Nesian Stories is a cultural film distribution initiative based in the Netherlands. We focus on connecting stories from Oceania to European audiences through curated cinema releases, education, and community events. We prioritise long-term relationships, cultural respect, and fair collaboration with filmmakers. Nesian Stories is founded by Yopi and Elinde Abraham.

Our connection with films from Oceania goes back many years. In the early 2000’s Elinde and our friend Sita Meijer initiated Rumah Film!, with the logo designed by Yopi. Through this initiative we screened films from across the Pacific region at the Moluks Museum (Moluccan Museum in the Netherlands).

In 2015, together with a group of Samoan artists from Aotearoa (New Zealand), we organised PacifikUS. A vibrant Pacific arts and culture festival held at at the Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam.

In September 2025 we were honored to host a private screening of the movie Ka Whawhai Tonu (Struggle Without End). This award winning film by director Mike Jonathan tells a gripping tale about identity, struggle and connection and is fully in Te Reo Māori. Mike Jonathan and one of the main actors, Paku Fernandez, joined us in Rotterdam for this special evening.

Our bond with the islands, the Pacific Ocean and its people runs deep. We care deeply about their stories and their cinema. Today, many powerful and beautiful films are being made across Oceania, yet too few of them reach our cinemas here. That is why we founded Nesian Stories: to create space for these stories to be seen, shared and celebrated — by and for our communities.