Open Call for UK Filmmaker
We are inviting applications from British or UK-based filmmakers to lead a workshop on the topic Cinema in Defence of the Territory.
Programme Title: “Cinema in Defence of the Territory” Workshop at Muyuna Fest 2026
Application Deadline: March 13 at 23:59 GMT
Programme Dates: 10 days, between May 5th and 25th — with exact arrival and departure dates to be discussed with the selected filmmaker
Location: In person in Iquitos (Peru), in the Amazon rainforest
Eligible Applicants: British or UK-based filmmakers working primarily in documentary cinema, with a focus on investigative, environmental, territorial, or social justice storytelling.
Project Overview
British Council is funding a knowledge and cultural exchange programme curated by
ClimateCulture within
Muyuna Fest 2026 to support intercultural dialogue between British and UK-based filmmakers and Amazonian cultural practitioners, environmental advocates, and indigenous communities.
Muyuna Fest is a floating film festival located in Iquitos, Peru, deep in the Amazon rainforest. Their mission is to amplify jungle-based storytelling, empower Indigenous creators, and defend territories through audiovisual sovereignty. They aim to create a participatory space for exchange and resistance — a cultural bridge between the jungle and the world — where rainforest communities can reflect on climate justice, cultural memory, and shared struggles. Their activities include community-based workshops, environmental dialogues, and screenings in areas where cinema rarely reaches — from wooden stages in the floating neighbourhood of Belén, to itinerant boats travelling down the Amazon river bringing workshops to river communities.
ClimateCulture is a UK-based arts organisation of creatives, curators, and connectors dedicated to climate storytelling that empowers people to take meaningful climate action. We specialise in climate cinema and cultural change, with experience curating films from more than 40 countries and platforming underrepresented and Indigenous voices. We have embedded environmental programmes within international film festivals, including Los Cabos International Film Festival (Mexico) and Aesthetica Short Film Festival (UK), and have curated multidisciplinary cultural programmes for institutions such as the Goethe-Institut and the Institut Français.
Within this framework, we are seeking one British or UK-based filmmaker to deliver an in-person masterclass titled Cinema in Defence of the Territory.
The chosen filmmaker will deliver the workshop aboard the Encuentro de las Aguas boat (subject to change depending on local conditions) — a floating laboratory that brings together Indigenous Amazonian and local Iquitos communities for shared learning and knowledge exchange.
The topic of the workshop will focus on documentary film as a tool for territorial defence, environmental protection, and worldwide awareness raising. The workshop will foreground indigeneity and forest defence, examining documentary practice as a form of international advocacy, testimony, and political resistance.
The chosen filmmaker will be supported in the creation of the workshop content and materials by the event’s curators, over the span of three online sessions in April 2026.
This filmmaker-led workshop will sit alongside a broader programme of knowledge-sharing workshops between ClimateCulture and Muyuna. It will contribute directly to the programme’s goal of fostering cultural exchange, skills transfer, and climate action for the benefit of forest defenders.
About the TaskWe are looking for a British or UK-based filmmaker with the ability to engage with the following themes, facilitate an engaging workshop, and present it to a small audience:
• Explore investigative documentary cinema as a practice of resistance, advocacy, and awareness raising.
• Share practical tools for researching, filming, producing, and/or distributing documentaries that successfully generate international visibility on social justice and environmental topics.
• Reflect on the ethical responsibilities of filmmakers working with frontline communities and culturally diverse worldviews.
Workshop FormatThe selected filmmaker will deliver one in-person masterclass, with the following features:
• A short talk drawn from the filmmaker’s own practice
• Actionable best practices for one or multiple of these topics: effective storytelling, investigative methods, awareness raising, production, or social media and festivals distribution
• Hands-on components that enable active participation, e.g. a practical exercise.
• The presentation deck should include strong visual elements, such as images and video clips.
• ClimateCulture and Muyuna will assist throughout with the workshop’s content structuring and presentation design.
• Filmmaking equipment can be provided for practical exercises.
• The workshop will be professionally recorded and made available for digital broadcasting as part of the programme’s legacy.
• The workshop must be designed to be accessible to participants with a wide range of educational backgrounds and literacy levels.
• The workshop will be delivered in English, with a live Spanish translator.
We’re interested in a filmmaker who:
• Works primarily in documentary cinema, with a strong investigative or social justice approach.
• Explores filmmaking as a practice of resistance, advocacy, and awareness raising.
• Is comfortable facilitating discussions, presenting to a small audience, and interacting with participants.
• Approaches filmmaking with a strong ethical framework and commitment to positive impact.
• Has experience engaging with one or multiple of these themes in at least one completed film: Environmental justice; Climate change and extractivism; Indigenous rights; Land and territorial struggles; Rainforest protection; Social justice advocacy.
• Applicants must be British nationals and/or UK residents (with a minimum of three years’ filmmaking experience in the UK).
• At least 5 years’ professional experience in documentary filmmaking or equivalent practice (e.g. documentary photography or socially engaged fiction film).
• A track record of work engaging with environmental, social, or territorial issues.
• Full availability to participate in and attend Muyuna 2026.
• Fluency in English. Spanish is an asset but not required.
• Willingness and ability to lead participatory workshops and engage in dialogue with diverse audiences.
• Willingness and ability to work respectfully within indigenous and community-led contexts.
Physical Fitness and Environmental ConditionsApplicants should be:
• In good physical health, capable of adapting to Amazonian rainforest conditions, where medical facilities and accessibility support are limited.
• Prepared to work in a tropical environment, with exposure to wildlife, insects, heat, humidity, mud, and heavy rain.
• Flexible and adaptable regarding changing schedules and travel plans. The itinerary must remain flexible to accommodate the changeable and unpredictable conditions of the rainforest.
• Prepared for simple accommodation and transport arrangements. For example, the workshops are likely to take place on a boat travelling for multiple days along the Amazon River. Accommodation on the boat may be basic (e.g. hammocks on deck rather than private cabins).
• Return flights from the UK to Iquitos, Peru.
• Accommodation for the duration of the stay.
• £500 workshop facilitation honorarium.
• Logistical support from Muyuna.
• Workshop development and presentation design support from ClimateCulture.
• Opportunity to experience time in the Amazon rainforest and to enjoy other Muyuna 2026 festival activities (outside allotted workshop time).
• Opportunity to build long-term relationships with Amazonian cultural and environmental networks.
Note: Healthcare (such as vaccinations or travel health insurance) and meals are not provided.
Further InformationFor questions or additional information, please contact: info@climateculture.earth
Selection ProcessShortlisted candidates may be invited for an informal interview. Applicants will be notified via email by March 30.
How to ApplyThe deadline for applications is March 13 at 23:59 GMT. Applications should be submitted via the application form below.
Applicants must be either British nationals or UK residents (with a minimum of three years’ filmmaking experience in the UK).
Are you currently a UK resident?
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Are you currently a UK resident?
How many years of professional film experience have you had in the UK?
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Please include your public-facing bio. This may be used for marketing purposes if selected.
Portfolio / Showreel link
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Links to 2–3 completed documentary works (or excerpts). You're welcome to add brief contextual descriptions, if relevant. At least one of these works should engage with environmental, indigenous, or social justice topics.
Why does this programme align with your practice? How you would approach the Cinema in Defence of the Territory masterclass? What you hope to contribute to and learn from the Muyuna context? Do you have any prior experience facilitating workshops, talks, or participatory sessions?
Logistics and Availability
I'm available to attend the programme in person in Iquitos (Peru) for 10 days between May 5th and 25th (exact arrival and departure dates TBC)
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I'm available to attend the programme in person in Iquitos (Peru) for 10 days between May 5th and 25th (exact arrival and departure dates TBC)
I'm willing to work respectfully in Indigenous and community-led contexts
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I'm willing to work respectfully in Indigenous and community-led contexts
I'm in good physical health and willing to work in remote Amazonian rainforest conditions
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I'm in good physical health and willing to work in remote Amazonian rainforest conditions
I understand that plans (e.g. locations, dates, daily schedules, etc.) might be subject to change due to the unpredictable rainforest conditions
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I understand that plans (e.g. locations, dates, daily schedules, etc.) might be subject to change due to the unpredictable rainforest conditions
(Optional) Any other comments or information you'd like to share with us?
