Grimonprez invites us to explore his vast archives in six chapters

Festival

Friday, November 8

By Roxy Merrell

Guest of Honor Johan Grimonprez is renowned for his unparalleled approach to the visual essay in documentary film and visual arts, using expansive archival resources to interrogate how media shapes and distorts our understanding of our political and social histories. During IDFA, he invites us to explore the web of interconnections in six thematic chapters.

Grimonprez's works often deal with themes of global conflict, the media's role in constructing reality, and the ways in which the images we see shape our understanding of the world. His signature method of assembling fragmented historical footage allows him to offer new perspectives on complex global issues, often focusing on the manipulative power of media and its impact on collective memory.

During IDFA, Grimonprez invites us to explore the tip of the iceberg of his vast film archives. In an unconventional approach, his curated Retrospective and Top 10 selections will be shown in six thematic chapters. Shown from Friday November 15 to Wednesday November 20, these showcase the interconnections between the films and reveal key themes that guide his artistic practice.

Each chapter will be prefaced by an in-depth introduction by Grimonprez himself, during which the net is cast even wider—with archival clips, advertisements, music videos, film trailers, projects in process, fragments of films, and much more.

In our interview for Notes on a festival, Grimonprez explains: “For IDFA, I have curated several chapters of interconnected screenings that turn these archives—and with it my brain—inside out.” Dive into the workings of his mind below.