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.
An exhibition 'Around the World in 80 films'
The opening event exists of a film program and an exhibition with photos of Joris Ivens' film career around the world. He made some 80 films in Europe, Asia, USA, Latin-America, Africa and Australia, that's why this exhibition is called 'Around the world in 80 films'. We see Joris Ivens with Sergej Eisenstein, Luis Bunuel, Federico Fellini, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, Robert Capa and other artists. Ivens was a film nomad wandering around the globe, shaping modern culture, especially as a pioneer of documentary film. Much earlier then any other artist in The Netherlands he envisioned the importance of emerging countries like the USA, Russia, China, as well as 'Thrid World'-countries which fought for their national independence like Indonesia, Mali, Cuba, Vietnam a.o.. At a time when The Netherlands still embraced a colonial gaze towards their colonies, and described Asians as 'yellow slanted eyes', Ivens had a much more modern and international view about the developments in the world.
During his film career Ivens took a special interest in supporting and training young filmmakers, in encourgaing and inspiring youngsters to create independent films, in whatever film genre. That's why it is very appropriate that a new Film HUB for film education is called after Joris Ivens.
With the support of Marceline Loridan-Ivens; the Ivens Family; Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, NL Film Fonds; ESJI.