[RECAP] March and April's Screening-Fundraisers for Lebanon
Looking at the numbers
March 2, 2026: Israel started carpet-bombing Dahiyeh in the middle of the night and a second escalation phase of the same war began, followed by their daily bombardment which created mass internal displacement across Lebanon.
March 11, 2026: I put out a call on Instagram: organizers can screen Buffer Zone if it’s used as part of a fundraiser for one of Lebanon’s mutual aid initiatives.
March 12, 2026: I posted an Instagram carousel with some guidelines.
The emailing and WhatsApp-calling began, as did the overall planning. I sent out the below newsletter as the number of screenings was building:
Fast-forward to today: the first week of May. Two months later.
Throughout this period, I kept track of logistics in a Google Sheet, including funds raised and where the money went. Once it was clear that there were going to be multiple screenings, I wanted to spread the love and donate to as many active groups as possible. None of the cash went through me and I forfeited my screening fees for all events. If any was offered, I asked that it be added to their donation pot.
From March 28 to April 30, Buffer Zone was part of 23 fundraising events in 17 cities across Australia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Some cities hosted more than one screening (Berlin and London are tied with three each) which were organized by different folks who reached out simultaneously. I coordinated between them to pool efforts, support, and/or not overlap in scheduling.
Some events were solely built around Buffer Zone while others featured a program of films, photography, musical performances, poetry, raffles, auctioned art, and food.
After Buffer Zone screened, Kareem Samara played oud for the crowd (London, U.K. - April 5, 2026 - video by Mysa Kafil-Hussain)
Other films screened with Buffer Zone included: Clips from Kuluna lil Watan by Maroun Baghdadi, Beirut, My City by Jocelyn Saab, Women Beyond Borders by Jean Chamoun & Mai Masri, From My Mother’s Novel by Fatima Joumaa, Sandcastles by Sabine Bou Jaoude, Yaroun by Zeinab Mahfoud, Manthour Bayrut by Farah Naboulsi, Where the Olives Are by Kay Ayach, The Tree of Hell by Raed Sinno, Forced to Flee South Lebanon by Hussein Bassal, Evacuate or Die by Elias Hissa, A Dream Pointing to Aadchit by Ghinwa Yassine.
I am listing all this to document but also to make it clear that the money raised was not due to my film alone. The community showed up in different ways through these events. Almost every one included a post-screening panel/discussion, Q&A over Zoom, or me answering submitted questions via WhatsApp voice notes while the audience was preoccupied with other parts of the program.
I’m in awe that about 85% of the organizers were online strangers I’d never met or even chatted with before. They were random people (mostly Lebanese, some not) volunteering to do something for Lebanon. I’m even more touched by how many young people from my village reached out to organize or connect, including a second-cousin who didn’t know we were related until I asked who his dad and teta were. I don’t think I would’ve “met” any of these great people if it weren’t for this mobilization but finding others from Kfarkila living in other parts of the world? That has been extra special to me too.
Soooooo…how much money was raised?
The total amount raised from these 23 screenings is around 55,000 USD1, donated in varying amounts to the following groups: Beit Aam, Lebanese Civil Defense, Alwen w Ahlem, Humans of Dahieh, Tanseqeye Shaabeye, Bake Atelier, Ghassan Abu Sittah Children’s Fund, Nation Station, Barzakh, Haven for Artists, Egna Legna Besidet, Hunna Art Center, Mashala Shelter, CAAP’s Disaster Relief Fund, Roots of Resistance with Buzuruna Juzuruna, the Lebanese University’s Student Union, Saida Initiative, AgriMovement, Jeyetna, Soufra Kitchen, Lebanese Wildlife, Ain Ebel Coop Fund, and individuals/families in the Bekaa and the South.
A HUMBLE & GRATEFUL THANKS to Grace & the NYC Collective for Lebanon, Sara B. & George from Homecoming Collective, Zeinab and Bayt Saleh, Samer, Lama & Laila, Sebastian, Nadia, Peter, Amar & Eliane, Aya & Dave, Tanya & Gabi from Falastin Film Festival, Rayo & Donuts, Rani, Rosie, Mariam & Hekayyatna, Zeinab S., Rindala, Rami, Aydin, Jad, the Nahda Project & Somerville for Palestine teams, all the people that helped these primary contacts out, AND all the venues that offered their spaces to host my new friends.
An additional thanks goes out to the audiences - those who attended and asked questions, a lot of which forced me to reflect during a period when I haven’t had the time or space to do so.
Honestly, I have not digested the volume of any of this. All I know is that the speed of it all has been an exercise in letting go of my tight hold over my (personal) film. However, I have loved waking up to messages from people who have attended an event and who have felt my work resonated with them. It has been bittersweet to feel our communities strengthened and supported in the midst of Israel’s ongoing attack on the region. Thank you all for giving Lebanon (and me) that.
VIEW UPCOMING SCREENINGS
(the above page is being updated as details are confirmed)
⚠️ If you would like to host an in-person fundraiser for Lebanon through a screening of Buffer Zone in your city, read the bottom of this page and reach out to me via email.
💚A note to Aanab News paid subscribers: I have donated all of the April subscription earnings (I’ve lost some subscribers so after deduction of the Substack cut and processing fees, the amount is at $220) on your behalf to Melissa Ajamian who is sourcing medication and supporting elderly/families from Kfarroumman. I hope to be back to writing again soon but thanks for sticking around despite my silence here.
I say around because the total is ~54,678 USD, knowing that two events did not track funds and just had people donate directly. If I assume each raised at least 150 USD, we’re at ~54,978 USD. I’m using the (~) because I’m also accounting for slight discrepancies due to exchange rates. I converted GBP, EUR, CAD, AUD to USD using XE.