Jeroen Van der Stock’s Silent Visitors won Best Film at the 12th L'iselp Festival of Films on Art in Brussels. The Award comes with a cash prize of € 1,750. The film had its premiere end of last year at CPH:DOX in Denmark and went on to screen at the Jean Rouch International Film Festival in France.
In Silent Visitors a number of people are portrayed for whom Japanese abandoned sites have become an essential part of their lives. Ayumi, Doitehu and Mike all share the same passion for haikyo. Their visits of these contemporary ruins reveal some parts of their unique personalities and at the same time shine a subdued light on post-tsunami Japanese society.
After graduating from the Sint Lukas Film Academy in Brussels in 2002, Van der Stock moved to Shanghai to study Chinese on a one year scholarship. Van der Stock also travelled to Congo to collaborate on two documentaries by Bram Van Paesschen: Wherever there are people, problems are never lacking and Empire of Dust. The director currently resides in China again to work on future projects.