The invisible man (in production)

Blekendaal 70'

The Invisible Man is a long youth documentary about children who by necessity have developed the ability to go through life unseen and unnoticed. From misfits who feel unwanted or are simply shy, to outsiders who are hunted down because of their skin colour, origin or religion, but survive thanks to the superpower at their disposal: the ability to be invisible.

A group of homeless children who have to survive on the streets and know exactly how and where to hide. A dear old grandmother, who as a young girl was in hiding and against her will learned to move silently, to talk without making a sound, to make herself so small that you overlook her. A boy who is bullied, who has trouble with his appearance, and who at school and on the street bends his arms to avoid being noticed. A girl without a residence permit, afraid of being deported, skilled in evading the authorities throughout her short life.

The Invisible Man tells the story of a filmmaker who records the stories of their resourceful invisibility in an attempt to bring his own superhero to life. (Spoiler alert: and he succeeds at the end of the film).

The Invisible Man reverses the perspective: in this age of selfies and social media, in which it seems increasingly important to be seen, The Invisible Mandoes not regard the invisibility of these children as a flaw or shortcoming, but as a superhuman strength. No matter how small, inconspicuous or oppressed, they are superheroes.

The Invisible Mantakes the viewer on a playful but exciting journey around the world, right through the history (of film, photography and television), and along the (moral) boundaries of the medium – because how and why would you want to portray what is invisible?

Martijn Blekendaal

The Invisibles.

14 December 2021

With the wonderful characters that researcher Lieve Sonderen found and the script advice from Mischa Kamp and design by Rogerio Lira, we have just submitted a beautiful film plan with director Martijn Blekendaal to Filmfonds Dokjunior. What a great diversity of characters, all ages, backgrounds and nationalities. And what a thought-provoking, stimulating, and imaginative film....

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I Am

14 December 2021

Martijn Blekendael’s Investigation Art Mysteries has been honoured by the NPO Fund in the two-year pilot programme that promotes youth documentary series. The research is led by Sasha Dees. It is co-directed with Finbarr Wilbrink, who edited The man who looked beyond the horizon with Martijn. This short documentary was awarded at many festivals and...

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Big Steps Forward

14 December 2021

Filmfund honours The Invisible Ones with realisation grant! Congratulations Martijn Blekendaal. Yes, a big step forward for this spectacle that is (for now) called youth documentary. A collaboration with a magician and other interactive designers, and a distributor who releases in the BENELUX, whoa. And I get to bring that together! Challenge Accepted! But first:...

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Big Step Forward II

14 December 2021

De film DAYMOHK vertelt het verhaal van de Tsjetsjeense sterdanser en choreograaf Ramzan Achmadov wiens dansgroep Daymohk onderdak heeft gekregen bij de huidige president van Tsjetsjeniƫ, Kadyrov. Daarmee is de dreiging voor uitsterven van deze eeuwenoude volksdans voorlopig even voorbij. Maar prijs daarvoor is hoog: In zijn poging de traditie van zijn land te redden, offert Ramzan aan de machthebbers datgene wat hij het liefste heeft.

Grote Stap Voorwaarts II

1 August 2020

De film DAYMOHK vertelt het verhaal van de Tsjetsjeense sterdanser en choreograaf Ramzan Achmadov wiens dansgroep Daymohk onderdak heeft gekregen bij de huidige president van Tsjetsjeniƫ, Kadyrov. Daarmee is de dreiging voor uitsterven van deze eeuwenoude volksdans voorlopig even voorbij. Maar prijs daarvoor is hoog: In zijn poging de traditie van zijn land te redden, offert Ramzan aan de machthebbers datgene wat hij het liefste heeft.

Director: Martijn Blekendaal
Research: Lieve Sonderen
Editor: Finbar Willbrink

Distribution: In the Air
In coproduction with Associate Director | Bram Crols
Scriptcoach: Mischa Kamp

With support of Filmfonds.