9 years ago

15 Dutch Film Talents to watch! 

Double Dutch – twice as many Dutch films at Berlinale 2016. 

Stated the Dutch Film Festival proudly today. Fifteen films from The Netherlands have been selected for the 66th Berlin International Film Festival. This doubles the number of Dutch selections for Berlin in 2015. What’s more, nine of these films are documentaries, which underlines The Netherlands’ ongoing strength in this genre…. Read more here… 

As in previous years Dutch youth cinema is strongly represented in the Generation competition.

This is not only by hosting the yearly word’s largest documentary festival IDFA, The Netherlands has a beautiful new Dutch Film wave coming… Both the Maastricht and Amsterdam Academy of Dramatic Arts, and The Netherlands Film Academy are dropping talents the last 15 years. But it hasn’t been since the last talented periods of the year 2000′ and the 1980′s Holland has had such a wave of talents. Since the year 2000′ it was with Actors like Carice van Houten (Game of Thrones), Nasrdin Dchar (Rabat) (Ben Hur), Yorick van Wageningen (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Thekla Reuten (In Bruges), Michiel Huisman (Wild), Directors Anton Corbijn (Control), Hany Abu-Assad (Paradise Now), Asli Özge (Hayatboyu), Roel Reiné (The Scorpion King 3), Mike van Diem (Karakter) and Cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema (Interstellar). 

A good director can adapt to any kind of genre, to any genre. That’s the key. If the guy’s got talent, he can do anything. And Paul Verhoeven can do anything. I often say that he is a visceralist, not a visualist. Kubrick’s a visualist, he’s very cold and concise, and he wants you to see it, and study. Paul wants you to be reacting like “Shit, the next one might hit me.” Ed Neumeier (screenwriter Robocop) 

And since 1977 with Soldier of Orange Directors Paul Verhoeven’s (Total Recall) (RoboCop) (Basic Instinct), Dick Maas (Flodder), Jos de Putter (Het is een schone dag geweest), Paula van der Oest (Zus & zo), Writer Gerard Soeteman (The Assault) (Turkish Delight), Cinematographer Jan de Bont (Die Hard) (The Hunt for Red October), Producers Hans de Weers (Antonia’s Line), Fons Rademakers (The Assault), Actors Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner), Alex van Warmerdam (Borgman), Pierre Bokma (De uitverkorene), Sylvia Kristel (Emmanuelle), Willeke van Ammelrooy (Antonia’s Line), Derek de Lint (Deep Impact) and Jeroen Krabbe (The Fugitive) (The Living Daylights) which inspired millions around the world with it’s talents… 

Therefore AskTheRightQuestion.org has decided to create a 15 Dutch to Watch list, throwing a spotlight on the brilliant diverse film talent The Netherlands currently has to offer. This coincides with the start of Berlinale 2016 today. 

1.) Ko Zandvliet (Actor/Musician) (Age 23)

Ko did not attend acting school, but already has 9 film credits on his name. He did receive musical education at Arts & Entertainment College in Amsterdam and plays trombone in the brilliant 9 piece instrumental collective from Amsterdam Afrobeat band called Jungle by Night.

2.) Sigrid ten Napel (Actress) (Age 23) 

2015 graduate of the prestigious Maastricht Academy of Dramatic Art is already known for Penoza (2010), and Colette Bothof’s Zomer (2014) where at age 21 she already was nominated for the Golden Calf in the category “ Best female lead. And again a ” Best Supporting Actress “ Golden Calf nomination in 2015 for Sam de Jong’s film “Prins.” 

3.) Jonas Smulders (Actor) (Age 22) 

Only 22 years old and already 22 film credits on your name, Jonas Smulders best known for Jongens (2014), 4Jim (2015) and Ballen (2013). And won the Golden Calf for Best Actor in a Television Drama for the TV Movie for Director Mees Peijnenburg’s brilliant Geen Koningen in ons Bloed. 

4.) Hannah Hoekstra (Actress) (Age 29)

A 2010 graduate from the Amsterdam Theatre Academy, and already has 21 films on here name. Won the Golden Calf for Best Actress for her portrayal of Hemel Sacha Polak’s brilliant Hemel (2012). Best known for The Canal (2014), Hemel (2012) and App (2013).

5.) Emma Westerberg (Director) (Age 26)

Emma graduated in 2014 with special distinction ‘Cum Laude’ with a short film, ‘Het stilleven van Estelle’/ ‘The still life of Estelle’. Now nominated for an Edison award for her Music video for Dutch singer-songwriter Anouk with the song Dominique. 

6.) Mees Peijnenburg (Director) (Age 26)

Mees Peijnenburg graduated from the Netherlands Film Academy in 2013, Mees graduation film “Cowboys Janken Ook” premiered at the Berlinale Generation 2014 to rave reviews and was awarded several prices.

7.) Olivia Lonsdale (Actress) (Age 21)

She’s mostly known for her appearance in the viral music video by Dutch rappers Ronnie Flex and Lil Kleine called “Drank en Drugs” with 21 million youtube views. Olivia Lonsdale already starred in the nominated Berlinale 2015 (Generation 14Plus section) film Prins (2015) but soon to seen in Geen Koningen in ons Bloed (2015) and Monk (2016).

8.) Bo Maerten (Actress) (Age 23) 

Daughter of Belgian actor Hugo Maerten. 13 film credits already on her name. mostly known from the 2007 Golden Film Timboektoe, TV series Celblok H, and Arrêt Pipi (2015). 

9.) Michiel Ten Horn (Director) (Age 33) 

After his successful debut movie The Deflowering of Eva van End (De Ontmaagding van Eva van End), with its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, the prestigious American film magazine Variety listed Ten Horn as one of ‘Ten European directors to watch’.

10.) Sam de Jong (Director) (Age 29) 

Known for his critically acclaimed shorts such as Magnesium, Marc Jacobs and Malaguti Phantom, in 2014 Sam wrote and directed his highly anticipated, first feature film “Prince”, which was released during the 2015 Berlinale. 

11.) Paul Geusebroek (Director) (Age 28) 

Dutch wunderkind Director Geusebroek known from the Vimeo Viral hits Precinct 5 x Nike Destroyer, and Nike Stadium & Pigalle – Goutte d’Or and now Mr. Pokémon Super Bowl Commercial 20 million youtube views, showed us again that he is a true master of capturing the street styles of urban city life with Holland’s best music video the last decade with The Opposites – Sukkel Voor De Liefde.  

12.) Mea dols de Jong (Director) (Age 28) 

Variety named Dutch Filmmaker Mea Dols de Jong ‘one of the 10 Europeans to watch for 2016! (ARTICLE) – Originally studying to become a fiction director, Mea changed course quite literally and switched to documentary directing. And the daughter of the Dutch director Ate de Jong. Dutch filmmaker’s doc “If Mama Ain’t Happy, Nobody’s Happy” screened at the IDFA festival and at Slamdance.

13.) Jim Taihuttu (Director) (Age 35) 

Owner of prod. co. New Amsterdam (former Habbekrats), and founder of DJ trio Yellow Claw. He was successful with the feature films Rabat (2011) and Wolf (2013), for what he received a Golden Calf for his directing work in 2013 and won the youth Jury Award at San Sebastián International Film Festival.  

14.) Noël Loozen (Director) (Age 33) 

After his 2014 short film ‘The Hornhunter’, short film (2014) and his Obstacle course 2.0’, video installation (2014) and some prior photography projects Loozen’s new short fil  Spoetnik will take part in the Generation 14plus competition of Berlinale 2016. 

15. ) Bram Schouw (Director) (Age 37) 

Bram Schouw is a director and writer, known for Sevilla (2012), Impasse (2009) and Marriage (2005) which was the official opening film for Curta Cinema Rio de Janeiro. His commercial projects have won multiple Silver Lamps at the ADCN and a Golden Efies. His MENZIS spots won Silver Lions in Cannes and he was chosen Best Director at the ADCN 2015.

Honourable mentions outside top15: 

  • Reinout Scholten van Aschat (Actor Shooting Star 2016) (Age 26)
  • Gijs Blom (Actor) (Age 19)
  • Gaite Jansen (Actor) (Age 24)
  • Stephan Wever (Director) (Age 30) 
  • Martijn Lakemeier (Actor) (Age 22)
  • Sacha Polak (Director) (Age 34) 
  • Morgan Knibbe (Director) (Age 27)
  • Jakob Nieuwenhuijsen (Actor) (Age 36) 
  • Rutger Reinders (Composer) (Age 36) 
  • Nina Gantz (Director Stop motion) –  ‘Edmund’ won at Sundance and now she’s up for a BAFTA. 
  • Menno Mans (Cinematographer) (NFC)
  • Marlies van der Wel (Animation)
  • Niki Padidar (Director)
  • David de Winter (Director) (Motion graphic designer) (Age 43)
  • Kevin Boitelle (Director) – Nominated Narrative Shorts Competition new “short Crooked” 180 SXSW16 (WATCH SHORT FILM HERE)
  • and Lourens Blok (37) 

Photo credit: Ko Zandvliet/hennemanagency/Mischa Camp 2014 Boys film.