Marjolein Busstra is a documentary photographer and filmmaker. In both her photographic and cinematic work, she explores themes of political and cultural exclusion, trauma, and human rights. She has worked on documentary projects for organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and Amnesty International. Her approach is research-driven and immersive, with long-term engagement at the heart of her practice.

Her documentary We Don’t Talk premiered in 2022 at Movies That Matter, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Documentary Award. In 2025, her latest documentary House of Hope premiered at IDFA and was nominated for the IDFA Award for Best Dutch Film.

Alongside her film work, Marjolein develops photography projects that exist independently as well as in dialogue with her films. In 2022, she presented a solo exhibition at Melkweg Expo in Amsterdam, featuring the photographic series and two video works from We Don’t Talk. The project was later exhibited in New York by Photoville in 2023. In 2025, her photographic series House of Hope was shown at Head On Photo Festival in Sydney.

Marjolein’s work is characterized by a sensitive, attentive gaze and a strong ethical awareness. Through both film and photography, she seeks to translate complex and often painful realities into intimate, urgent visual narratives.

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

2025	Head on Photo festival Sydney: photo series House of Hope exhibited at Paddington Reservoir Gardens.
2025	International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam: world premiere of House of Hope in Royal Theater Carré
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 Munchen: 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`
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!`

2025	Volkskrant Magazine: photo series House of Hope . Hoop in een verscheurde wereld
2025	Mister Motley: column by Maurits de Bruijn on documentary House of Hope . Een winter van blauwe en witte stof
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

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.

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.