Luminiscence

Luminescence / Celestial is a poetic exploration of how collective memories of pain, loss, and transformation travel through generations—quietly shaping who we are and how we connect to the world. The film delves into the invisible imprint of transgenerational trauma, revealing how experiences of suffering and resilience are carried not only in our stories but also in our bodies, gestures, and silences.
Through a blend of movement, imagery, and sound, the film traces how the remnants of historical and social wounds echo through time, influencing emotions, relationships, and collective identity. Yet, amidst this darkness, Luminescence / Celestial seeks the possibility of light—the moment when understanding, empathy, and renewal begin to emerge.
Drawing inspiration from nature, shadow, and the biblical command “Let there be light”, the film transforms pain into illumination, exploring how acknowledgment and connection can bring healing. Luminescence / Celestial is both a reflection and a prayer—a visual meditation on the persistence of memory, the resilience of spirit, and the quiet beauty that rises from the act of remembering.

  • Ekaterina Cheporova
    Director
  • Ekaterina Cheporova
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Experimental
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 20 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 1, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    0 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Netherlands
  • Country of Filming:
    Netherlands
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Codarts University of the Arts
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Ekaterina Cheporova

Ekaterina Cheporova is a contemporary dance artist and filmmaker based in Europe. Former dancer of Tanz Kasse state theater, Chamber state theater, Codarts dance company, Sona hovsepyan dance company, tanz haus Basel resident, she has collaborated with acclaimed choreographers such as Antonin Rioche, Maciej Kuźmiński, Eyal Dadon, Noa Zuk, and Ton Simons, and has appeared in projects with The Movers Amsterdam and NOWNESS, starred in the 7 movie collection “The dust of my concrete child” by Cruel Behaviour projects.
Her professional path includes training with Batsheva Dance Company, Sharon Eyal, and Orsolina28 as a scholarship recipient. In 2024, she was selected for platforms such as the NDT Summer Intensive, Peeping Tom’s Kitchen Laboratory, and La Biennale di Venezia, where she worked with Wayne McGregor, Dorotea Saykaly, and Cristina Caprioli.
Ekaterina received her education at the Maslool School of Contemporary Dance in Tel Aviv and Codarts University of the Arts in Rotterdam, where she also performed with Codarts Dance Company.
Alongside her dance career, she is actively researching the field of filmmaking—particularly exploring themes that she’s personally connected to, translating them through the battlefield of her own body. She created the short film Lighthouse (2022), centered on the hospice “4 Birds” in Rotterdam, as she has volunteered for more than ten years in different hospices. Her second film, Luminescence, delves into the notion of transgenerational trauma imprint, and the loneliness of carrying and transforming inherited memories through mind and movement.

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Director Statement

“ Through movement, I read, understand,
and create. In the boundless sky, I find roots, and within it, love for both the familiar and the unknown. Dance is my essence, a timeless expression of who I am”