The Propagandist

The Netherlands2024documentary108'Documentary Competition

Why did Jan Teunissen, a distinguished Dutch filmmaker, become the ‘tsar of Nazi propaganda’ during World War II? Composed exclusively of archival footage, including many materials unknown so far, the film tells a story of the man who, ‘for the love of cinema’, began collaborating with the occupier, which went far beyond censorship or the production of propaganda films. Conversations recorded 20 years after the war reveal a psychological profile of someone who was able to provide justifications for his most heinous actions. It is especially relevant today, at the time of political radicalisation and rampant disinformation.