Lotte Ottevanger’s Film Route
We asked a few inspiring tastemakers about their must-see picks, so you can enjoy the festival with the best tips and a little extra inspiration. Today, it’s the turn of Lotte Ottevanger's: a multidisciplinary artist and, since October 2025, the first female Night Mayor of The Hague. 10 March, 2026
Lotte creates socially engaged art and explores themes like power, framing, gender, and social safety. Together with Safiye Janson, they founded Studio Ongepast, where they use art and education to make social issues discussable and to break taboos. Her film choices fit perfectly with this work: stories about political tension, women’s rights, and the role of creators in a polarised world. With this selection, Lotte chooses work that challenges and asks questions. “Art shouldn’t just move you; it should also open things up,” says Lotte.
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American Doctor
Poh Si Teng
My heart goes out to the people of Gaza, which is why I want to see this film. Last year, I organized a film evening with Films of Resistance at Nest, showing short fiction films by Palestinian creators. How can an artist contribute to a situation where people feel powerless? For me, organising such an event is a way to give Palestinian creators a platform and to open a conversation through an emphatic perspective.
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Silenced
Selina Miles
The film takes the audience inside the courtroom of the defamation case between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp. Heard’s lawyer shows how the legal system can be used to discredit survivors. It’s about power and highlights why the #MeToo movement is so urgently needed.
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(S)exposed
Studio Ongepast
The interactive installation (S)exposed is an audio experience about how it feels to be catcalled. It comes from personal frustration and our own experiences with street harassment. It can be experienced on 21 March at the festival. With the installation, we explore how we can make street harassment a shared responsibility. With (S)exposed, I bring my activism and artistic practice together in one place.
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A Free Daughter of Free Kyrgyzstan
Leigh Iacobucci
Zere is a young activist and pop star who rises as a voice of resistance. The fact that she stands up to her country’s system and fights for women’s freedom speaks to me deeply. I would go and see this film at Gr8 and dive into The Hague’s nightlife afterwards. After the film, you can stay for a music night at PAARD, which is next to Gr8. This way you can combine film and nightlife. That appeals to me as Night Mayor of The Hague. I have created a 3D film installation which gives voice to the electronic music scene and shows the importance of night culture. Go and watch A Free Daughter of Free Kyrgyzstan at G8 and stay for the nightlife.
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The Film Route of Stieve van Wichelen
As our programme offers so many films, we understand that it can sometimes be overwhelming for you as a visitor. To give you a helping hand, we’ve asked some well-known influencers to share which films they’re excited about at this festival.
In this film route, Stieve van Wichelen, the driving force behind the Instagram account @nederlands_indie, takes us along a number of films that have a link with Indonesia. We spoke to him about his interest in history, the start of his account and his film choices.
The Film Route of Bo Hanna
We asked some inspiring tastemakers about their must-sees, so that you dive into the festival with the best tips and some extra inspiration. Today it is the turn of journalist and writer Bo Hanna.
The Film Route of Sia Hermanides (Dolle Mina)
We asked some inspiring tastemakers for their must-see films so you can dive into the festival with the best tips and extra inspiration. Today, it’s Sia Hermanides' turn. She is a filmmaker and recently joined the Dolle Mina's. Photo: Maartje Geels.
The Film Route of Nugah Shrestha
We asked a number of inspiring tastemakers about their must-sees, so you can dive into the festival with the best tips and extra inspiration. Today, it's the turn of Nugah Shrestha, the driving force behind the popular Instagram channel @politieke_jongeren.