Chiara Bonfiglioli recently published her splendid book chapter about the DEFA filmproduction Die Windrose (1957, The Compass Rose) of which Joris Ivens was supervisor. ‘Die Windrose is a significant example of cross-border cooperation and provides important insights on the internationalists networks that developed after 1945 between Western-Europe, the Soviet Union and the Third World.’
Read more: Ivens' Compass Rose (1957) analyzed for its Gendered Imaginaries
Award winning Canadian documentary filmmaker Peter Davis presented his documentary Digging the Spanish Earth. Thanks to his interviews with Joris Ivens, Martha Gellhorn, Helen van Dongen and George Seldes, this film is of historical importance itself. Peter Davis also revisited locations in Madrid and Fuentedueña de Tajo where The Spanish Earth was shot in spring 1937.
The Afsluitdijk (Enclosure Dam), contructed between 1927 and 1933 is the 32 kilometer long dike which protects the Netherlands against water and flooding. Three designs of light and interaction ICOON AFSLUITDIJK developed by Daan Roosegaardeenhances its iconic status and will be opened for public on 17 November. Joris Ivens’ impressive footage about the construction of this dam will be part of the activities.
Read more: Ivens’film footage about the Enclosure Dam and Daan Roosegaarde’s design
Since six years Tian Wang (1976, Tongxiang 桐乡), is doing research for a dissertation about Joris Ivens and Modern China between 1938 and 1988. It was Régis Debray who advised her to study Ivens’ films in the framework of the theories of French historian Marc Ferro ‘Le film, l’agent et produit de l’Histoire’. For Tian Wang it is essential not only to study paper documents, but especially to meet and speak the people involved, both in China and the West.
Prof. Ariel Heryanto from Monash University in Melbourne lectured about Joris Ivens and Indonesia Calling in Djakarta. In his vivid presentation in Bahasa Indonesia (also a version with English subtitles is available) he discussed the tensed relationships between Indonesia, Australia and The Netherlands both back then and now. The opening sequence of Ivens' film showing an Australian society with diversity could be a model for their relationships. Since 22 October, when this film made by Jakarticus, was put on-line then thousands watched the film.
On 19 October a special ceremony at the Vietnam Film Institute (VFI) celibrated the transfer of solidarity films from The Netherlands to Vietnam. The films derive from the collections of the Medical Committee Netherlands-Vietnam and the Ivens Foundation. The ceremony, about which an item was broadcasted by national TV News, had been attended by Mr. Vuong Duy Bien, Vice Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism, Mrs. Nienke Trooster, Ambassador of the Netherlands in Vietnam, Mr. Vu Nguyen Hung, Director of Vietnam Film Institute, Mr Guus Paardekooper, Director Medical Committee Netherlands-Vietnam, Mrs. Xian Phuong (assistant during the Ivens films) and Ad Spijkers, advisor of the Ivens Foundation. This event marked a next step in the partnership between the VFI an dth eIvens Foundation, which will result in an Ivens-Conference in November 2018.
Read more: Continious Solidarity between The Netherlands and Vietnam
On 19 October the Vietnam Film Institute (VFI) in Hanoi is organizing a ceremony of the transfer of solidarity films from the Medical Committee Netherlands-Vietnam (MCNV) and the European Foundation Joris Ivens. Representatives of the Dutch Embassy, of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam, the director of the VFI , the director of the MCNV and the representative of the Ivens Foundation will be present when the 45 films will be handed over to the national film iinstute. Afterwards a study meeting will take place for the personnel of the VFI (200 collaborators).
Read more: Ceremony and Ivens study meeting Vietnam Film Institute
Almost 30 years ago Joris Ivens was awarded Honorary Citizen of his birthplace Nijmegen, thanks to mayor Ien Dales. Ivens himself, together with Marceline Loridan-Ivens, opened in October 1987 a small film theater in Cinemariënburg during the ceremonies. In a new renovated wing of the present film art house LUX (250.000 visitors per year) on 15 September again a new 'Joris Ivens cinema' will be opened. This cinema room is part of Studio LUX, especially dedicated to film education.
Read more: Joris Ivens Cinema in LUX: 'Around the World in 80 Films'
