2026 Nominees

Neshoma

NTR, FamilyAffiars, Het prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, AFK, Claims Conference, NPO-Fonds, CoBO, Filmfonds, Beeld & Geluid, Eye Filmmuseum

NETHERLANDS

- History & Biography

Before World War II, one in ten residents of Amsterdam was Jewish. They felt at home in a city where migrants had found a safe haven for centuries. With Neshoma Sandra Beerends has brought pre-war Jewish Amsterdam to life. Behind the names and dates on memorial plaques and monuments lies a hidden world. Who were these Jews? What did their Amsterdam look like? Based on the testimonies of survivors, Sandra Beeerend has made tangible how Jews experienced life, unaware of the catastrophe that awaited them. Neshoma is composed of hundreds of fragments of archival material, some of which have never been shown before. This allows us to catch a glimpse of their lives and gives us the feeling that, for a fleeting moment, we have stepped into their world. Neshoma is a tribute to the pre-war Jewish community to which Amsterdam owes so much. It is a contribution to the ongoing dialogue about the importance of a safe city for all its residents.