Private Project

The Wind Once Whispered

Inspired by the cancer experience of his young son Pieter, Belgian cancer researcher Johan Swinnen undertakes an epic run of 1,494 km along the French coast. Drawing from his childhood memories of running with a kite through the fields, Johan attaches bows to the tail of a colorful kite he carries with him on his journey. The first bow is for his son Pieter, and hundreds more follow for people experiencing difficult times in their lives. Johan also sends messages to the kite on small pieces of paper, believing that paper is patient, even when words become too heavy to pronounce. Johan's journey takes him on an emotional rollercoaster that reflects the ups and downs of life. Accompanied by poetic reflections that perfectly match the imagery, the film provides hope and confidence to those seeking support during challenging periods in their lives.

  • Johan Swinnen
    Director
  • Johan Swinnen
    Producer
  • Johan Swinnen
    Writer
  • Luce Rutten
    Writer
  • Ani Theré
    Artwork
  • Ferry Mentzij
    Camera
  • Bernard Vriezen
    Camera
  • Johan Swinnen
    Camera
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Win(d)kracht
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Feature
  • Genres:
    Inspirational, Motivational, Running
  • Runtime:
    49 minutes 43 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 21, 2025
  • Country of Origin:
    Belgium
  • Country of Filming:
    France
  • Language:
    Dutch
  • Shooting Format:
    RED, SONY FX6, SONY FX3
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Friday Harbor Film Festival
    Friday Harbor
    United States
    October 26, 2025
    North American Premiere
    Official selection
  • Serbest International Film Festival

    September 9, 2025
    Official Selection
  • South Film and Arts Academy Festival

    Award Winner
  • Rome Prisma Film Awards

    Monthly Picks
  • Athens International Monthly Film Festival

    Honorable Mention
  • Heart of Europe Film Festival

    Honorable Mention
  • Jackson Docfest

    Official Selection
  • LA Film and Documentary Award

    Official Selection
  • Mindfield Film Festival

    Diamond Award Best Short Documentary and Gold Award Best Screenplay
  • Robinson Film Awards

    Semi-Finalist
  • New York Film & Cinematography Awards

    Best Featrue Doc
  • Veneto International Film Festival

    Nominee
Director Biography - Johan Swinnen

Johan Swinnen is a cancer researcher at the university of Leuven in Belgium, long distance runner and spare time film maker. He often undertakes long runs (1000-2000km) to support cancer patients and makes inspiring movies about his runs. His movie 'Closer to Heaven, Back to the Sea' was simply made with a GoPro camera, yet won several awards. For his newest film 'The Wind Once Whispered' he was accompanied by a camera team of Crownmotion with professional equipment (RED and Sony FX6).

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Director Statement

Life is beautiful, but obstacles put up their traps in places where you least expect them. The world suddenly looks different. Horizons dissolve into emptiness. But you can always keep dreaming. Dreaming is already taking the first steps on your journey. There is always hope. Hope is a tiny flame that does not fill the whole room in a wink. Hope is the promise that even the deepest dark can give birth to a new beginning...