The residency opened in September 2021 with the 16mm Immersive Laboratory, a six-day programme held from 20 to 25 September and directed by Steve Cossman, founder and director of MONO NO AWARE, and Ricardo Leite, creator of the innovative technique “The Alchemy of Cinema”, which uses biodegradable materials for film development. As part of this approach, a small vegetable garden was created at Casa do Xisto, where participants planted mint, peppermint, fennel and thyme, plants with properties suitable for film processing. The intention was for this garden to be maintained and used by future participants, establishing a living resource for subsequent editions.

The laboratory brought together nine participants selected through an open call, coming from diverse locations including Los Angeles, Romania, and several regions in Portugal such as Lisbon, Trás-os-Montes, Porto, Viseu and the surrounding villages of the Barcelos municipality. The residency resulted in eighteen short films with open themes, often shaped by the natural and territorial context of the project. Nine black and white films were developed using caffenol under the guidance of Ricardo Leite, while nine colour films, shot on Kodak Ektachrome, were processed using traditional chemical methods led by Steve Cossman.

This edition marked a strong engagement with the local context of Macieira de Rates, reinforcing Casa do Xisto’s connection to its territory while expanding the circulation of the works to new audiences. The films were publicly presented in September as part of the Barlos event through a 16mm screening.

The presentation also included a live performance by Lula Pena, who created a sonic accompaniment to the films, resulting in an immersive experience that intertwined image, sound and space. This edition consolidated the project’s territorial and performative dimensions, affirming Casa do Xisto as an active agent within the cultural life of the region.