HomeFrames: Amateur film, migration and home-making in post-war Belgium

The HomeFrames research project introduces a pioneering approach to the study of film and
migration by focusing on amateur films produced by migrants themselves, diverging from the
traditional emphasis on professional feature films and documentaries. This innovative project seeks
to investigate how migrants in post-war Belgium (1944-1974) used amateur film to reflect, construct
and make sense of their migrant identities and experiences. The project aims to provide a mapping
of amateur films made by migrants, to gain insight into the production and circulation practices of
these films, to analyse their representational and stylistic features, and to evaluate their cultural
heritage value. Ultimately, HomeFrames aims at a nuanced understanding of amateur film, migration
and cultural diversity through the lens of home-making. Thereby, the project draws on and aims to
contribute to three key fields of literature: media culture and migration, amateur filmmaking, and
arts and migration. To achieve its objectives, the project employs a multi-methodological approach,
integrating archival research, crowdsourcing, oral history interviews, film analysis and participatory
video research. The strategic collaboration with heritage partners facilitates data access, the
sustainable preservation and digitization of the films and various opportunities for effective
communication of the research.