Organizer Information
CASA PIP is an independent, artist-led residency platform based in rural central Portugal, dedicated to supporting filmmakers and audiovisual practitioners through slow, self-directed creative time in a natural environment. Unlike institutional or production-heavy residency models, CASA PIP is structured as a non-institutional, process-based retreat space designed to prioritize artistic freedom, reflection, and experimentation.
The initiative was developed by filmmakers in response to the growing need for accessible, unstructured creative environments where artists can step away from production pressures. CASA PIP operates outside of traditional funding hierarchies and instead focuses on providing material conditions for thinking, researching, and creating in isolation or collaboration, depending on the artist’s needs.
Its philosophy emphasizes artistic autonomy, allowing residents to define their own working rhythm, whether that involves intensive production, research-based development, or periods of rest and non-productivity.
Title & Description
CASA PIP Film & Moving Image Residency – Self-Directed Creative Retreat in Portugal
CASA PIP offers a free-of-charge, highly flexible Residency program for filmmakers and audiovisual artists seeking uninterrupted time in a quiet rural environment in Portugal. The residency is designed as a self-structured opportunity where participants are given full access to a private house in nature for up to one month.
The program has no fixed curriculum, no mandatory outputs, and no institutional schedule. Instead, residents are encouraged to determine their own artistic process, which may include research, writing, filming, editing, conceptual development, experimentation, or even rest and reflection.
The residency supports a wide range of moving image practices and welcomes artists working across all stages of film production and audiovisual creation. Participants may also bring collaborators, family members, or creative partners, making the residency adaptable to both individual and collective working methods.
CASA PIP is particularly focused on providing space for creative decompression, allowing artists to step outside industrial production timelines and engage with slower, more intuitive forms of artistic development.
Categories
- Video/Film
- Audiovisual
- Screenwriting
- Editing
- Cinematography
- Sound Design
- Composition
- Writing
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Research
- Experimental Film Practices
Eligibility
- Open to international applicants
- Suitable for individuals or small creative groups
- Filmmakers, writers, directors, editors, cinematographers, sound designers, composers, and related practitioners
- Applicants at all career stages are welcome
- Both structured project proposals and open-ended artistic inquiries are accepted
- Collaborative participation is allowed (including family or artistic partners)
Program Benefits & Awards
- Fully funded access to a private residential house for up to one month
- No accommodation or usage fees (free of charge, residency)
- Full autonomy over working methods and schedule
- Private, solo access to the residency house (no overlapping residents)
- Quiet rural environment designed for deep focus and experimentation
- Access to natural surroundings, including mountains, rivers, and nearby creative isolation spaces
- Optional use of bicycles and local mobility resources
- Opportunity to develop, research, or pause ongoing creative projects
- Flexible environment supporting both production and non-production states
This is not a production grant-based residency; instead, it is a space-based support model emphasizing time, access, and creative freedom.
Application Fee
€35 application fee (non-refundable)
Application Requirements
- Brief project description or statement of intent (can be structured or open-ended)
- Short artist biography
- Sample of previous work (film, video, or relevant audiovisual material)
- Optional description of intended activities during residency (research, production, experimentation, etc.)
Applications may range from highly specific project proposals to exploratory or conceptual intentions
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 31 July 2026
- Notification Date: 31 October 2026
- Residency Period: 2027 (1-month individual stays, scheduled per selected applicants)
- Duration per Resident: Up to 1 month
Location
Serra do Açor, Central Portugal
Additional Details
CASA PIP operates in a remote mountain village environment characterized by natural landscapes, rivers, and limited urban infrastructure. The residency house is a traditional multi-level village home featuring living spaces, a studio/work area, kitchen, and outdoor surroundings.
Residents should be aware that:
- The house is not fully accessible for individuals with mobility limitations (multiple floors, stairs only)
- Transportation is partially dependent on rural infrastructure (bicycles, walking, occasional buses, and taxis)
- The environment is intentionally quiet and isolated, supporting focused creative work
- Nearby towns provide basic amenities, markets, and services within reachable distance
The residency strongly encourages applicants interested in slow cinema, experimental moving image practices, conceptual development, and alternative creative workflows outside institutional production systems.