REEF Festival Launches its 5th Edition

Featuring an Enriched Program of Collaborations and Unprecedented Activities

Kobayat from August 31 to September 4

Hermel from September 8 to September 10

Since its inception in 2019, the REEF Festival (Rural Encounters on Environment and films) has carved out a distinctive path in the Arab world, centering around the essence of natural heritage, cinema, and rural culture. Originating in Kobayat, Akkar, the festival's resounding success prompted its expansion to other regions of Lebanon. Following triumphant editions in Bisri Valley, Rashaya-Kfarmishki, and Hamana, REEF's organizing associations - the Akkar Council of Environment and Aflamuna (previously known as Beirut DC) - now unveil two new events this summer in Kobayat from August 31 to September 4 and in Hermel from September 8 to September 10.

In 2023, a central theme revolves around transformations: 

At the heart of REEF lies the organizers' commitment to provide disadvantaged and remote rural regions with direct access to culture and spaces for exchanging ideas about the preservation of their natural heritage. In the context of the ongoing socio-economic crisis, the renewal of this festival, which has been well-received by the local residents, demonstrates the desire to maintain a space for escapism, gathering, and reflection on issues related to the common good.

Ever attentive to the difficulties faced by the country, the organizers of REEF have chosen to approach the 2023 edition from the perspective of transformations. These transformations manifest as a series of modifications to the natural environment: geological changes, climate change, water pollution, deforestation, and migrations of animal species, leading to social, demographic, and cultural shifts. REEF 2023 will not only address the negative consequences of these endured transformations but also explore the alternatives and solutions arising from them: new sustainable lifestyles, consumption patterns, and movements of solidarity and cohesion. This overarching theme will be woven throughout various creative workshops, conferences, films, and field visits, involving experts, local stakeholders, and residents, with the aim of stimulating reflection and generating proposals.

Each year, a mascot is chosen to raise awareness among the inhabitants about the importance of protecting the fauna of their region. REEF 2023 will be symbolized by the turtle, thus alerting to the significance of safeguarding this species decimated by the devastating fires of 2021 and 2022.