Category: ARFF Amsterdam 2024 – Best Documentary

Original Film Title: Işığın Hasadı

Director’s Name: ESİN ÖZALP ÖZTÜRK

Writer’s Name: ESİN ÖZALP ÖZTÜRK

Producer: ESİN ÖZALP ÖZTÜRK

Country of Origin: Turkey

Country of Filming: Turkey

Language: Turkish

Runtime: 52 minutes

Film Description:

Turkish capital Ankara’s district Evren is home to a community of seasonal workers. The workers, who come to Evren with their families to harvest onions, are trying to cope with various difficulties while trying to hold on to life.
The documentary “Harvest of Light” is centered around the generator, used as a metaphorical beacon of hope in the film, and operates for only 2 hours a day. In this short time, the workers tell their stories amidst the chaos of labor, perseverance, and the struggle to catch up with life.
Alternating between light and darkness, these people forget their troubles with the light emitted by electricity, get away from their daily lives, and step into a completely different world.
As the documentary progresses, it crosses the boundaries of time and delves deeper into the lives of the workers. Their never-ending hopes illuminate their search for a better life for themselves and their families.
Through intimate interviews and captivating visuals, “Harvest of Light” interweaves the stories of seasonal workers to create a portrait of their dreams, aspirations, and daily struggles. The documentary seeks to raise awareness of workers’ rights, child labor, women’s empowerment, and the universal right to education.
Focusing on the lives of onion harvest workers in Evren, this documentary exposes a broader global issue, the vulnerability of seasonal workers around the world. The documentary invites viewers to reflect on their consumption habits and reminds us of our responsibility as a society.
Through its compelling storytelling and visuals, the documentary encourages viewers to question the deeper consequences of their actions and reflect on what they can do for a more just and equitable society.

Original Film Title: The Hidden Heritage of Yerevan

Director’s Name: Vugar Khalilov

Writer’s Name: Elshan Rustamov

Producer: Vugar Khalilov

Country of Origin: Azerbaijan

Country of Filming: Armenia, Azerbaijan

Language: Russian

Runtime: 37 minutes

Film Description:

“The Hidden Heritage of Yerevan” is a profound documentary that embarks on a compelling journey to uncover the concealed history and cultural heritage of Azerbaijani presence in Yerevan. The documentary team, equipped with thorough preparation, historical maps, and photos, unwrap the significance of religious buildings going beyond their primary purpose as places of worship. These buildings, rich in history, culture, and spiritual significance, embody the struggles, hopes, and destinies of the people they represent.
The film particularly focuses on mosques, showcasing them as symbols of a cultural heritage that has been lost. The narrative stresses that every religious building encapsulates not just a space for prayer but also serves as a sanctuary where past and future converge, where every stone and pattern narrates a story.
In a gripping segment, the documentary references an article by American journalist Robert Cullen, published in The New Yorker in April 1991. Following in Cullen’s footsteps, the team unveils a grim reality of the various sites In Yerevan. The team is led to a site, previously the location of a mosque, significant as a religious centre for the Azerbaijani community in Yerevan. This revelation is accompanied by a heartrending tale of the mosque’s destruction, a calculated act that began with crowbars and culminated with bulldozers.
Three decades later, prompted by Cullen’s article, the documentary team embarks on a quest to uncover the history of this monument, the Demeure Bulag mosque. They concentrate on what seems like a typical residential area in modern Yerevan, where the mosque once stood. Through meticulous examination of the site and interactions with local residents, the team seeks to confirm the existence of the mosque, facing a community often unaware or reluctant to acknowledge its past.
“The Hidden Heritage of Yerevan” is more than a documentary; it’s a journey into the past, exploring untold stories and unearthing secrets of a city’s complex history. It stands as a testament to the enduring importance of cultural and religious monuments in narrating the diverse stories of our world.

Original Film Title: Playtime: The Movie

Director’s Name: Sara Geidlinger

Writer’s Name: Marshall Ward

Producer: Sara Geidlinger

Country of Origin: Canada

Country of Filming: Canada

Language: English

Runtime: 60 minutes

Film Description:

A beloved childhood toy can spark joy in even the most grown-up grownups.

There’s some inexplicable magic about holding — about playing with — a toy from our ever-receding youth.

Nobody understands that joy better than Robbie Da Silva. Robbie runs a shop called 3D Vintage Toys, Stuff, and Things.

Every day, Robbie meets customers who feel a deep personal connection to some peculiar item on his shelves — a particular action figure, or an old videogame, a novelty fad — and, on the best days, the one elusive item someone has sought in a lifetime of collecting.

Toys are our first tangible connections to reality as babies, helping learn about reality through our five senses — and our sense of empathy.
Playtime: The Movie is a story about the joy of simple pleasures, and the healing power of childlike wonder in an increasingly noisy, complicated world.

Original Film Title: A Dog´s Life

Director’s Name: Philipp Hampl

Writer’s Name: Nikolay Vasilev, Lilia Angelova, Tanya Cheshmedjieva

Producer: Nikolay Vasilev

Country of Origin: Bulgaria

Country of Filming: Bulgaria

Language: Bulgarian

Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes

Film Description:

“Vaklush” is a documentary, filmed during the period of 1998 until 2022 and contains unseen archival footage from the life of the famous spiritual leader and Teacher Vaklush Tolev. The film is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of his birth and is a story about the life path and ideas of one of the most enigmatic personalities of Bulgaria.

Vaklush Tolev is a theologian by education, lecturer and author of numerous volumes on religious, philosophical, cultural and historical topics. Having gone through the prisons and camps of the communist regime, for him suffering does not exist, but is rather development. Persecuted by the repressive State Security authorities as an “enemy of the people,” he insists that evil does not exist, but is rather unevolved good. A graduate theologian, he comes to the idea that man is not a sinner, as religions teach, but a god in evolution.

After the fall of communism in Bulgaria in 1989, he was invited to teach at Plovdiv and Sofia universities. There, in his lectures on the history of religions, he often reminded his students of the inscription on the temple of Delphi; “Know thyself and thou shalt know the gods and the world.” He himself experienced this knowledge and formulated his own teaching, which he called “The Way of Wisdom”.

Original Film Title: Vaklush

Director’s Name: Nikolay Vasilev

Writer’s Name: Nikolay Vasilev, Lilia Angelova, Tanya Cheshmedjieva

Producer: Nikolay Vasilev

Country of Origin: Bulgaria

Country of Filming: Bulgaria

Language: Bulgarian

Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes

Film Description:

“Vaklush” is a documentary, filmed during the period of 1998 until 2022 and contains unseen archival footage from the life of the famous spiritual leader and Teacher Vaklush Tolev. The film is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of his birth and is a story about the life path and ideas of one of the most enigmatic personalities of Bulgaria.

Vaklush Tolev is a theologian by education, lecturer and author of numerous volumes on religious, philosophical, cultural and historical topics. Having gone through the prisons and camps of the communist regime, for him suffering does not exist, but is rather development. Persecuted by the repressive State Security authorities as an “enemy of the people,” he insists that evil does not exist, but is rather unevolved good. A graduate theologian, he comes to the idea that man is not a sinner, as religions teach, but a god in evolution.

After the fall of communism in Bulgaria in 1989, he was invited to teach at Plovdiv and Sofia universities. There, in his lectures on the history of religions, he often reminded his students of the inscription on the temple of Delphi; “Know thyself and thou shalt know the gods and the world.” He himself experienced this knowledge and formulated his own teaching, which he called “The Way of Wisdom”.

Original Film Title: How Finland Solved Homelessness: It’s More Than Housing First

Director’s Name: Mark Horvath

Writer’s Name: Mark Horvath

Producer: Alex Gasaway

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Filming: Finland

Language: English

Runtime: 26 minutes 52 seconds

Film Description:

How Finland Solved Homelessness: It’s More Than Housing First” is a profound documentary set in Helsinki that delves into Finland’s successful battle against homelessness, highlighting the revolutionary Housing First program. Through the personal stories of individuals like Pekka, transitioning from the streets to a home, and Tujia, overcoming addiction, the film reveals the program’s impact beyond providing shelter. It explores the intricate blend of political advocacy, societal change, and dedication to human dignity that underpinned the program’s success. The documentary doesn’t shy away from the challenges involved, particularly in integrating those with mental health and substance abuse issues into the community. It paints a broader picture of societal transformation, showing how eradicating homelessness can lead to safer, more empowered communities. This powerful narrative serves as a global call to action, showcasing the possibility of solving homelessness through compassion, policy, and collective effort.

Original Film Title: One Second at a Time: Battling the Monster of Addiction

Director’s Name: Tim Searfoss

Writer’s Name: Tim Searfoss, Daniel Fajardo

Producer: Tim Searfoss

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Filming: United States

Language: English

Runtime: 1 hour 27 minutes 36 seconds

Film Description:

A powerful documentary about a father and the resilience of his daughter Christine Ortoll as she confronts mental illness, addiction, and the transformative power of support. Through her personal journals and the unwavering dedication of her loved ones, witness a journey of hope and the creation of a meaningful legacy by her father.

Embark on a transformative journey with “One Second at a Time.” This extraordinary documentary follows Christine Ortoll’s battle against mental illness, addiction, and the deadly presence of fentanyl. This gripping film captivates and ignites vital conversations, and inspires positive change. Shedding light on urgent societal issues, it goes beyond personal struggles to uncover the broader challenges surrounding mental health and addiction. Join the movement towards a more compassionate and supportive world with One Second at a Time.

Original Film Title: 目之所至 2023

Director’s Name: Vera, Jingyi Xia, Pei Zhang

Writer’s Name: Vera, Jingyi Xia, Pei Zhang

Producer: A Zhu, A Wen, Chutian Shu

Country of Origin: China

Country of Filming: China

Language: English

Runtime: 39 minutes 13 seconds

Film Description:

This is a heart-warming documentary about an art event organized by a youth-ran independent art space based in an old neighborhood in Changsha City, Hunan, China. A group of 11 elderly people joined a project which they each got a disposable film camera for free. They were given three weeks to shoot, and in the end their photos were put together in an exhibition space. During the three weeks of shooting, we took part in some of participants’ daily life, and chatted with them about their photographs. This documentary gives insight into amateur photography, community based art scene, and realities of retired life of the elderly in post Covid China.

Original Film Title: One City, One Architect, One Antoni Gaudi

Director’s Name: John Kiernan

Writer’s Name: John Kiernan

Producer: John Kiernan

Country of Origin: Spain

Country of Filming: Spain

Language: English

Runtime: 10 minutes 10 seconds

Film Description:

This is a short documentary looking into Gaudi’s most historic buildings and their significance to the city of Barcelona.