled the area through the rugged mountains, where some perished, and hyenas fed on their corpses, leading people to think that the animals killed them to eat them. In reality, Lebanese hyenas fear humans and run away from them.

For all the mentioned reasons, we have decided that the hyena should be the mascot of REEF 2022.

The program of REEF 2022 contains a large pool of activities, workshops and films aiming at highlighting the mentioned themes and spreading environmental awareness. 

During the four days of the festival, there will be several hikes in Kobayat and in other neighboring regions to introduce the visitors and especially the youth to the diverse trees of Akkar: their stories, their properties, their role in preserving life and climate as well as conserving the soil. We will visit exceptional trees such as Firs (Abies Cilicica), Cedars, Junipers, and Arbutus. Information about these trees as well as unique stories and myths will be told by environmental and tree experts. 

A panel will also take place, shedding light on the endangerment of the trees. We will discuss solutions to restoring the old traditional approach of responsible behavior, which governed the relationship between the farmer and the trees on an individual scale, allowing residents to use the trees without cutting them but instead, pruning them. 

Local and international films will highlight the theme of TREES, portraying them as heroes of our planet. On the other hand, a Short Film Competition under the theme of Solidarity will also take place. We have selected films by young filmmakers that reflect on how individuals effectively work together to adapt to emerging socio-ecological disruptions and how collective initiatives reposition, support and sustain communities. 

Nine short Lebanese and Syrian films have been selected. Two of them will be awarded by a jury composed of Lebanese actress Christine Choueiri, Egyptian filmmaker Amal Ramsis and Spanish producer Felipe Lage Coro. A third prize will be awarded by the public. 

We have also set up several training courses and creative workshops to encourage young people and residents of Akkar to tell their own stories and speak out on prominent environmental and rural issues.

For the youngest, an animation workshop on Trees took place under the supervision of director Fadi Syriani (Youth Animation Platform). 

Another workshop led by filmmaker Amal Ramsis aims to encourage Women from Akkar of all ages and backgrounds to create short one-minute films.

All the short films made by the participants will also be presented during the festival.

ZERO WASTE training and implementation: 

Under the supervision of Engineer and Environmental Activist Ziad Abi Chaker, several trainings will start before REEF and will continue throughout the festival. We aim to spread the culture and knowledge of "Zero Waste" and implement it directly within the festival’s structure, recycling bins, ecological market and several  other elements. The food market waste will be directly oriented to composting. 

Climate story Lab day in Lebanon:

For the first time in Lebanon, Storytelling for Climate day invites a group of storytellers and environmental experts to imagine how Cinema can contribute to shifting the narrative around the climate crisis. Independent filmmakers will come together with environmental activists, organizations, and community leaders to listen to each other’s perspectives and needs and collectively brainstorm alliances and partnerships that can harness the power of film to change hearts, minds, and policies around environmental and climate issues in Lebanon and the Arab region.

Finally, as music has a special place in REEF, we have invited the Lebanese choir Al Fayha’a to add magic to our festival.

REEF’s extension- Rachaya Al Wadi (1-2 October 2022)

Since its establishment, REEF has been extending its activities to several rural areas in Lebanon and creating partnerships.  In 2020, we succeeded to make an extension to the Bisri valley.

This year, we’re extending REEF to Rachaya Al Wadi in the Beka’a. 

In partnership with “Rachaya and Beyond” eco-tourist association, we’ll be organizing an entire week-end of area discovery, discussing common environmental issues and holding open-air film screenings. We’ll also celebrate Yom Al Dibs day (The day of the grape molasses), which is a special Hiking and Dibs tasting day that Rachaya and Beyond has been organizing since 2016.

The Film program

 The list of films includes: 

• “Le Chêne '' (The Oak)  by Michel Seydoux and Laurent Charbonnier (Animation feature documentary, France)

• Costa Brava Lebanon by Mounia Akl (Feature fiction, Lebanon). 

• The Stranger by Ameer Fakhreddine (Feature fiction-Syria)

• The Hidden Life of Trees by Jörg Adolph and Jan Haft (Feature documentary-Germany)

• The Territory by Alex Ritz (Feature documentary-Bresil, UK, Denmark)

• Taming the Garden by Salome Jashi (Feature documentary-Switzerland, Georgia)

• Waters of Pastaza by Inês Alves (Feature Documentary-Portugal)

• Then Came Dark by Marie-Rose Osta (Short fiction,-Lebanon)

• Jacob, Mimi and the Talking Dogs by Edmunds Jansons (Animation feature-Poland). 

As well as the short films in competition around the theme of Solidarity.

 Films on aflamuna.online platform:

During  the month of September, we’ll be showing in Aflamuna some Arab films around the theme of Solidarity.

We tried to tackle the theme in its different forms, be it the social, the economic and the political aspects of Solidarity, hoping to shed light and bring some hope and positiveness while challenging the different levels of crisis that we’re living through. 

Our list includes:

• What Comes Around (Al Jam’iaa) by Rim Saleh- (Feature documentary/ Egypt-Lebanon)

• You Come from Afar by Amal Ramsis (Feature documentary/ Egypt- Spain)

• Counting Tiles by Cynthia Choucair ( Feature documentary/ Lebanon)

• The Wanted 18 by Amer Shmali ( Feature documentary/ Palestine)

• Yomeddine by  Abu Bakr Shawky (Feature fiction/ Egypt)

As well as the short film competition that will be open to audience voting.

This event is supported by the French Institute of Beirut, the Swiss Embassy, the British Council, PCPM, GIZ and Goethe Institute.

In partnership with Cedar Environmental, Cultural Salon and Aflamuna and our media partner City Cable.