ENNESIMO FILM FESTIVAL, PIATTAFORMA LAGO, AND LAGO FILM FEST LAUNCH THE FIRST ARTISTIC RESIDENCY DEDICATED TO A PALESTINIAN FILMMAKER TO SUPPORT PALESTINIAN CINEMA AND KEEP THE FOCUS ON GAZA.
The project was born as a cultural and symbolic response to a historical moment of profound grief—a time when cultural institutions are called upon to take responsibility and refuse to remain silent. While we acknowledge that we lack the concrete tools to directly influence the course of events, we believe that the only possible and necessary action is to keep international attention focused on Gaza. We choose to take a stand by using the tools we know best: cinema, culture, research, and community engagement.
Not At Home Film Residency is a small yet deeply tangible gesture. The goal is to offer a Palestinian director a protected and fertile environment to focus on writing their next film, away from violence and instability. In this context, cinema is more than just a creative language: it is an act of memory, a vehicle for resistance, and an emotional and political archive. Providing space for Palestinian creation means contributing to the survival of stories, perspectives, and cultures that are currently at risk of being erased.
The residency will take place over four weeks, from April 6 to May 6, 2026. The first two weeks will be hosted by Piattaforma Lago and Lago Film Fest in the natural setting of Revine Lago, nestled between the mountains, the lakes, and the UNESCO heritage landscape of the Prosecco Hills. The second half will take place in Fiorano Modenese, with the residency’s closing event held during the Ennesimo Film Festival. Throughout the residency, the selected director will work on their film project, meet local communities, participate in public dialogues, and receive guidance from tutors and industry professionals, while collaborating on audiovisual materials documenting the journey.
«In a historical moment where cultural operators are asking themselves which side to take, Not At Home Film Residency is our way of responding with a concrete gesture. We cannot impact the rubble of history, but we can create a space where a Palestinian artist has the time, dignity, and freedom to continue storytelling. We believe in cinema as an act of memory and resistance; this residency stems from the desire to protect and amplify a perspective that today risks being silenced. It is a small project, but a necessary one. For us, it means choosing not to remain silent,” declares Viviana Carlet, Artistic Director of Piattaforma Lago
«Cinema has the power to convey messages, spark reflection, and tell stories. Every day, we work with students of all ages to help them understand the dynamics behind the construction of still and moving images, enabling them to better define the contemporary world around us. This is why we chose to promote this project: to never stop introducing younger generations to the world. Cinema is a means to encounter different worlds and cultures, and we firmly believe that only knowledge leads to dialogue, and only dialogue leads to knowledge,” concludes Federica Ferro, Director of Ennesimo Film Festival.
The call for applications is open to Palestinian filmmakers of any age, gender, and country of residence or domicile, regardless of their current artistic stage: writing, development, pre-production, post-production, or research. Applications are open until December 25, 2025, and the selected candidate will be announced by February 1, 2026.
On its own, the Not At Home Film Residency cannot change what is happening. However, it can offer a moment of suspension, a safe haven, and an authentic space to be heard. It can forge bonds, open up new narratives, and generate shared reflections. It can protect a unique way of looking at the world. This is how Piattaforma Lago, Ennesimo Film Festival, and Lago Film Fest choose to affirm their continued belief in the power of cinema, culture, and human encounter—and their refusal to remain silent.