Simon Buis

Biography

The Dutch clergyman and missionary Simon Buis studied for a number of years in the United States, where he came into contact with film. He developed the plan to make propaganda films for the mission in the Dutch East Indies. Buis not only wanted to make the films himself, but also wanted to edit them himself. In order to learn the craft of editing, he made a second trip to the United States in 1929.

In 1930, Buis left for the Dutch East Indies to make the films Amorira, Anak Woda, and Ria Rago. These were later screened in the Netherlands. Buis returned to the Dutch East Indies in 1936 as the prior of a mission to Lombok and Flores. He stayed there until 1951.