Marjolein Busstra is a documentary photographer and filmmaker. Her work has been exhibited at several venues and directed documentaries that have been screened on Dutch TV and (inter)national film festivals. Aiming to unravel identity structures and representations, she captures stories touching on universal themes such as political exclusion, trauma and women rights. Although these are somewhat heavy subjects, Marjolein’s work always has a touch of humanity, humour and personality.

Her documentary ‘I Love my Muslim’, about the from Amsterdam converted muslim Carla, broadcasted by Viceland, received global appraisal including tributes from international film festivals like DOK.fest and Movies that Matter. Marjolein is also co-founder of production house ‘Lege Fles’. Here she developed campaigns that paint a more complex image of vulnerable situations in non-Western countries; which values self-determination, solidarity, and above all, humanity instead of victimisation. She has documented various subjects for Doctors without Borders and Amnesty International.

After her participation at the IDFA Academy 2019, Marjolein started her newest documentary ‘We don’t talk’ which premiered April 2022 at Movies that Matter. The documentary was nominated for the Dutch Movies Matter and the Grand Jury Documentary Award and part of Movies that Matter on Tour. In April and May 2022 she had a solo-exhibition in Melkweg Expo Amsterdam with a photo series and two video works of the project `We don`t talk.`

In 2023 the project traveled to New York and was exhibited by Photoville.

2009 - 2011	Academy of Arts St Joost, Breda: Master Photography
2005 - 2007	University of Amsterdam: Master Filmstudies
2003 - 2005	University of Groningen: Bachelor Art, Culture and Media
1999 - 2003	Academy of Arts Minerva, Groningen: Photography

2023	Photoville New York: Container exhibition of the photo series `We don`t talk` in Brooklyn Bridge Park
2023	Noorderlicht Groningen: Group exhibition photo series `We don`t talk`
2022	Watch Docs Warsaw: screening of documentary `We don`t talk`
2022	International Film Festival Beholders: screening of documentary `We don`t talk`
2022	International Human Right Film Festival Albania: screening of documentary `We don`t talk`
2022	Movies that matter festival: world premiere in the Grand Jury Competition
2022	Movies that matter on tour: screening of documentary `We don`t talk` in theatres throughout The Netherlands
2018	DOK.fest München: international premiere `I <3 My Muslim`
2018	Movies that Matter: screening documentary `I <3 My Muslim`
2018	Melkweg cinema Amsterdam: premiere documentary `I <3 My Muslim`
2018	Viceland TV Netherlands: broadcasts `I <3 My Muslim`
2018	Docfeed Eindhoven: screening documentary `I <3 My Muslim`
2018	Fjuzn Bratislava: screening documentary `I <3 My Muslim`
2016	RecycleArt Brussels: solo exhibition `Moroccan moms`
2016	Fotodok Utrecht: group exhibition `Family`
2015	NTR: five-part documentary series about Moroccan mothers for Dutch television
2014	Melkweg gallery Amsterdam: solo exhibition `Moroccan moms`
2014	Tolhuistuin Amsterdam: group exhibition in collaboration with `Eddie the Eagle museum`
2013	Eddie the Eagle Museum Amsterdam: group exhibition
2011	International Departure Gate 11 Modena, Italy
2011	CBK Den Bosch: Final Exams, AKV St. Joost: documentary `Alter Ego`s`
2011	Kunsthal Rotterdam: group exhibition `Crisis!`

2022	VPRO: Nooit meer slapen
2022	Trouw: article on documentary We dont talk Other publications and reviews in VPRO gids, Volkskrant , Cinema Europe , Telegraaf, Parool.
2018	NRC: article about `I <3 My Muslim`
2018	Trouw: article about I <3 My Muslim
2016	De Morgen: article about exhibition `Moroccan Moms` in Brussels
2015	VPRO gids: publication on tv series `Moroccan mothers`
2015	Vrij Nederland: photo story and short film about convert Carla
2014	De Morgen: article about exhibition `Moroccan Moms`
2014	Vice: interview about the exhibition `Moroccan Moms`
2014	NRC: article about exhibition`Moroccan Moms`
2014	Parool: article about exhibition`Moroccan Moms`
2014	Trouw: article about exhibition`Moroccan Moms`
2014	De Corespondent: publication of three short movies `Urban Nomads` Correspondent
2014	De Corespondent: pictures and one short movie about the eviction of `Urban Nomads`Correspondent
2013	Mister Motley: article on Moroccan Moms

2019	Joined HALAL
2018	Filming a campaign in El Salvador commissioned by `Amnesty International`
2017	Filming a documentary in Irak commissioned by `Doctors without borders.`
2011 - 2020	Co-founder production company Lege Fles
2008	Banja Luka Film Festival: Programmer student films.
2007	International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA): researcher programme-department

2022	Nominated for the Grand Jury Documentary award and the Dutch Movies Matter award at `Movies that Matter` with `We don`t talk.`
2019	Participant of the IDFAcademy & NPO-fonds Workshop
2018	Nominated for the Dutch Doc Award of `Movies that Matter` with `I <3 My Muslim`
2018	Invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands to screen and attend Human right film festival Fjuzn with `I Love My Muslim` in Bratislava, Slovakia.
2016	Project `Moroccan mothers` is included in the collection of the museum Amsterdam city archive.
2014	One of 20 documentary filmmakers and interactive storytelling talents from the Netherlands and Belgium at IDFA doc lab academy
2014	Selected for the Vrij Nederland photo story
2011	Stichting Stedelijke Fotografie: photographer for Dutch Crisis project in cooperation with `Fonds BKVB`
2011	Selected for International Departure: Gate 11 Modena Italy
2010	Workshop `Sight/Site` Academy of Arts Parsons New York