IDFA 2021: Interview of Aliona van der Horst, director of ‘Turn Your Body to the Sun’ (World Premiere)

We sat down with director Aliona van der Horst for a chat about Turn Your Body to the Sun a few hours before its World Premiere at IDFA 2021.

As part of our coverage of IDFA 2021 (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam), running in Amsterdam from November 17th to 28th, we attended the World Premiere of Turn Your Body to the Sun, directed by Aliona van der Horst. Standing out as one of our festival highlights so far, the film is playing as part of the International Competition. Additionally, it is nominated for both the IDFA Award for Best Dutch Documentary and the Beeld en Geluid IDFA ReFrame Award.

Turn Your Body to the Sun tells the incredible life story of a Soviet soldier who was captured by the Nazis during WW2. As pointed out in our review, the film unfolds as a deeply powerful and touching personal quest tracing the past of a Soviet prisoner of war during and after WW2.

Discover the words of director Aliona van der Horst, interviewed by Film Fest Report contributor Lisa Abeling.