Documentary projects

Jan Louter (Hoogvliet, 1954) has 25 documentaries to his name, varying in length from 50 to 80 minutes. Made possible in part by various film foundations, his documentaries have aired on public broadcasting stations (NPS, VPRO and AVRO in the Netherlands). Many of his long and short documentaries have been displayed at national and international film festivals and sold to foreign TV stations. His film A sad flower in the sand – about the work of writer John Fante – aired on national TV in the USA. The film received a special mention from the jury from the 15th AFI film festival in Los Angeles (2001). Louter has documented various writers and artists, including a number of major Dutch authors such as Jan Wolkers (De onverbiddelijke tijd, 1996) and Gerrit Komrij (De gelukkige schizo) and artist Jan Monteyn (Love me or leave me, 2005). Jan Louter creates documentaries for a broad audience, documentaries that appeal to the imagination both visually and conceptually. The viewer is challenged to let go and be swept up in the story. The influence that the past has on the present is a recurring theme in all his films. In The Last Days of Shishmaref, he partners with a professional team that includes cameraman Melle van Essen, soundman Leo Franssen, editor Riekje Ziengs and composer Paul M. van Brugge.