Het Puntje x Movies that Matter: A Fox Under A Pink Moon
This summer, we’re teaming up with beach pavilion Het Puntje to present a mini film festival at the northernmost tip of Scheveningen! In collaboration with Amalna Collective, we have selected three films that invite reflection, dialogue, and connection.
On Friday, 21 August, we will screen A Fox Under A Pink Moon (2025). Sixteen-year-old Afghan artist Soraya has spent five years trying to flee from Iran to Austria. Throughout this period, she filmed herself, documenting her escape attempts, her abusive marriage, and the drawings and sculptures through which she expresses her struggles.
About the film
At just 16 years old, Soraya creates remarkable drawings and sculptures that are as beautiful as they are haunting. This determined Afghan sculptor and illustrator has spent the past five years trying to escape Iran to reunite with her mother in Austria.
This subtly structured self-portrait interweaves harrowing scenes of her escape attempts with political news from Afghanistan and videos in which she sings, dances, or reveals the bruises left by her abusive husband. Determined to shape her own future, Soraya filmed all the footage herself on her phone over the course of five years, while director Mehrdad Oskouei guided the project entirely from a distance. The footage is interspersed with images of her drawings and surreal animations.
For Soraya, making art is far more than a pastime. She pours her fears, hopes, and joys into drawings and sculptures made from soaked egg cartons or clay she finds along her escape routes. Her artwork features recurring figures: a loyal fox who accompanies her on her journey, a pink moon that watches over her, and a clown who is always smiling—a character with whom Soraya deeply identifies.
Special programme
The screening will be accompanied by a special performance by Ilyas Nadjafi, combining Persian vocals with the sound of the tanpura. Ilyas is a vocalist specialising in Persian and Indian classical music. He teaches music online and travelled to India to study dhrupad with his guru, immersing himself in this centuries-old tradition at its source. Alongside teaching, Ilyas performs in a variety of settings, from intimate solo performances accompanied by a drone to ensemble concerts with tabla and pakhawaj accompaniment. He also has a deep passion for classical Persian poetry.
After the screening, there will be an audience Q&A moderated by Sam Heeremans.
Portraits of Hope
The film programme is inspired by the themes explored in the Portraits of Hope exhibition by Amalna Collective, on view throughout August in De Komma. In this exhibition, photographer Ferdows Faghir portrays residents of an asylum seekers’ centre using analogue portraits made with his Kamra-e-Faoree (Afghan Box Camera). The portraits are complemented by personal audio stories in which the participants reflect on what hope means to them.
Like the exhibition, the films explore themes of hope, migration, and resilience. The exhibition opens on 1 August, and during the film weekend you are welcome to visit it at your own pace.
Amalna Collective brings together socially engaged artists who contribute to positive social change through exhibitions, events, and community arts projects. Portraits of Hope is the foundation’s first project.
Practical information
Date: Friday, 21 August, 8:00 PM
Language and subtitles: Dutch
Admission: €10.20
Tickets: buy your ticket via Het Puntje
Location: De Komma (the annex of Het Puntje), Strand Noord 3N, 2586 ZZ The Hague. Find directions here. If you’d like to have dinner at Het Puntje before the screening, we recommend arriving at least an hour in advance so you can enjoy your meal without rushing.
This screening is made possible by Fonds 1818.