A Safe Space for Brave Programming

Heleen Gerritsen reflects on her eight-year tenure as director of goEast – Festival of Central and Eastern European Film (2017–2025). In conversation with Olga Blackledge and Eva Zak, she discusses how the festival evolved in response to global crises, the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and growing political polarisation – all while maintaining its openness and commitment to experimentation. Gerritsen speaks about the ethics of curatorial decision-making, new formats such as TikTok cinema, and the importance of giving visibility to marginalised voices beyond traditional film forms. A key concern is access to film heritage: many Soviet-era works, particularly from former republics, remain in Russian state archives and are difficult or impossible to access today. As Gerritsen puts it, these films are “held hostage by archives.” The interview also covers the Symposium, the East-West Talent Lab, and the challenge of balancing intellectual ambition with audience engagement in a festival that has consistently reflected its time. The interview was conducted via Zoom on May 20, 2025.