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RESIDENCY PROGRAMME
The Residency Programme at The NGO International Film and Knowledge Forum is a transformative creative initiative designed to nurture emerging filmmakers, students, researchers, and multidisciplinary storytellers interested in the intersection of cinema and social impact.
Unlike traditional residencies, each edition of the programme is uniquely designed, evolving year to year to address different global issues, amplify new perspectives, and support diverse groups of participants—depending on the theme and purpose of that year’s Forum. This allows the residency to remain responsive, relevant, and deeply connected to the world’s most urgent conversations.
At its core, the programme blends hands-on experience, mentorship, and purposeful storytelling. Residents may engage in activities such as:
developing film or media projects aligned with our thematic pillars,
participating in workshops, masterclasses, and collaborative labs,
taking part in our acclaimed Student Review Programme, where curated films are analyzed with guidance from expert writers,
gaining practical, vocational skills across filmmaking, advocacy, research, and cultural production.
Each cohort’s journey is shaped around the needs, background, and goals of its participants, while maintaining THENGOIFKF’s commitment to using cinema as a tool for knowledge, dialogue, and social good.
The programme runs annually and culminates in a showcase during the Forum, offering residents international visibility and a platform to contribute meaningfully to global conversations.
Whether addressing climate justice, migration, gender, governance, or any theme selected for the year, the Residency Programme equips emerging voices with the tools to tell stories that matter and fosters a growing global community dedicated to impactful creative work.
Week 1: Foundations & Critical Perspectives
- Welcome & residency objectives
- Understanding film reviews as tools for social change
- Ethical considerations in critiquing films about sensitive issues
- The balance between critique and advocacy
- Reviewing reviews: Analyzing published critiques of social impact films
- Writing exercise: Reviewing a short impact-driven film collectively
- Analyzing cinematography, narrative, and symbolism in social issue films
- Screening & discussion: How films shape public discourse
- Writing exercise: Breaking down visual storytelling in a powerful scene
- Understanding cultural sensitivity & representation in film
- Finding your voice: Writing objectively vs. emotionally driven critique
- Guest session: “The Role of Critics in Social Movements”
- How structure influences messaging in different film formats
- Comparative exercise: Reviewing a documentary vs. a narrative film
- Screening session: Analyzing advocacy-driven storytelling techniques
- Workshop: How tone shapes the reader's perception
- Group debate: Constructive criticism vs. harsh critique in advocacy journalism
- Writing session: Crafting a review with impact-driven framing
- Students write a full film review
- Peer feedback exchange & critique session
- Individual meetings with mentors for personalized guidance
APPLICATION FORM
(Non students)