“Instead of looking at the mirror, I was the one who was inside the mirror”

For his educational master’s at KASK & Conservatorium, Jules Mathôt created the film In the Palm of My Hand¹ in co-creation with Cinemaximiliaan. This participatory art organization in Brussels began in 2015 by screening films for newcomers in Maximiliaan Park and has since grown into an organization centered around connection. Over the years, Cinemaximiliaan has transformed from a screening platform into a production house, offering newcomers the chance to make short films.

For Jules, filmmaking often feels too individualistic. Therefore, he explores how to collectivize authorship and serve others during the filmmaking process. He is particularly interested in Cinemaximiliaan because he wants to collaborate with newcomers to discover how their stories can be told in their own way. Coordinator Annabelle Van Nieuwenhuyse emphasized the importance of collective work, saying,

“Newcomers are not objects or subjects: we are not a shop with newcomers. We need filmmakers with empathetic qualities.”

Cinemaximiliaan organizes Living Room workshops, where participants build social connections and engage in informal learning, resulting in collective concerts, films, and performances. The focus on process over result is a defining characteristic.

Jules was inspired by this approach. During his master’s year, he assisted with various events and discovered a strong desire among members to create something. In consultation with Annabelle, he organized filmmaking workshops open to everyone, regardless of prior experience or commitment. Participants took on both creative and technical roles. The theme “our dreams” served as a guide during filming. Forty-one people participated, including newcomers, filmmakers, Cinemaximiliaan staff, and Fedasil tutors. Jules edited the footage into a collage film that reflects the diversity of the participants and includes a piece of everyone. The film premiered at Cinemaximiliaan, where Jules also surprised each participant with a film poster featuring all their names.

In preparation for this text, Jules Mathôt and An van. Dienderen held a conversation with the co-authors of the film. The conversation was not recorded to ensure openness. In the spirit of co-creation, they were asked to share a few sentences about their experience with the film.

Yüksel
Seeing myself.. When was the last time I saw myself? In my childhood photos, in my youthful dreams… What a great joy I felt inside me when I heard my voice in the film! When I saw the flowing landscape from the train… Despite my voice being sad, the words spilled from my tongue. Then, where was this joy coming from?.. I think because I saw myself all of a sudden on the canvas. That spirit, flowing freely was me. I was the one flowing freely. I was the one finding meaning in the whole. I was the one giving meaning to the whole. Who knows, instead of looking at the mirror, I was the one who was inside the mirror.

Özlem
It was a great pleasure to be a part of this project, which was the result of a collective effort, directed by Jules Mathôt and supported by Cinemaximiliaan. Like people from different cultures, languages and nations we were adding our own colors to a painting... Everyone was a color in that painting. We passed through each other’s stories. It was a film within a film. It was a different experience for all of us to see intertwined stories come to life as a product of collective work within the film.

Thierry
I decided to play a leading role. The whole team was great and the set was full of love and respect, which gave me confidence and pushed me to give it my all. Just hearing myself in the film gave me butterflies. My friends were happy, and so were the educators at my center (Fedasil). This project has had nothing but a positive impact on my life. Our situation shouldn’t be seen as a handicap to society. Even if we’re immigrants living in asylum centers who weren’t so lucky in our own countries, here we have to be dreamers because everything is possible. THANK YOU CINEMAXIMILIAAN<3

Emma 
As a social worker, you try to organize activities that can distract the young people in the shelter from their difficult situation for a few hours. That an activity could have such a lasting impact on a young person like Thierry was unexpected for me, but incredibly rewarding. Thierry told me that his participation in this project showed him that there is a place for him here and that a good life is indeed waiting for him.

Rola
Participating in Jules’ film workshop was an incredibly enriching experience. It provided a safe space where I could express myself creatively and learn new skills in filmmaking. The sense of inclusion was strong, as everyone’s ideas and perspectives were valued. I particularly enjoyed the collaborative process, working with others to bring our visions to life. Seeing myself on the big screen was a surreal and empowering moment, reminding me of the power of storytelling. The friendships formed during the workshop have been truly meaningful. Overall, the workshop left me feeling inspired and more confident in my abilities.

Áxil
Saudade is a bittersweet feeling, a mix of nostalgia, melancholy, and joy. This movie brings me that feeling. I miss Cinemaximiliaan, and I am happy to have been part of this project and this film, even from a distance. With a small contribution to the film, I feel that I am also a part of it.