The international project “Voices from the Mines”, promoted by the MINES.B Federation, is progressing with great momentum. This collective documentary initiative aims to rediscover and preserve the memory of European mining communities through the direct voices of former miners and the contemporary perspective of young filmmakers from Slovakia, Italy, Spain, and Slovenia.
The project involves four young videomakers, currently filming in some of the most emblematic european mining regions.
In Slovakia, young filmmaker Lenka Pribojova, selected by the partner Barborská Cesta, is working in the Banská Bystrica region, an area known for its rich past in gold and silver extraction. Through interviews and archival exploration, Lenka brings to light a mining culture deeply rooted in Slovak history and identity.
In Italy, Michele Cannas, representing the Fondazione Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara, is documenting the stories of former miners in Sardinia, specifically in the Sulcis Iglesiente region, and more precisely in Masua, a small hamlet of Iglesias. Set against the cliffs and the striking remains of industrial archaeology, the testimonies offer a powerful portrait of hard labor, community solidarity, and a deep connection to the land.
In Spain, filmmaker Raúl Belver Domínguez is working in the mining area of Andorra, within the Comarca Andorra Sierra de Arcos—a region historically tied to coal mining.
In Slovenia, Tara Bizjak Caruso, working with the CUDHg Idrija – Idrija Mercury Heritage Management Centre, is focusing her lens on Idrija, home to one of Europe’s oldest and most significant mercury mines, now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“Voices from the Mines” is more than a documentary; it is a process of listening, documentation, and intergenerational dialogue. The aim is to gather a mosaic of living memories, capable of portraying the richness and complexity of Europe’s mining heritage across borders.
The final documentary will be officially presented at the next annual meeting of the MINES.B Federation, which will take place on October 16–18, 2025, in Andorra, hosted by the Comarca Andorra Sierra de Arcos, one of the Federation’s key partners. It will be an important occasion to share the collected stories and to strengthen the international network that connects Europe’s mining communities.
