Ahmad
Painter from Syria. His work carries memory, loss and imagination.
A documentary about waiting, memory and small dreams
A Place Between
Between what was left behind and what is still to come, life quietly unfolds.
The Film
Waiting is not empty. It is full of memories, gestures and small hopes.
A Place Between is an intimate documentary set in and around an asylum reception centre in the Netherlands. Through fragments of daily life, portraits, music, painting, henna, conversations and quiet observation, the film follows people living between a past that still speaks and a future that has not yet arrived.
Rather than focusing on crisis or political debate, the film looks at human presence: how people continue to create, care, remember and dream while waiting.
Visual Motif
Hands, patterns, memory
The henna image becomes a central visual symbol for the film: touch, care, identity, culture and memory. It shows that stories are not only told through words, but also through hands, rituals and small acts of beauty.
Participants
People, not categories
Faduma
Henna artist from Somalia. Her patterns express care, culture and continuity.
Emie
Singer from Ukraine. Her voice appears briefly and inwardly, as personal reflection.
Samir
Former refugee and volunteer with the Red Cross, now supporting others.
Jalal
Lawyer from Syria, carrying a professional past into uncertain new circumstances.
Alishia & Nadir
Residents whose presence may appear through daily situations and shared moments.
Themes
What the film explores
01
Waiting
The emotional weight of suspended time.
02
Memory
What people carry when places are left behind.
03
Small Dreams
Future images that survive uncertainty.
04
Creativity
Painting, music and henna as forms of expression.
Photo Essay
Images from the world of the film
Creative Approach
Layered voices, careful observation
The film uses multiple perspectives: first person, second person and third person. Sometimes image and sound belong to different people, creating a layered experience. For example, one person may be seen writing while another person's voice is heard. Later, image and sound may come together.
The editing style uses smooth transitions, L-cuts and J-cuts, with attention to rhythm, movement, colour and emotional pacing.
Crew
Production Team
Director & Coordination: Afshin
Camera, Editing & Technical Support: Saeed, Yashar, Sunil
Music & Ambient Sound Advice: Emad
Scene Coordination: Samira
Interpreters / Support: Malik, Hariq, Maisa
Production Notes
Film shoot and editing planning
First shoot day: Sunday, June 22, 09:00. This day functions as a test shoot and introduction to the residents, locations and atmosphere.
Equipment: Two Sony A7 III cameras, 24–70mm lens, 50mm lens, lens converters, Zoom H5, transmitters, tripods, gimbal, lighting and clapperboard.
Sound: Interviews recorded separately. Ambient sound will be collected to preserve atmosphere and emotional texture.
Contact
Screenings, press and collaboration
For festival inquiries, community screenings, educational use or press requests:
info@aplacebetweenfilm.com