About

Endlessly curious about the world, its nature, animals and people. I love to ask heartfelt and unconventional questions. The reward is an ever-changing perspective on and openness towards others and your surroundings. The most important quality of a good story is that it touches the reader, makes them wonder and feel as if they have become part of a more manifold reality. My favourite genres and subjects are human interest, the natural world, culture and philosophy. I like to address the reader from a personal point of view – be it my own or that of a character in the story.

I was born in 1988 in Estonia, while it was in the middle of the revolution towards freedom from Soviet Occupation, and moved to the Netherlands in 1994. I have studied Communication (BSc) and Comparative Cultural Analysis (MA). As a cultural analyst I’m specialized in making a philosophical connection between art forms, art works and society. Next to being a freelance journalist, I do research and (proposal)writing for cultural institutions, conduct Q&A’s at (film) festivals, write poetry and sew clothes out of repurposed and left-over fabrics (see instagram.com/by.loja). I have worked on other projects as a gallerista and a writing teacher for children.

Currently I am working on my first non-fiction book, which will be published by Murrow.

Some of the media and organizations I have worked for include:

– Vrij Nederland
– Volkskrant & Volkskrant Magazine
– PS Het Parool
– NRC
– National Geographic Traveler
– NU.nl
– Eesti Ekspress
– Mister Motley
– Kanvaz Magazine

– International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA)
– Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
– Noordelijk Filmfestival
– Pluk de Nacht Filmfestival

– The One Minutes Jr./UNICEF
– Het Nieuwe Instituut
– Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten
– Kunstinitiatief Voorheen de Gemeente
– Noordje’s Schrijflab
– Gem Creative Agency
– Club Gem – Pop-up Cultural Space

contact me at: alillioja@gmail.com