Biography

Yannesh Meijman (1995, Amsterdam) is a filmmaker, mediamaker, and organizer, and a graduate of the Sandberg Instituut, Amsterdam University College, and McGill University. He believes that spatial justice is under pressure in Dutch cities, and from this perspective, he creates socio-poetic works, such as films, videos, installations, and social spaces, that visualize and address his concerns.

His debut documentary film Hotel Mokum, produced by 100% and Radio Voorwaarts, had its world premiere during IDFA ’23. Hotel Mokum had a cinema release in the Netherlands, distributed by Gusto Entertainment. The film is currently on Amazon Prime. His films have been shows at venues and festivals including International Documentary Festival Amsterdam, Nederlands Film Festival, Go Short, Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam, Eye Filmmuseum, Paradiso, Melkweg, de Appel, and many others.

Next to his own practice, Yannesh works as a freelance editor.

Instagram

TikTok

Screenings & Exhibitions (selection)

2025

Out of Space Festival, Belgium.

Eye Filmmuseum, NL.
Antifa Filmfest, U.S.

2024

Nederlands Film Festival – Student Competition, NL.
Architektur Filmtage, Switzerland.
Cinema distribution in filmtheaters across the Netherlands.
Kriterion, de Appel, Lux, Schuur, Lumière, etcetera.

2023

International Documentaire Film Festival (Frontlight competition), NL.
Roze filmdagen LGBTQ+ Film Festival, NL.
Film screenings in squats and alternative spaces across the Netherlands.
Hotel Mokum, de Synagoge, Kraaiennest, Waterskaap, Takland, ACU, ADM Noord.

2022

Sandberg Instituut Graduation, Kunstkapel, NL.
Go Short Film Festival, NL.
Public Sandberg – Open Day Programme, Sandberg Instituut, NL.
Hotel Mokum, NL.

2021

Subbacultcha & S015, NL.
Nederlands Film Festival – Student Competition, NL.

2020

Online Premiere – Live Stream.

2019

Jeffrey’s Underground Cinemas, De Nieuwe Anita, NL.
Contis International Film Festival, France.
Arquiteturas Film Festival, Portugal.
Festival International du Film d’Aubagne, France.
PUB.TV x Radio Voorwaarts, Mobiele-Eenheid, NL.
Bogoshorts, Colombia.

2018

Leuven Kortfilmfestival – European Competition, Belgium.
Magma Short Film Festival, Italy (special mention).
Eindhoven Film Festival, NL (best debut nominee).
Festifreak – La Plata International Film Festival, Argentina.
Filmtheater Kriterion, NL.

Residencies, Labs, work experience

2024

IDFA Project Space – development of new project.

2023

Envisioning Free Space Conference – Artist Talk on Media Strategies in Space Activism.
Amsterdam University College – Artist talk on the film Hotel Mokum.

SINCE 2022

Gusto Entertainment – freelance editor. Film distribution company.
Noah’s Ark & TopNotch – music video director. Dutch hiphop record labels.

2021–2024

Mokum Kraakt – propagandist. Squatting collective.

2017–2022

Radio Voorwaarts – co-founder. Platform for counterculture.

2019

De Libi – Head of Social Media. Feature Film.

Education

2020–2022

Sandberg Instituut, MA Fine Arts and Design: Moving Image, NL.

2014–2017

Amsterdam University College, BA Liberal Arts: Sociology, NL.
McGill University, Exchange student: Film, Canada.

Grants

2024

Creative industries fund NL – talent development grant

2022

Nederlands Filmfonds – short film grant for “Hotel Mokum.”
Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst – production grant for “Hotel Mokum.”

2018

Stichting Niemeijer Fonds – production grant for “Radio Voorwaarts.”
Voordekunst – crowdfunding for “Radio Voorwaarts.”
Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst – production grant for “Radio Voorwaarts”

Press

2025
AT5 about A Videographer films Amsterdam (NL).

2024

De Correspondent about Hotel Mokum (NL).
AT5 about Hotel Mokum (NL).
Spraakmakers about Hotel Mokum (NL).
De Nacht van de Woonstrijd about Hotel Mokum (NL).
Amsterdammerschap about Hotel Mokum (NL).
Het Parool about Hotel Mokum (NL).
On Documentary about Hotel Mokum (EN).

2018

Dekmantel about Radio Voorwaarts (EN).
Nachtburgermeester about Radio Voorwaarts (NL).
AT5 about Radio Voorwaarts (NL).
Folia about Radio Voorwaarts (NL).

Web Design by Studio SMS (Katharina Shafiei-Nasab & Alix Stria)

AN ARCHIVE OF urban filmS / 2025