Dutch-American creative duo Eline Jongsma and Kel O’Neill (Jongsma + O’Neill) use documentary and XR storytelling to explore history’s impact on today’s society. They created His Name Is My Name, an Instagram-based documentary about family secrets and the legacy of WWII.
 
At the heart of His Name is My Name is the personal journey of one of its makers, Eline Jongsma. Jongsma grew up unaware that her great-grandfather was a Nazi-aligned mayor famous for his penchant for violence. Known as Gekke Gerrit, (“Crazy Gerry”), this hidden ancestor was wiped from the family history after the war. But secrets can’t stay hidden forever, and once Jongsma discovers Gerrit’s existence, she becomes obsessed with reconstructing his story—even if it means finding out that he may not be the only perpetrator hiding in her family tree.

Part detective thriller and part personal visual essay, His Name Is My Name tracks Eline’s investigation into her family’s history, and shines a light into a still-dark corner of The Netherlands’ past. His Name Is My Name won the special jury award for creative technology at IDFA in 2022, and has been especially adapted into a 33 minute film with the help of IDFA and Kamp Westerbork. 

The documentary can be watched in De Balie prior to the programme Vergiftigde tijden met George Friedrich Haas.

Dutch-American creative duo Eline Jongsma and Kel O’Neill (Jongsma + O’Neill) use documentary and XR storytelling to explore history’s impact on today’s society. They created His Name Is My Name, an Instagram-based documentary about family secrets and the legacy of WWII.
 
At the heart of His Name is My Name is the personal journey of one of its makers, Eline Jongsma. Jongsma grew up unaware that her great-grandfather was a Nazi-aligned mayor famous for his penchant for violence. Known as Gekke Gerrit, (“Crazy Gerry”), this hidden ancestor was wiped from the family history after the war. But secrets can’t stay hidden forever, and once Jongsma discovers Gerrit’s existence, she becomes obsessed with reconstructing his story—even if it means finding out that he may not be the only perpetrator hiding in her family tree.

Part detective thriller and part personal visual essay, His Name Is My Name tracks Eline’s investigation into her family’s history, and shines a light into a still-dark corner of The Netherlands’ past. His Name Is My Name won the special jury award for creative technology at IDFA in 2022, and has been especially adapted into a 33 minute film with the help of IDFA and Kamp Westerbork. 

The documentary can be watched in De Balie prior to the programme Vergiftigde tijden met George Friedrich Haas.

This weekend is we present a special programme dedicated to Jacob Israël de Haan (1881-1924), a Dutch poet, writer, and journalist. A writer who continuously sought controversy, a hero to some, an enemy to others. The film screenings commemorate Jacob Israël de Haan, who was murdered 100 years ago today. Emile Fallaux and Zvi Landsman present films exploring different facets of this Jewish queer poet, writer, and journalist.

Following the screening of The Battle of Jacob Israël de Haan, there will be a short showing of a fragment from Emile Fallaux’s documentary The End That Nobody Can Reverse (1992). Afterwards, a Q&A session will be held with director and journalist Emile Fallaux and director Zvi Landsman.

Toen de Nederlandse schilder Pieter Athmer ontdekte dat Hockney in Normandië ging wonen, was zijn grote inspirator plotseling dichtbij. Hij besloot een speciaal schilderij te maken waarmee hij hoopte de man te ontmoeten die de manier waarop hij naar zijn leven keek veranderde. Zijn goede vriend, regisseur Gerardjan Rijnders, zag er meteen een documentaire in en samen vertrokken ze met die verrassing op een roadtrip van Amsterdam naar Hockney in Normandië.

David Hockney (86) is zowel de bekendste als populairste levende schilder van dit moment. Er gaat nooit een moment voorbij dat er ergens ter wereld geen grote tentoonstelling van zijn werk is. Zijn schilderij Portrait of an Artist uit 1972 werd in 2018 verkocht voor $ 90 miljoen. Niet alleen is hij een zeer succesvol kunstenaar, hij is ook een vernieuwer op het gebied van perspectief in zowel fotografie als schilderkunst. En hij is de ontdekker van geheimen en verloren gegane kennis van de oude meesters, waarmee hij voor veel opschudding in de kunstwereld heeft gezorgd.

De nieuwste persoonlijke documentaire van bekroond regisseur Rogier Kappers.

‘Glas, mijn onvervulde leven’ is het coming of age verhaal van een 52-jarige man die een oude kinderdoom najaagt: beroemd worden op de zingende glazen! In deze docu-komedie volgen we onze (anti)held op zijn soms hilarische en ontroerende zoektocht naar roem, liefde en fortuin. Van het eigenhandig bouwen van zijn eerste glasorgel tot een gepassioneerde ontmoeting met de wereld beroemde componist Arvo Part; van zijn eerste schreden op straat tot een rampzalig avontuur in Dubai. En dan nog die nooit verwachtte ‘grande finale’

Een feest der herkenning voor velen onder ons, en een viering van de eeuwige aantrekkingskracht van muziek en de liefde!

To find shelter in Paris, the young painter Yasmine must change her identity. This shock takes her back to the hidden life of her parents, who died at her birth when Algeria fell victim to terrorism. Searching for her story through her life as an artist, Yasmine will find light by discovering the secret she carries with her.

After the viewing we talk with the filmdirector and writer Hamdi. She made a breakthrough in the film world with the adaptation of her first novel “Dolls and Angels” with Leïla Bekhti, Karina Testa, Samy Naceri, Léa Seydoux.

In juni 2020 was het 50 jaar geleden dat het Holland Pop Festival in het Kralingse Bos in Rotterdam plaatsvond. Dit festival, dat bekend stond als het Europese antwoord op Woodstock, was een mijlpaal in de Europese muziekgeschiedenis. Het was het eerste grootschalige evenement in Europa waar bezoekers ook op het festivalterrein konden overnachten.

Bijna 100.000 mensen kwamen gedurende drie dagen samen op het festivalterrein, gedreven door een sfeer van love, peace and happiness, om te luisteren naar legendarische bands als Santana, Jefferson Airplane en Pink Floyd.

In deze documentaire over dit historische evenement worden onder andere de voormalige organisatoren geïnterviewd en verzamelt Ferri Ronteltap archiefbeelden om een levendig beeld te schetsen van deze bijzondere periode in de geschiedenis van de muziek.

The Last Queen (La Dernière Reine) is set in Algeria, 1516. The pirate Aroudj Barbarossa liberates Algiers from the tyranny of the Spaniards and seizes control of the kingdom. Rumor has it that he murdered King Salim Toumi, despite their alliance. Against all odds, a woman will stand up to him: Queen Zaphira. Between history and legend, the journey of this woman recounts a struggle, personal and political upheavals she endured for the well-being of Algiers…

The Maghreb Film Festival

The Maghreb Film Festival was started in Haarlem by Brothers Hakim and Karim Traïdia to showcase films by independent North African makers. In its four previous editions the festival introduced a young but lively film tradition to Dutch audiences.
In 2024, De Balie collaborates for the second time with MFF, with a curated selection of their 2024 program. We offer a window to current cinema from Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, by presenting one film from each of these countries, followed by conversations with the filmmakers.

https://maghrebfilmfestival.com/

Information about the speaker

Mehdi Benaissa is a film producer who studied at the famous Parisian school Femis. He is known for producing films such as Algeria from Above and Feet on the Ground.

Leila Touchi is an Algerian actress who is a member of the Algerian National Theater since 2011.
Besides theater roles, she played in films such as Freedom by Tunisian director Khaled Hadi, Qradoun by Sarah el Hamed and Phony Cinema by Bahia Allouache.

Glass of Friendship (Le verre de l’amitie) tells the story of a group of friends who meet again after twenty years. Ahmed, his wife Souad and their friend Rachid were supposed to spend a few quiet days by the sea, under the sun. However, this reunion unfolds differently and reveals various secrets from the past.

The Maghreb Film Festival

The Maghreb Film Festival was started in Haarlem by Brothers Hakim and Karim Traïdia to showcase films by independent North African makers. In its four previous editions the festival introduced a young but lively film tradition to Dutch audiences.
In 2024, De Balie collaborates for the second time with MFF, with a curated selection of their 2024 program. We offer a window to current cinema from Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, by presenting one film from each of these countries, followed by conversations with the filmmakers.

https://maghrebfilmfestival.com/