As part of our All Eyes On solidarity programme, Cinemaïs is bringing ‘Seeds of Myanmar’ to NW. Cinemaïs is a collective founded by the Aalst-based sisters Jena and Noemi Osselaer, bringing together sustainable agriculture, community and imagination. Following previous small-scale events at CSA De Hoezekouter, they are now setting up shop at NW.

Seeds of Myanmar is an afternoon programme where food, stories and film will transport you to Myanmar, introducing you to some of the hopeful initiatives currently flourishing there.

We’ll start in the kitchen. Head chef Wai Wai Kyaw, originally from Momeik in Northern Shan State, learnt to cook as a child from her grandmother, who, she says, had ‘magical hands’ in the kitchen. Later, Wai Wai set up her own restaurant, Wai Wai’s Noodle Place, in Yangon, where she shared her love of traditional Shan cuisine with visitors from Myanmar and the rest of the world. Today she lives in Belgium and continues to pursue her passion for cooking here. For Seeds of Myanmar, she’s bringing dishes such as tea leaf salad, pumpkin curry and traditional tea to Aalst. All dishes are plant-based and combine flavours from Myanmar with local ingredients grown in Belgium.

Wai Wai is also the founder of She Creates, an initiative that supports women through craftsmanship, creativity and sustainable practices, thereby creating opportunities for them to further develop their skills and knowledge. During a panel discussion, Wai Wai herself will talk about the origins and workings. During a panel discussion, Wai Wai herself talks about the origins and workings of She Creates. We are also introduced to the Healthy Soil Movement by Kokkoya Organics, which supports farmers across Myanmar in their transition to organic and regenerative agriculture. By sharing knowledge on topics including soil health and sustainable agricultural practices, the movement aims to make farming communities more resilient for the future. We not only discover what both initiatives are striving to build, but also discuss the challenges they face along the way.

At the heart of the film programme is Everything Is Temporary by the Swiss filmmaker Juliette Klinke. When Juliette set off for Myanmar in 2020, she could not have imagined how much the country would change in the years that followed. In the film, we follow 17-year-old Zu Zu and her steadfast dream of a better future for the people she loves. The special friendship between Juliette and Zu Zu gives rise to an intimate and personal portrait of growing up, connection and hope in a world that is constantly changing. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Juliette Klinke.

By attending Seeds of Myanmar, you’ll also be directly supporting the Healthy Soil Movement: the proceeds from the event will go towards their work with farmers in Myanmar.