Documentary Circles Rural Youth Exchange
Young people from four European countries gathered in Valchiusella to tell their stories through participatory cinema
Alice Superiore, Valchiusella (Italy), June 2026
From 4 to 14 June 2026, the Valchiusella valley in the Italian Alps hosted DC-RYE – Documentary Circles Rural Youth Exchange, an international Erasmus+ youth exchange organised by AUDRA APS that brought together 30 young people under 30 from Italy, Hungary, Greece and Spain for ten days of participatory documentary filmmaking, intercultural exchange and collective storytelling.
About the Project
DC-RYE offered participants a full-immersion residential experience in a rural Alpine setting, combining creative practice with non-formal education methods. Working in small international teams, participants designed, filmed and edited short participatory documentaries using only smartphones and free editing tools, making the process accessible regardless of prior experience.
The exchange created an inclusive space where young people from diverse backgrounds, including rural areas, urban contexts and those with fewer opportunities, could meet, share experiences and tell stories that mattered to them. Through collaborative work and reflective group processes, participants strengthened transversal competences such as teamwork, empathetic listening, communication, creativity and self-confidence, while exploring themes of identity, community, belonging and sustainability.
The Documentary Circles method
At the heart of the exchange was the Documentary Circles method, developed and systematised by Giulia Attanasio and Dario Ferraro of AUDRA APS. The methodology combines the contemplative aesthetics of slow cinema, the relational practices of the Way of Council and the Circle Way, the community storytelling approach of the Story Circles developed by Roadside Theater in the United States, and the intuitive awareness of embodied filmmaking.
Documentary Circles understands participatory documentary as a practice of deep listening and shared authorship, where stories emerge from lived experience, memory, the body and a sense of connection to place. The method offers an accessible, inclusive and empowering process of digital storytelling, centred on relational depth, slowness and the collective construction of content.
Among its documented impacts: strengthening of creative autonomy, building of trust and connections within groups, development of narrative skills and media literacy, and the production of authentic works capable of valorising cultural diversity and supporting community resilience.
The exchange
Participants were guided throughout the process by facilitators Giulia Attanasio, Dario Ferraro and Valentina Corrado. Daily activities included storytelling circles, practical filmmaking workshops, embodied theatre and movement exercises, outdoor experiences in the valley’s natural landscape, and regular reflection times. Intercultural evenings and participant-led sessions allowed the group to connect their artistic exploration with broader questions of civic engagement and community life.
All activities took place at the municipal theatre of Alice Superiore and in the surrounding natural environment. Participants and facilitators were hosted at a community-managed hostel in the village. Meals were entirely plant-based, prepared by a local social project in line with the association’s values of ecological sustainability.
Public Screening
The exchange culminated in a public screening open to the local community, held on Friday 13 June at the Pluriuso di Alice Superiore. Participants presented the short films they had co-created during the ten days, in an evening that brought together locals, guests and the international group around the stories and perspectives that emerged from the project.
About AUDRA APS
AUDRA APS is a young association based in Valchiusella, founded in 2023. It works at the intersection of participatory arts, regenerative cultures and youth work, using tools such as community music, social theatre, participatory cinema and group facilitation for community building, youth engagement and local development. DC-RYE confirms AUDRA’s commitment to promoting active youth participation, intercultural dialogue and the valorisation of European rural communities through innovative artistic and narrative practices.
Project landing page: https://www.audra.it/projects/dc-rye/
Link to the short films: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5v5OpWMQUk&list=PLHINf8fQtSWY
Contact
Project Manager: Giulia Attanasio / giulia@audra.it
Logistics: Davide Giachino / dm.giachino@gmail.com
General: info@audra.it