Hosted by Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision

What does history tell us, and what hidden stories need to be retold?
Every society has its secrets and dark histories, hidden beneath a veil of time. There have always been fabricated narratives bending public opinion to the will of an individual or group, and pushing painful events into oblivion. Clashing interests among different players in the public sphere influence our readings of history every day. So it is hugely important that humanity keep an eye on history repeating cycles of violence and repression, especially now, as our universe becomes increasingly digital. Archives around the globe are valuable witnesses and fact-keepers of the past, and filmmakers often turn to them for answers while researching stories that need to be told. But how to get access to these witnesses, and how to approach often controversial images and information; how to process all that pain in a documentary film? Nominated for the Beeld & Geluid IDFA ReFrameAward, three filmmakers discuss their methods and reflect on the current need to address the narratives of the past. 

Speakers: Thunska Pansittivorakul (Dir. Damnatio Memoriae), Tessa Leuwsha (dir. Mother Suriname-Mama Sranan), João Pedro Bim (dir. Behind Closed Doors)
Moderator: Kris Petrasova (Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision)