DC-RYE is a 9-day residential Erasmus+ Youth Exchange organised by AUDRA APS. From 4 to 14 June 2026, it brought together 30 young people and group leaders from Italy, Hungary, Greece and Spain in the village of Alice Superiore, Valchiusella, Italy, to explore participatory documentary filmmaking as a tool for connection, self-expression and intercultural dialogue.
DC-RYE invited participants to experience documentary filmmaking as an accessible, collective practice, not a technical skill reserved for experts, but a way of listening, observing and telling stories that matter.
Through the Documentary Circles method, the project explored how participatory filmmaking can:
The exchange combined filmmaking with spaces for reflection, circle practices and outdoor experiences, allowing participants to connect their creative process with broader themes of identity, belonging, community and sustainability.
DC-RYE offered participants a full-immersion experience in participatory documentary as a relational and creative practice. Developed by Giulia Attanasio and Dario Ferraro, the Documentary Circles method combines the contemplative aesthetics of slow cinema, the community storytelling approach of Story Circles, and the relational practices of the Way of Council and Circle Way, with the intuitive awareness of embodied filmmaking.
Working in small international teams, participants went through the full process of documentary creation: from idea development and listening circles, to filming in the valley’s landscapes, to editing their short films using smartphones and free tools. Stories emerged from shared observation, personal memory and a growing trust within the group, rather than from scripted production.
Alongside the filmmaking sessions, the programme included theatre, sound and movement exercises, intercultural learning activities, outdoor experiences along Valchiusella’s natural trails, and regular circle times for reflection and group cohesion.
Activities took place mainly in the municipal theatre of Alice Superiore, equipped with stage, light and sound system, and in nearby outdoor spots along the valley’s natural trails. Participants and facilitators were hosted at a community-managed hostel within walking distance.
All meals were plant-based, prepared by a local social project using regional ingredients whenever possible, in line with the association’s values of ecological sustainability and local economies.
Evenings alternated between intercultural nights, informal gatherings, and quiet spaces for rest. Throughout the exchange, Youthpass was used as a tool to recognise individual learning and transversal competences.
Beyond the residential experience, DC-RYE generated two main outputs
1. Participatory short films
Each international team produced a short participatory documentary, co-authored by the participants themselves. The films were presented to the local community during a public screening on 12 June 2026 at the Pluriuso di Alice Superiore. They are available on the AUDRA YouTube channel.
2. Public Screening
The exchange culminated in an open screening event bringing together participants, facilitators, local community members and guests. The evening celebrated collective authorship and the stories that emerged from ten days of shared living and filmmaking in the valley.
AUDRA coordination team for DC-RYE:
Giulia Attanasio (facilitation), Dario Ferraro (facilitation), Valentina Corrado (facilitation support), Davide Giachino (logistics and administration).
With the support and collaboration of:
Comune di Val di Chy
Ostello Casa di Alice
Circolo San Michele
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Italian Youth Agency. Neither the European Union nor Italian Youth Agency can be held responsible for them.