Supported projects

KINSHASA – Échos du Silence explores the history surrounding human remains from the Congo that have been held in Belgium since the colonial period, and addresses issues relating to provenance, restitution, the transfer of knowledge and the dignity of the dead.

CERRO DE PASCO - The city of Cerro de Pasco lies at an altitude of 4,380 metres in the harsh climate of the Peruvian Andes. It is one of the highest cities in the world, but also one of the most polluted, as there is a huge pit right in the centre of the city.

KINSHASA - Marlies Geyskens travels to Kinshasa, a city of millions that has been struggling with a growing mountain of rubbish in recent years. There, she follows two local artists who make costumes from recycled materials.

TERVUREN / LUBUMBASHI - The increasing pressure on the Africa Museum to return artefacts has taken a new turn. The US, Congo and the EU are keen to digitise the museum's geological archives from the colonial era and gain access to information about the subsoil of Central Africa and its potential ...

TEHRAN / BRUSSELS / MWANZA / TOKYO – Whether by lorry, bicycle, plane, boat, rickshaw or motorbike, they flout prejudices, rigid traditions and absurd laws. All over the world, courageous women are setting out on their journeys. They challenge gender roles, transform their surroundings and gain ...

ANTWERP / BRUSSELS - How is it that we know so little about Africa yet still have such strong opinions about it? This ABC book takes a close look at the existing clichés.

BENZDORP/PARAMARIBO - Deep in the Amazon rainforest, on the banks of the Lawa River between Suriname and French Guiana, live the Wayana. The peaceful existence of this indigenous population came to an abrupt end in 1885, when gold was discovered in the region. Since then, the presence of outsiders ...

NYÍREGYHÁZA/ LAMEZIA/ SOFIA/ JANOV - What happens when public money intended to dismantle inequality reinforces it? This investigation explores how one of Europe's most marginalised communities experiences policies designed in their name, without their participation.

LONGYEARBYEN - Svalbard, once an isolated destination for researchers and miners, is increasingly visited by tourists. Climate change, easier accessibility, and ‘last chance’ tourism have driven rapid growth in visitor numbers. This puts pressure on the fragile ecosystem and raises questions about ...

MECHELEN - Youth care center Juneco is a multicultural hub that houses 15 unaccompanied foreign minors aged 12 to 18 in Belgium. The young people grow up here without their families, creating close friendships.

BRUSSELS - Life is impossible without music blends music, memory and humanity through the true stories of pianist Kosta Jakić and Simon Gronowski, a Holocaust survivor.

MADRID / MILAN – In a disturbing trend dubbed “pop fascism”, Franco, Mussolini and Hitler are resurfacing on TikTok and beyond as memes, chants and emojis. A cross-border investigation by Maldita.es and Facta show that the idolisation of dictators and the spread of disinformation are becoming ...

UTRECHT / PRAGUE / WEINSTADT – All over Europe the access to affordable housing is shaking. Over the last ten years prices of houses have increased with 48% on average in the EU, and the number of homeless people have risen to an estimated 1.3 million people.

BEIJING - China in 2025 has changed significantly. Under the new strongman Xi Jingping, the Communist Party's totalitarian control over the state is greater than ever. By developing the New Silk Road and increasing its high-tech expertise, it has also been able to expand its sphere of influence ...

MATAM - As a nine-year-old girl born with exceptional flexibility, Fanta took her first steps in the Amoukanama circus group, which consisted of boys. Even then, Fanta dreamed of a professional career as an acrobat. However, her family did not approve. Five years later, Fanta still cherishes the ...

BELGRADE - Yugoslavia began as a dream. A noble ideal to unite the Slavic peoples of the south. What followed was a tortuous history: from kingdom to socialist republic, from tourist paradise to war zone.

AFRICA - New generations always dream big. Daaf Borren travelled through some 16 countries in Africa, fascinated by their stories. From Mali and Congo to Ethiopia and Mauritania: this is an atypical travel book, in which you not only cover many kilometres, but also travel along to the future.

BUCHAREST - How did a high school theatre group led by a charismatic director evolve into a cult-like organisation where verbal, physical and sexual abuse became commonplace?

NAYPYIDAW - From exile, Myanmar filmmakers continue their armed resistance against the military regime. Many have joined rebel groups, seamlessly switching between camera and gun whilst using film proceeds to fund the insurgency.

KYIV – Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, a systematic campaign of cultural looting has taken place in temporarily occupied territories. Under the pretext of 'evacuation', Russian forces have removed valuable artefacts from at least 46 Ukrainian museums. These priceless cultural ...

LJUBLJANA / SARAJEVO - Investigating the experiences of Slovenian and Bosnian miners from past decades revealed a wealth of deeply personal stories that had previously been overlooked.

WASHINGTON D.C. - A chronicle of fascinating encounters with ordinary Americans combined with an in-depth analysis of the rise and growth of the far right and how the working class turned away from the Democratic Party en masse.

KINSHASA - Following on from the first part of the dossier on why and how Congo's forests became the world's first lung, John Vandaele explores whether the country can effectively be the 'solution country' it claims to want to be.

BISHKEK - Kyrgyzstan is a country where Russian influence is still very strong. While other global players such as Europe and the West are increasingly vying for influence in the region, conflicting interests can be observed.

AMSTERDAM / BRUSSELS - Gay & Grey is a documentary series by director Julia M. Free in a co-production with VRT Canvas and DeMensen. The series follows the daily lives of senior lesbian couples, aged 70 and above, whose relationships have stood the test of time.

BEVEREN - Some 60 years ago, the language border in Belgium was established by law. Although this border has crossed our territories for centuries, it became the object of conflict especially in the 20th century.

AUSTIN - When a Belgian filmmaker moves to Texas and becomes a mother, she is confronted with a reality barely comprehensible in Europe: preschoolers trained to keep quiet in a dark closet, schools deploying armed teachers and children crawling behind their school desks with an escape plan in mind.

CAIRO - Cairo Encounters follows the lives of four Western European women who have emigrated to Cairo for love. The documentary explores the impact of their life choices on their Western identities and highlights their interactions with Egyptian society.

KINSHASA / TERVUREN - After almost 70 years in the Africa Museum, the rare Kakungu mask is back in Congo. Despite the festive ceremony at the National Museum, the mask remains the property of Belgium, causing unrest among the Congolese people and the Suku community, where the mask originally came ...

ENONTEKIO - The Arctic region is warming up four times as fast as the global average. This impacts people and animals.