Roel Oostra
Documentary Producer & Director
Education
MO-1 History, MO-A English
Educational BA's
Professional Experience
1970-1975
Editor Foreign Affairs Dept. of Amsterdam daily "Het Parool"
1973-1975
Editor/Presenter of current affairs weekly progr. NOS/Educational TV/
1975-1987
Director-editor and presenter of current affairs weekly "Here and Now" NCRV/Holland specialist on international affairs. Produced over 100 reports and 20 documentaries
1988-1990
- Director Stichting Vluchteling/The Hague – Int. Aid to Refugees, affiliated with UNHCR-Geneva
- Director Cresset Consultants Ltd. – audiovisual consultancy
1990 – present
- Director Cresset Communications Ltd. – Television production company
- Director "Imago Historica" Foundation
Major Productions
Many Voices, One World
200x6min. series on storytelling worldwide (1990-1994)
A groundbreaking series exploring the universal art of storytelling across cultures and continents.
Traces
7x28min. series on masters of Jewish art (1991)
Exploring the works and lives of Jewish artistic masters throughout history.
History's Mysteries
13x45min./13x52min series on historical mysteries and enigma's (1994-1998)
Investigating the world's most intriguing historical puzzles and unsolved mysteries.
Myths of Mankind
15x52min. – series on mankind's myths and mysticisms (2000-2008)
A comprehensive exploration of humanity's most enduring myths and mystical beliefs.
Monasteries Series
7x28min. Series portraying ancient Greek orthodox and Coptic monasteries
Exploring the most ancient and venerable monasteries in the Middle East.
"All God's Children" (1984)
Golden Nymph of Monte Carlo winner, the most prestigeous international award in documentary production.
A documentary revealing the holocaust among Guatemalan indians and Salvadorian refugees during the civil wars that raged in Central America in the 80’s.
"Peace with Pain" (1991)
Killing Fields hero Dith Pran’s return to Cambodia in the wake of Pol Pot treading a bitter “memory lane” with the friend who played his part in the movie: Dr.Haing Ngor.
"The Return" (1992)
Following Eritrean and Ethiopian refugees on their return after war. and finding the loved ones they thought dead.
“Après nous le Deluge” (1994)
Dutch painter Rob Scholte creating the mural of the century in Japan
The Batavia Series
- • Three documentaries on a ship that sails from history…
- • “Building the Batavia” — a modest Dutch shipbuilder picks up the building of a replica of one of the largest Eastindia men ever, that floundered on reefs off Australia, from which arises one of the most stupendous stories of the new continent of Australia.
- • ”Wreck, Mutiny and Murder” — 200 Dutch sailors, soldiers and settlers – men, women and children – endure a horrifying year on reefs off Australia where their ‘Batavia’ floundered, a 100 miles off Australia. “Stark mad..”’ says Russel Crowe, who bought the rights to the most spectacular story as yet untold by Hollywood.
Clipper Stad Amsterdam
A tycoon's dream; the revival of a historical clipper, winner of the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race and adorning the oceans today.
