Private Project

Closer to heaven, back to the sea

While running along one of the longest rivers in Europe, cancer researcher Johan Swinnen collected hundreds of paper boats each dedicated to someone who passed away, reminding us of the beauty and fragility of life. This film is an ode to those we miss and is a call to embrace life to the fullest.

  • Johan Swinnen
    Producer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Een boo(n)tje voor...
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Running, Ode to life
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 47 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 19, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Belgium
  • Country of Filming:
    Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland
  • Language:
    Dutch
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Buenos Aires Running Film Festival

    Official Selection
  • Heart Of Europe International Monthly Film Festival (HEI)

    Honorable Mention
  • Moving Pictures

    Official Selection
  • Short to the Point

    Selected
  • FrameFushion International Film Festival

    Semi-Finalist
Director Biography

Johan Swinnen is a cancer researcher at the university of Leuven in Belgium. When his 13-year-old son got diagnosed with cancer, he promised to run from Leuven to Santiago de Compostela in the north of Spain (2300km). In his backpack he carried letters from more than 800 cancer patients. Two years later, he ran from Leuven to Rome in Italy (2000km) and symbolically connected thousands of cancer patients. In 2023, Johan ran from Harlingen in the Netherlands along the Rhine, one of the longest rivers in Europe, all the way to its source in the Swiss Alps. Along his run, he collected hundreds of paper boats dedicated to people who passed away from cancer. Johan has captured his journey on film (‘Closer to heaven, back to the sea’) as a tribute to those we miss.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Life isn't always easy. Yet we can make something of it if we support each other. I try to do this through scientific research, charity runs and film reports of my long running journeys, in the hope of encouraging people and honouring those we miss.