This short documentary is part of my graduation preparation project at Industrial Design (TU/e), where I explore how film can be used as a design tool to strengthen social connection and participation.
Over the course of seven weeks, I was embedded at De Familie van Gestel, a giveaway shop and community space in Eindhoven. Through visual ethnography and close collaboration with participants, staff, and residents, I created a portrait that captures the daily life, atmosphere, and meaning behind the shop.
The film is used in several ways: internally, as a conversation starter with team leads and participants to reflect on engagement and inclusion; and externally, to raise awareness and visibility for the initiative. One of the outcomes of this project was also a mobile cargo bike screening setup, allowing the film to be shown directly in the neighbourhood and spark dialogue with passersby.
This project is part of a larger research into how participatory film can act as a catalyst for empathy and shared understanding within communities.