Activist Teun Toebes battles dementia worldwide in Human Forever

PBS has secured the rights to the Dutch documentary *Human Forever*, which follows Teun Toebes—a humanitarian activist dubbed “the Greta Thunberg of healthcare.” The film chronicles Toebes’ three‑year expedition across four continents and eleven countries as he seeks better dementia care.

It marks the network’s latest addition to its slate of international feature documentaries.

Super7even Productions, an indie Dutch studio, struck the deal directly with PBS after the documentary premiered in more than thirty territories worldwide. , *Human Forever* is the most‑watched human‑interest film in Dutch cinema history, drawing nearly 80,000 viewers across its theatrical run.

The film’s global distribution has already sparked policy discussions and informed curricula at universities such as Cornell and Oxford.

*Human Forever* follows Toebes as he partners with director Jonathan de Jong to examine how dementia is approached in different cultural contexts, searching for care pathways that include as many people as possible.

The documentary’s narrative weaves personal stories with comparative analysis, highlighting both challenges and practical solutions in dementia care. Its message is designed to resonate with audiences across the United States, the Nordics, and Australia.

Teun Toebes has earned a reputation for championing healthcare reform in low‑resource settings, earning him a comparison to environmental activist Greta Thunberg. The documentary frames him as a humanitarian activist known as “the Greta Thunberg of healthcare.” His focus is on improving quality of life for people living with dementia.

The film chronicles his journey across four continents and eleven countries over three years.

*Human Forever* follows Toebes’ three‑year expedition across four continents and eleven countries as he seeks better dementia care. He travels alongside director Jonathan de Jong, exploring how dementia is approached in different countries and what care pathways can be made to include as many people as possible.

The documentary highlights practical, hopeful approaches rather than merely outlining challenges.

The film has been released theatrically in more than thirty territories worldwide. Producers claim it is the most‑watched human‑interest doc in Dutch cinema history, with nearly 80,000 viewers in theaters. These figures underscore the documentary’s broad appeal beyond the Netherlands.

*Human Forever* has sparked policy discussions and informed educational programs at universities such as Cornell and Oxford, . The film’s global reach has prompted academic institutions to integrate its insights into dementia care curricula. Its influence extends beyond entertainment into practical policy change.

PBS’s purchase of *Human Forever* follows earlier acquisitions of international documentaries such as *The American Revolution* last year, *Skin of Glass* in 2023 and *Bombshell* in 2019. The network continues to broaden its international doc lineup with this new addition.

Jonathan de Jong said it is encouraging that “our film is being appreciated, discussed and sought after by three major international broadcasting companies in different continents.” He added that PBS, SBS and RÚV recognize the story’s potential and its vital messages will reach more people in the States, the Nordics and Australia.

The director emphasized the film’s universal questions about aging, dementia and community.

The documentary also secured deals with France’s Arte, Belgium’s VRT and Netherlands streamer Videoland, further expanding its international footprint. These agreements illustrate the film's broad appeal across diverse markets.

SBS in Australia and RUV in Iceland announced their acquisition on the same day as PBS, highlighting a global appetite for stories that blend humanitarian activism with medical care. Their announcements underscore the film’s resonance beyond European audiences.

The film’s reception by broadcasters underscores a growing trend toward documentaries that not only spotlight challenges but also propose actionable solutions for dementia care. This focus aligns with emerging priorities in healthcare education and policy.

On Thursday, Toebes and de Jong released a companion book titled *Human Forever: Searching the World for a Better Life with Dementia* through September Publishing. The book examines dementia care across four continents, including case studies from South Africa, New Zealand and Norway.

Super7even’s founder, Jonathan de Jong, also announced the launch of SuperIndie, a new integrated studio with MN Media’s Jeffrey de Graaf focused on human interest and social impact documentaries.

SuperIndie’s inaugural slate includes the *Human Forever* sequel *There Is No Society*, revealed in December last year, along with *A Girl Like Rose*, *Patterns of Life*, *WOW!* and *Ecolopolis*.

PBS plans to air *Human Forever* as part of its international documentary series, following past acquisitions like *Skin of Glass* and *Bombshell*. The documentary’s influence on university curricula and policy discussions suggests it may play a role in shaping future dementia care frameworks.

Human Forever’s cross‑continental narrative and its partnership with PBS signal a renewed commitment to showcasing documentaries that drive social change. As the film and its companion book reach wider audiences, stakeholders in healthcare, education and broadcasting watch for its impact on dementia care policy worldwide.