How does it feel to grow up at a crossroads between borders? ‘The region is like an apple cut into two halves’, writes the Afghan journalist Saadat Mousavi in his poetic essay about life on the bank of the Amu Darya. ‘The river is a witness to our connectedness.’
Saadat Mousavi | 18 Mar 2026
Welcome to De Facto’s new interview series, in which we interview scientists, artists and journalists about contested borders. We kick off with political scientist Ramesh Ganohariti, who has recently co-authored a book on sub-state recognition. ‘States have become more emboldened to throw the international playbook out of the window.’
Jorie Horsthuis | 11 Mar 2026
On Februari 20-22, De Facto teamed up with writer Adwin de Kluyver and Podium Vlieland - the cutest cinema on the Wadden island of Vlieland - to organise an Off the Map film festival. People travelled from all over the Netherlands and even from Berlin to be with us on the island for three days.
Suzanne Hendriks | 25 Feb 2026
What happens when the border between Turkey and Armenia will finally open? Drawing on personal experience with transformations in the South Caucasus, Olesya Vartanyan explores how decisions made in one corner of this region impact all who live there.
Olesya Vartanyan | 20 Feb 2026
Place of the week Greater and Lesser Tunbs
The Tunbs are two islands in the Persian Gulf. Over the course of time the islands have been ruled by various rulers: the kings of Hormuz, Portuguese colonizers, Persian emperors and the British Empire. Iran now administers the islands, but they are claimed by the UAE. The islands’ location near the busy Strait of Hormuz, through which numerous oil tankers pass, gives the islands great strategic importance in the region.
De Facto recommends Donetsk People’s Republic
In eastern Ukraine, the documentary Mariinka traces several young Ukrainians whose lives have been forever shaped by more than ten years of war and conflict in the Donbas region. The world premiere of this film by Pieter-Jan De Pue will be on March 10 during the CPH:DOX festival in Kopenhagen (Denmark).
Cineuropa | 2 Mar 2026
