“Do I smell smoke?” (short film) 

“Do I smell smoke?” is a film project created by Xaver Könneker in collaboration with Toto Kerssen, Merijn van den Brand, and Lisette van Oostveen. The collaboration explored people’s minds on some of the hottest summer days in Rotterdam in 2022. In a series of interviews with strangers about the joys of their summer in front of a backdrop of economic and societal crisis, the film subtly explores the emotional, political, and ecological tensions embodied by heat. The conversations range from small talk about holiday plans to anxieties around rising gas prices, climate change, and war to scattered reflections on death, living a meaningful life, spirituality, and the freedom summer promises.

The project was selected for ‘Rotterdams Open Doek Film Festival 2023’ and nominated for the ‘Lions Film Award 2023’, a film talent initiative by Latarenvenster and L’Esprit du Temps. The version of the film resulted in a month-long exhibition at Time is the New Space (Rotterdam). 

2023
17’44” 

Nominated for Lions Film Award (2023)
Exhibited at Time is the New Space (2022)