Paper short abstract:

"The Weight of Air" is an audiovisual documentary featuring intimate film portraits and video performances. The video’s will be projected and after there is time for a post-show discussion.

Paper long abstract:

Hello, I am Tabor Idema and I am from IJmuiden, the Netherlands. As a child, I looked across my street and saw the steel industry, Tata Steel, and thought that they made the clouds. Later, I discovered that it is the top CO2 emitter of the Netherlands. Residents living near the industry face a 51% higher chance of lung cancer and other diseases. Tata Steel has the monopoly on the air that IJmuiden citizens breathe daily, yet local voices remain unheard amidst media focus on climate justice and Tata's PR narrative."The Weight of Air" is a documentary film giving these voices a stage. It focuses on my street in IJmuiden that faces Tata Steel. I visit my neighbors, share a cup of coffee, and discuss their homes, health, and true feelings about Tata Steel. I question my parents' decision to move here, considering our health. And across the street, a Tata worker, proud of his work, shares his views and what he really thinks about the climate protests at the fences of Tata. These personal narratives blend with black-and-white video performances exploring the theme of air.It is still a work in progress and will be premiering on the 11th of July at the Over het IJ festival ‘24, the project, supported by Collective Walden, aims to shed light on our ecological crisis. By amplifying these local voices, we hope to inspire change and foster dialogue towards a healthier, more sustainable future for all.