The Indo Project was proud to honor Hetty Naaijkens-Retel Helmrich with the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award on August 8, recognizing her extraordinary contributions to preserving and sharing Indo heritage through film. The award was presented during The Indo Project’s annual commemoration and celebration event in Southern California.
For more than 35 years, Hetty has dedicated her career to documenting the history, culture, and migration of the Indo-European (Indisch) community. As co-founder of Scarabeefilms, she has played a pivotal role in breaking the long-standing “Indisch silence” by bringing untold stories to the screen with honesty, compassion, and historical depth.
Her acclaimed documentaries, including Contractpensions – Djangan Loepah!, Buitenkampers – Boekan Main!, and Klanken van Oorsprong (Sounds of Origin), have preserved essential chapters of Indo history—from the repatriation experience and the overlooked stories of the buitenkampers to the profound influence of Indo musicians on Dutch popular music.
Through the internationally recognized Stand van… trilogy, including the Sundance Award-winning Position Among the Stars, Hetty introduced stories from Indonesia and the Indo diaspora to audiences worldwide, inspiring many to reconnect with their roots.
Her latest documentary, Anak Indië (2025), has become her most successful work to date. The film captivated audiences across the Netherlands, earned Crystal Film status within its first week, welcomed more than 60,000 cinema visitors, and became the most-watched Dutch documentary of 2025 — a testament to the enduring importance of the Indo story.
Through her remarkable body of work, Hetty has ensured that the voices, memories, and legacy of the Indo community will continue to educate and inspire future generations. It is with deep gratitude and admiration that The Indo Project presents Hetty Naaijkens-Retel Helmrich with the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award.
What a beautiful tribute to the accomplishments of Hetty Naaijkens Retel-Helmrich. Thank you TIP TEAM for this expression of praise!