Cinemata Community Curators

Open Call for Film Programme Proposals

Cinemata is inviting curators, programmers, and cultural workers to propose film programmes as part of the Cinemata Community Curators initiative.

The programme supports a more open, decentralised, and community-led approach to curating films on Cinemata. It is designed to nurture curatorial practice, foreground voices from across the Asia-Pacific, and activate Cinemata as a living platform for shared viewing, dialogue, and exchange.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

We are looking for original, thoughtful, and community-rooted film programme proposals that engage with social realities, lived experiences, and urgent conversations in the Asia-Pacific region. We welcome proposals that are bold in perspective, playful in form, and grounded in care for audiences and filmmakers alike.

Applicants may come from film, media, education, arts, activism, or community organising backgrounds. Prior curatorial experience is a plus, but not required.

Selected Community Curators will be asked to:

  • Develop and curate at least one film programme for Cinemata, which will be scheduled for public featuring during an assigned month in 2026

  • Write accompanying curatorial texts

  • Propose a programme consisting of a minimum of ten (10) films, drawing from both films already on Cinemata and new films not yet on the platform, with an ideal balance of approximately 50–50.

  • Connect the Cinemata team to at least one potential community watch party partner (such as a community group, organisation, class, or film collective) who can host an onsite screening of the programme, with the films also available online on Cinemata.

  • Act as a Cinemata ambassador by introducing the platform to your networks, and helping connect Cinemata to new potential partners, filmmakers, and audiences in your local context.

Programmes may feature fiction, documentary, experimental works, animation, or hybrid forms. We particularly encourage short-form and mid-length works.

CURATORSHIP & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This programme is also a skills-sharpening and pathway initiative. Community Curators are expected to:

  • Source and recommend films for Cinemata as part of their curatorial practice.

  • Work within the provided curatorial frameworks and timelines

  • Engage with Cinemata’s editorial and programming team throughout the process

  • Make use of the Cinemata platform and provide insights and feedback for its developers

FEE & PRODUCTION SUPPORT

Selected curators will receive:

  • A curation fee of 150 USD

  • A programme budget of 400 USD to cover costs such as screening fees (or filmmaker honoraria, where applicable), and community engagement expenses

Further details on budget allocation and reporting will be provided to selected curators.

Priority will be given to proposals from low-cost production contexts and underrepresented communities and regions.

WHO CAN APPLY

We seek applications from individuals who are:

    • Passionate about advocating for social justice, civic spaces, and human rights.

    • Connected to, or familiar with, filmmaker and human rights networks across the Asia-Pacific, particularly in Southeast Asia

    • Keen to be part of a supportive regional community working at the intersection of film, advocacy, and social change

Required Criteria: 

    • Based in the Asia-Pacific, with priority given to Southeast Asia.

    • Proficient in English

    • Committed to completing the deliverables of the Cinemata Community Curators program

    • Willing to work with the Cinemata team in developing the film program

HOW APPLICATIONS ARE ASSESSED

Proposals will be reviewed by the Cinemata team and invited advisors.
Applications will be assessed based on:

  • Curatorial vision and clarity

  • Originality and relevance

  • Feasibility and timeline

  • Community engagement potential

  • Alignment with Cinemata’s values and platform goals

SUPPORT YOU WILL RECEIVE

Selected Community Curators will work closely with the Cinemata team, who will support:

  • Programme development and refinement

  • Inclusion to the Cinemata Curators Network

  • Film sourcing and platform coordination

  • Community screening and watch party planning

  • Access to Cinemata’s film pool and curatorial templates will be provided.

 

KEY DATES

  • Open Call Launch: 29 January

  • Application Deadline: 03 March

  • Announcement of Selected Curators: 17 March

 

APPLICATION FORM

Please fill out the form below to submit your application. Note: After attaching files or submitting, you may need to scroll up within the form to see confirmation messages or upload windows. If you encounter any problems with the embedded form, you can fill it out directly here.