Pink Elephant (Development)

The pastor of the Vredeskerk in Amsterdam, Pierre Valkering, has been a thorn in the side of the Catholic Church for years. With the publication of his autobiography, in which he openly describes his life as a homosexual cleric, he aims for a more open and honest church. The church sees this as the perfect moment to finally deal with him, but Valkering refuses to leave.

Pierre’s story is about the desire for freedom within the system; within the stifling culture and hierarchy of the Catholic Church. Unlike Pierre Valkering, an innovator whose opinion and sermons connect with society, in the here and now, The Catholic church seems stuck in its own dogmas. A story about the relationship between the individual and the community, between the ‘I’ and the ‘we’.

Peter Franken is the director of Pink Elephant. An independent filmmaker based in Amsterdam, where he graduated from the Rietveld Art Academy. After working as a versatile visual artist he decides to focus on film and began making concept-driven shorts, video art, and more recently documentaries for numerous festivals. 

The documentary Pink Elephant in collaboration with Conijn Film is now in development.