Laura Stek is making Giovanni / Carmen, a documentary about theatre maker Giovanni Brand, who is developing a radical retelling of the opera Carmen. Brand, who is of Roma descent, wants to break the stereotypical image of Carmen by playing the role himself. Stek became fascinated by Brand after a radio interview: his open yet closed character appealed to her. The film follows him during research in Seville and highlights his journey from the trailer park to the theatre. Stek advocates for more experimentation in Dutch film, because freedom yields surprising results. Giovanni / Carmen will be screened at the Netherlands Film Festival (September 25 to October 2, 2026).