During the first half of my stay abroad, my experience has been very enriching and professionally meaningful. So far, I have had the opportunity to be involved in a wide variety of activities within the African Film Festival of Tarifa-Tangier, which has allowed me to gain a much deeper understanding of both the cultural and industrial dimensions of cinema.
One of the most valuable aspects of this experience has been learning about African cinema. Through a combination of dedicated classes on African film and the opportunity to watch a diverse range of movies, I have significantly broadened my knowledge of this field. I have learned not only about different cinematic styles and narratives, but also about the social, political, and cultural contexts that shape filmmaking across the African continent. This has helped me develop a more critical and informed perspective on global cinema as a whole.
In addition to the academic component, I have also been able to observe and participate in the inner workings of a film festival. I have gained insight into how the different departments of a festival operate, from funding and sponsorships to film programming, industry-related activities, and production management. Understanding how all these areas are interconnected has given me a much clearer idea of what it takes to organize an international cultural event of this scale.
Moreover, this experience has allowed me to better understand how the film industry functions beyond the creative process. I now have a clearer idea of how distribution works, the relationship between distributors and festivals, and the economic aspects behind film circulation, including costs, negotiation processes, and strategic decisions that determine how and where films are screened.
Throughout this collaboration, I have not encountered any major challenges that could not be overcome. On the contrary, any difficulties have served as learning opportunities, helping me to improve my adaptability, communication skills, and ability to work within a team in an international environment.
