MOTHERLAND LENS
A journey through roots, reflection, and cinematic storytelling.
OUR STORY
INTRO
Motherland Lens is a cultural filmmaking exchange where young filmmakers travel to countries connected to their heritage to create films about identity, dislocation, and discovery. It’s not tourism—it’s a creative reckoning. Teens immerse themselves in unfamiliar-yet-familiar spaces to explore who they are, what they’ve inherited, and what they’re becoming.
WHEN
4-week online international workshop (October 2025)
HOW
International filmmaking residency, including travel, mentorship, and production support
WHO
Emerging filmmakers ages 16–24 with cultural ties to the host country
GUESTS
Hosted in collaboration with local artists, educators, and filmmakers
SCHEDULE
PRE-TRIP
- Identity and story development workshops
- Virtual meetups with mentors and local collaborators
ON THE GROUND
- 10–14 day immersive stay in the host country
- Guided reflection, interviews, and cultural experiences
- Filming an original short about personal or ancestral identity
POST-TRIP
- Editing support and festival submission guidance
- Participation in a virtual showcase + Q&A
FAQs
Got questions? Want to bring this to your city?
Lead the way
In this fast-paced, creative internship, youth lead the way.
Share your vision
You’ll plan and host an arts-based community event that brings people together and shares your vision.
Take charge
From media to outreach, you’re in charge—with support from mentors, tools, and each other.
SUMMARY
Motherland Lens gives young filmmakers the chance to create a film about cultural shock and self-discovery from the inside out. Whether it’s the land of their parents or generations back, each participant explores unfamiliar terrain to document what home means, what changes across borders—and what stays ineffably the same.
It’s filmmaking as reflection, as reunion, and as resistance to cultural erasure. With mentorship, community, and deep-rooted storytelling, participants return with more than a film—they return with clarity, connection, and voice.
Interested in joining the next cohort or hosting Motherland Lens in your country? Let’s connect.
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Ineffable Films is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.
