Blind Walls Film Fest returns from 5 to 9 February 2025 at Chassé Cinema, and I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be back in Breda to host the Friday night of the festival. Mark your calendars, and I’ll see you there!
Among the highlights of my past experiences, participating in the previous edition of Blind Walls Film Fest stands out as a truly memorable moment. This Dutch film festival introduces audiences to the intricate world behind graffiti, street art, and murals through an unconventional and captivating medium – cinema. This unique feature sets the festival apart and makes it a personal favorite.
The importance of video documentation and storytelling in capturing the essence of graffiti, street art, and muralism is not only due to the ephemeral nature of the artform, necessitating video documentation to preserve its memory, but also because, in today’s age of digital communication, video emerges as the most potent medium for narrating the story behind a street art piece. It allows us to move beyond the artwork on a wall, transforming the creation process into a compelling narrative.
Therefore, film and photography hold a pivotal role in the career development of graffiti writers, street artists, and muralists. Beyond the fleeting images shared on social media, an increasing number of (documentary) filmmakers are delving deeper to document the stories behind the walls, the creators, and their social impact, and Blind Walls Film Fest is the only film festival in the world dedicated to these subjects.
Through its curated program of film screenings, Q&A sessions with filmmakers, expert talks, and educational initiatives, the festival invites audiences to explore the vibrant narratives and social contexts behind graffiti, street art, and murals.
The festival is organized by Blind Walls Gallery, which continues to bring life to Breda with its stunning mural projects throughout the year. The festival offers a unique moment for the global street art community to come together, exchange ideas, and reflect on the powerful stories captured through cinematic projects from around the world.
This return to Breda also presents an exciting opportunity to update my Breda Street Art Travel Guide. Since my last visit, Blind Walls Gallery has added some incredible new murals to the city. Highlights include a stunning piece by my friend KMG, a thought-provoking mural by the talented Nils Westergard, and a remarkable work by the amazing Wayne Horse, who created an artwork inside the very theatre hosting the festival.
And so, without further ado, let’s dive into the details of the third edition of Blind Walls Film Fest and uncover the stories that await us at this unparalleled celebration of art and cinema!
A closer look at the program for the 2025 edition of Blind Walls Film Fest
- A closer look at the program for the 2025 edition of Blind Walls Film Fest
Blind Walls Film Fest: February, Wednesday 5th
H 20:00 – Festival Opening + Tehachapi by JR
Surrounded by watchtowers and barbed wire, the maximum-security American prison Tehachapi seems an unlikely setting for an art project, yet French artist JR embraces such challenge. This documentary chronicles the stories of the incarcerated men who collaborated with him to create a monumental work of art within the prison.
Blind Walls Film Fest: February, Thursday 6th
H 13:00 – With One Eye Open by Jonathan Pieterse
Filmmaker Jonathan Pieterse has crafted a captivating documentary series that shadows photographers in Hamburg, Sydney, and London as they work alongside graffiti writers. This series provides a rare and intimate look into the often unseen world of graffiti photography, uncovering the challenges and creativity behind documenting graffiti actions.
H 14:15 – BWFF Short Selections
- Danny Gemuruh – Danny Rumbl
- The drop of Paint – MZM Projects
- In the name of the son – Alberto Feás
- Melania – Brad Downey
- Bordalo II: A Life of Waste – Rua Meegan, Trevor Whelan
- The Wanderers – Guido van Helten – Selina Miles
- Ruimte – High on Type
- VANITAS – EPOS 257
H 15:45 – Beautiful Losers by Aaron Rose
Beautiful Losers is a 2008 documentary directed by Aaron Rose, exploring the lives and work of a group of artists who emerged from subcultures like skateboarding, graffiti, punk rock, and DIY culture during the 1990s. The film highlights their unconventional paths to success and their collective ethos of creating art outside the mainstream.
The artists featured include notable names like Shepard Fairey, Barry McGee, Margaret Kilgallen, Mike Mills, Ed Templeton, and Harmony Korine. These individuals, often working in relative obscurity at the time, helped shape contemporary street and pop art by blending high art with underground aesthetics.
The documentary captures the intimacy of their creative process, their friendships, and the organic rise of a movement that blurred the lines between fine art and street culture. Through interviews, archival footage, and glimpses into their art, Beautiful Losers celebrates individuality, collaboration, and the transformative power of art.
H 19:00 – SK8FACE by Matt Bass + Q&A
This documentary, making its European premiere at Blind Walls Film Fest, delves into the rich history and evolution of skateboard art and culture. Spanning 70 years, it takes viewers on a journey from the 1950s, when skateboards were little more than wooden planks, to the present day, where they are celebrated as stunning works of art. How did art come to grace the underside of skateboards? Who were the pioneers behind this creative transformation? The film explores these questions and more.
H 21:00 – Vigilante, Vigilante: The Battle for Expression by Max Good
Anti-graffiti vigilantes go to extreme lengths to cleanse their neighborhoods and cities of street art, stickers, tags, and posters. Ironically, some of these vigilantes have become the very problem they aim to eliminate, resorting to illegal and destructive methods, including defacing property themselves. VIGILANTE VIGILANTE follows two filmmakers on a mission to uncover the identities of these enigmatic figures, unraveling a deeper conflict over expression that spans from the streets to the academic world.
Blind Walls Film Fest: February, Friday 7th
H 13:30 – *Industry Day* Keynote by Rafael Schacter
Curator and anthropologist Dr. Rafael Schacter, drawing from his recently published book Monumental Graffiti, delves into the connections and distinctions between graffiti, street art, murals, and monuments. Dr. Schacter examines graffiti as a form of identity for specific areas and sheds light on the intricate dynamics that arise with the development of new urban spaces. His insights offer a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on the role of art in public spaces.
H 16:00 – FAME by Angelo Milano and Giacomo Abruzzese + Expert panel moderated by yours truly 🙂
An unconventional documentary about Italy’s first street art festival and its eccentric curator, Angelo Milano. Set in a small village in the south of Italy, Grottaglie, the festival attracted international street artists for several consecutive years, transforming into something extraordinary and unexpectedly becoming one of the most significant street art festivals in the world. A heartfelt narrative infused with the mad genius of Angelo Milano, whom I can’t wait to interview right after the film screening!
Following the movie, I’ll be moderating a panel discussion featuring Angelo and Dutch urban art festival organizers. Having worked for a Dutch organization in the street art field for several years, I can’t think of a more contrasting approach than Angelo’s: it’s bound to be an exciting and lively discussion!
H 19:00 – BWFF Short Selection – Introduced by yours truly 🙂
- SKRFF – Corrue Francis Parks, Daniel Nuderscher
- My Dogs Sighs – INSIDE – Paul Gonella
- The Dive – Jonathan Pieterse
- Baise-en-ville and the guy who did a bench – MZM Projects
- BLURRED MEMORIES – Then & There – Here & Now – Rocco
- Walalaland – Romain Thomassin
- The Wanderers – Amok Island – Selina Miles
H 20:30 – Banksy and the Stolen Girl by Edoardo Anselmi – Introduced by yours truly 🙂
The exit door of the Bataclan theatre, home to Banksy’s mural The Sad Girl, is mysteriously stolen. When it unexpectedly resurfaces at a hillside cottage in Abruzzo, French and Italian investigators join forces to unravel the theft. This compelling documentary explores how illegal street art has intersected with the world of art theft, featuring the perspectives of the thieves themselves. It’s a fascinating dive into the story of how a nightclub’s emergency door became one of the most sought-after objects by international law enforcement.
Blind Walls Film Fest: February, Saturday 8th
H 13:15 – The Writing is on the Wall by Roberto Duque
This documentary follows Ben Eine and Zabou as they collaborate with internationally renowned artist Alketa Xhafa Mripa to address the issue of homelessness through two impactful murals painted on a London bridge. However, the project takes an unexpected turn, stirring a wide array of emotions among the local community. The reactions prompt critical reflections on the norms and values of contemporary society.
H 15:00 – Armed with a Brush by Nèma van Raalte
This powerful documentary by Dutch filmmaker Nema van Raalte delves into the work and legacy of Chile’s Brigada Ramona Parra (BRP) street art movement. Through a series of captivating interviews spanning three generations and nearly six decades of artistic activism, the film uncovers the origins, motivations, symbolism, and evolution of this bold and pacifist collective. Set against the backdrop of a nation grappling with unresolved social and political challenges, the documentary offers an intimate look at BRP’s enduring impact.
H 17:00 – Free Color by Alberto Arvelo
Free Color follows the journey of Carlos Cruz-Diez, a 94-year-old visionary driven by an extraordinary artistic ambition: to liberate color from form. His dream is to create a phenomenon known as chromosaturation—a misty, formless expanse of pure color—floating above the Seine in Paris. To achieve this, Cruz-Diez assembles a multidisciplinary team of scientists and artists to bring his bold concept to life.
H 19:30 – Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life by Dan Covert
You may not recognize his name, but it’s almost certain you’ve encountered his work. This captivating documentary paints an inspiring portrait of an artist whose boundless creativity and relentless pursuit of truth offer unexpected and thought-provoking insights.
Blind Walls Film Fest: February, Sunday 9th
H 14:15 – Banksy and the Stolen Girl by Edoardo Anselmi
H 15:30 – Style Wars by Tony Silver
Made by Tony Silver and Henry Chalfant, Style Wars is widely regarded as a seminal work, not just for its portrayal of graffiti and hip-hop, but also for documenting a critical moment in urban culture. It inspired generations of street artists, writers, and hip-hop enthusiasts worldwide and remains a cornerstone in the study of graffiti and urban art history.
H 17: 00 – Best of the Fest!
The festival concludes with the announcement of the winning films across various categories, followed by a closing ceremony celebrating the creativity and bold stories that have brought people together over the past few days.
Beyond the excitement of the film festival, I’m genuinely thrilled to return to Breda, a charming Dutch city that deserves far more recognition. With its 100+ murals curated by Blind Walls Gallery—featured in my Breda Street Art Travel Guide—alongside its gezellig cafés (a uniquely Dutch word that perfectly captures a sense of coziness), serene canals, and creative spaces, Breda always feels like a place where inspiration thrives.
I can’t wait to explore it all again!
Stay tuned, and don’t forget to sign up for my monthly newsletter to catch my latest impressions from the streets of Breda and all the highlights from Blind Walls Film Fest!
