Manifesta 15 Barcelona Metropolitana is delighted to announce a collaboration with Filmin, a subscription-based video-on-demand streaming service primarily dedicated to showcasing independent films. The curated collection by the Manifesta 15 team features over 20 titles, including Occupied City by Steve McQueen, a recent documentary examining the German occupation of Amsterdam during the Second World War, and The Silence of Others, directed by Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar, an award-winning documentary that explores the enduring impact of Franco's dictatorship in Spain, with a particular focus on human rights abuses.

This selection offers Filmin subscribers a unique opportunity to engage with thought-provoking works that highlight contemporary social, cultural and political themes, complementing the essence of Manifesta 15. Reflecting on the collaboration, Hedwig Fijen, director of Manifesta 15, said:

I am very much looking forward to joining Filmin myself this coming winter, as the films they present are of extraordinary quality and greatly appeal to me, incorporating both outstanding documentaries and socially engaged feature films that broaden one’s perspective on society, politics, and life itself.

To mark the launch of this collaboration, an event was held at Espai Texas yesterday, featuring a screening of All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, directed by Laura Poitras, a former participant of Manifesta 12. Attendees enjoyed this powerful documentary, specially selected by Hedwig Fijen, and toasted the new partnership.

Reflecting further, Fijen noted:

Laura Poitras’s film offers an excellent insight into the life of artist and activist Nan Goldin, charting her journey from addiction to taking on the billionaire Sackler family and their influence in the art world, successfully pushing major galleries such as the Tate, the Louvre, and the Guggenheim to remove the Sackler name. It is a powerful example of how art can shift perceptions and, with the help of the media, expose corruption and art-washing, as in the case of the Sackler family and the impact of American artist Nan Goldin in calling out the Sackler dynasty’s role in fueling the opioid crisis and challenging the art establishment.