ROOTS in Motion #6

Supporting local filmmakers is at the heart of everything we do. In addition to the annual ROOTS Film Festival, we are expanding our activities with ROOTS in Motion—an ongoing platform for film screenings, in-depth conversations, Q&As, and valuable networking opportunities.

In August, we are joining forces with Jong 1508, the youth working group of the National Commemoration Foundation for August 15, 1945. Jong 1508 is committed to telling the stories of the generations before us and breaking the silence surrounding war trauma. They do this in an inclusive way, with attention to different perspectives. In doing so, they share the story of our shared history—with respect for its diversity of experiences.

This collaboration takes place in the context of the commemoration of the end of World War II in the former Dutch East Indies. On August 15, we remember all the victims of the Japanese occupation in Southeast Asia and its painful aftermath—a history that still resonates today. Not only because of the arrival of thousands of Indo-Europeans in the Netherlands, but also due to the independence struggle that followed.

For this special edition of ROOTS in Motion, we are working with Jong 1508 to seek out short films that explore this complex and layered theme. In particular, we are looking for filmmakers whose backgrounds resonate with this commemoration—those who recognize themselves in this story and wish to reflect on this history from their own perspective. Films that create space for personal stories, collective memory, discomfort, and connection.

From the submissions, we will select a number of films to screen during a special film evening. After the screenings, we will engage in conversations with the filmmakers in Q&A sessions, offering space for deeper understanding, exchange, and new perspectives.