Rafik Opti (they/he) works as a visionary social archivist, film director, multimedia artist, impact producer and cultural worker. Raised in Amsterdam and rooted in Surinamese ancestry, their multidisciplinary practice spans moving pictures, writing and research.

Whether directing or working behind the camera themselves, Opti approaches each image with rhythm, vulnerability and a deep curiosity for those who stand in front of them. At its core, Opti’s work is an experimental and critical reflection on organic dynamics, particularly within communities silenced by imperialism and racial injustice.

Their storytelling explores themes of (chosen) family, freedom, gender, and sexuality through a lens shaped by personal experience and a collective history of Black resistance. Drawing from direct cinema, magical realism, and poetry culture, Opti weaves multidimensional media into a pioneering visual language that challenges established power structures across film and society.

Opti studied documentary direction at the Netherlands Film Academy (2018–2023), graduating with BLACK JOY (Blaka Koloku) An award-winning short film that reimagines Amsterdam through the lens of the Black experience, where simplicity, Afrofuturism, and protest converge. In April 2025, BLACK JOY received the People’s Choice Award at the Black Trans Short Film Festival in North Carolina.

Through their expansive practice, Rafik Opti archives stories of resistance, joy, and everyday life. Pushing beyond the margins to create heartfelt experiences, that honor the lives of resilient communities.