The Netherlands Film Festival () is an annual

film festival A film festival is an organized, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theater, cinemas or screening venues, usually annually and in a single city or region. Some film festivals show films outdoors or online. Films may be of recent ...

, held in September and October of each year in the city of

Utrecht Utrecht ( ; ; ) is the List of cities in the Netherlands by province, fourth-largest city of the Netherlands, as well as the capital and the most populous city of the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of Utrecht (province), Utrecht. The ...

. During the ten-day festival, Dutch film productions and co-productions are exhibited. Besides

feature film A feature film or feature-length film (often abbreviated to feature), also called a theatrical film, is a film (Film, motion picture, "movie" or simply “picture”) with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole present ...

s, the program also consists of

short subject A short film is a film with a low running time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of not more than 40 minutes including all credits". Other film or ...

documentary film A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

s, and television productions. On the closing evening of the festival, the Golden Calves are awarded to the best films, directors, and actors. Together with the

Netherlands Film Fund The Netherlands Film Fund () is a subsidy funding, fund for Netherlands, Dutch film productions and was founded in 1993. The Netherlands Film Fund is itself mainly subsidized by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. In 2007, the tota ...

, the festival also recognises

box office A box office or ticket office is a place where ticket (admission), tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through a hole in a wall or window, or at a Wicket gate, wicket. ...

results of Dutch film productions during the year with the Crystal Film (10,000 visitors of documentary films),

Golden Film The Golden Film () is a film award recognizing domestic box office achievements in the Netherlands. The Golden Film is awarded to films from the Netherlands once they have sold . The award is an initiative by the Netherlands Film Festival and t ...

(100,000 visitors), Platinum Film (400,000 visitors), and

Diamond Film The Diamond Film () is a film award recognising domestic box office achievements in the Netherlands. The Diamond Film is awarded to films from the Netherlands once they have sold 1,000,000 cinema tickets or more during the original circulation. ...

(1,000,000 visitors).

History

The Netherlands Film Festival was founded in 1981 by the Dutch film maker

Jos Stelling Jos Stelling (born 16 July 1945) is a Dutch film director and screenwriter. Career He made his debut as a film director in 1974 with ''Mariken van Nieumegen'', which was selected for the official Cannes competition in 1975. In 1981 he founded t ...

, who called it the "Netherlands Film Days" ('). Initially, the festival was oriented towards film makers only, but it gradually reached a broader audience. Nederlands Film Festival 2018.jpg Neude at night

The 36th edition of the festival, in 2016, attracted more than 150,000 visitors.

Canon of Dutch cinema

In 2007, the festival presented their Canon of Dutch Cinema, ('), containing sixteen monumental films in Dutch film history. The list included the following films: *''

The Misadventure of a French Gentleman Without Pants at the Zandvoort Beach ''The Misadventure of a French Gentleman Without Pants at the Zandvoort Beach'' () is a 1905 early Dutch silent film directed by Willy Mullens, and produced by Alberts Frères. A six-minute short comedy film (really a slapstick), it is one of the o ...

'' (

Willy Mullens Willy Mullens (4 October 1880, Weesp, North Holland - 21 April 1952, The Hague) was a Dutch producer, director, and promoter of movies. He is considered to be one of the early pioneers of Dutch cinema, and one of his movies was recently elected ...

and

Alberts Frères Alberts Frères, founded around 1899, was one of the first film production companies in the Netherlands. The company was founded by brothers Albert (1879–1941) and Willy Mullens (1880–1952); they were the main filmmakers and exhibitors in the ...

1905 As the second year of the massive Russo-Japanese War begins, more than 100,000 die in the largest world battles of that era, and the war chaos leads to the 1905 Russian Revolution against Nicholas II of Russia (Shostakovich's 11th Symphony i ...

) *''

A Carmen of the North ''A Carmen of the North'' () is a 1919 Dutch silent film, silent romantic drama film directed by Maurits Binger. Plot Jozef (Adelqui Migliar) is a young farmer who has been ordered to leave his mother (Paula de Waart) and childhood sweetheart Mar ...

'' (

Maurits Binger Maurits Binger (5 April 1868 – 9 April 1923) was a Dutch film director, film producer, producer and screenwriter of the silent film, silent era. He directed 39 films between 1913 and 1922 and is considered one of the pioneers of fictional ...

1919 Events January * January 1 ** The Czechoslovak Legions occupy much of the self-proclaimed "free city" of Pressburg (later Bratislava), enforcing its incorporation into the new republic of Czechoslovakia. ** HMY ''Iolaire'' sinks off th ...

) * ''Rain'' (

Joris Ivens Georg Henri Anton "Joris" Ivens (18 November 1898 – 28 June 1989) was a Dutch documentary filmmaker. Among the notable films he directed or co-directed are '' A Tale of the Wind'', ''The Spanish Earth'', ''Rain'', ''...A Valparaiso'', '' Misèr ...

1929 This year marked the end of a period known in American history as the Roaring Twenties after the Wall Street Crash of 1929 ushered in a worldwide Great Depression. In the Americas, an agreement was brokered to end the Cristero War, a Catholic ...

) *''

The Tars ''The Tars'' or '' De Jantjes '' is a 1934 Dutch comedy film drama directed by Jaap Speyer. The film was a remake of the 1922 film of the same name, which itself was based on a 1920-play by Louis Davids and Margie Morris. Reception and inf ...

'' (

Jaap Speyer Jaap Speyer (1891–1952) was a Dutch film director. He was married to the German actress Mia Pankau. Selected filmography * ''Hedda's Revenge'' (1919) * ''Entblätterte Blüten'' (1920) * ''Colombine (film), Colombine'' (1920) * ''Die rote Nach ...

1934 Events January–February * January 1 – The International Telecommunication Union, a specialist agency of the League of Nations, is established. * January 15 – The 8.0 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake, Nepal–Bihar earthquake strik ...

) * ( Herman van der Horst,

1952 Events January–February * January 26 – Cairo Fire, Black Saturday in Kingdom of Egypt, Egypt: Rioters burn Cairo's central business district, targeting British and upper-class Egyptian businesses. * February 6 ** Princess Elizabeth, ...

) * ''Fanfare'' (

Bert Haanstra Albert Haanstra (; 31 May 1916 – 23 October 1997) was a Dutch director of films and documentaries. His documentary ''Glass'' (1958) won the Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject in 1959. His feature film '' Fanfare'' (1958) was the ...

1958 Events January * January 1 – The European Economic Community (EEC) comes into being. * January 3 – The West Indies Federation is formed. * January 4 ** Edmund Hillary's Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition completes the thir ...

) *'' Like Two Drops of Water'' (

Fons Rademakers Alphonse Marie "Fons" Rademakers (5 September 1920 – 22 February 2007) was a Dutch actor, film director, film producer and screenwriter. Career His 1960 film '' Makkers Staakt uw Wild Geraas'' was entered into the 11th Berlin International F ...

1963 Events January * January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Cove ...

) *'' Blind Kind'' (

Johan van der Keuken Johan van der Keuken (; 4 April 1938 – 7 January 2001) was a Dutch documentary filmmaker, author, and photographer. In a career that spanned 42 years, Van der Keuken produced 55 documentary films, six of which won eight awards. He also wrot ...

1964 Events January * January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved. * January 5 – In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patria ...

) * (

Adriaan Ditvoorst Adriaan Ditvoorst (23 January 1940 – 18 October 1987) was a Dutch film director and screenwriter. He directed nine films between 1965 and 1984. His 1967 film ''Paranoia'' was entered into the 17th Berlin International Film Festival. Selec ...

1965 Events January–February * January 14 – The First Minister of Northern Ireland and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland meet for the first time in 43 years. * January 20 ** Lyndon B. Johnson is Second inauguration of Lynd ...

) *''Living'' ( Frans Zwartjes,

1971 * The year 1971 had three partial solar eclipses (Solar eclipse of February 25, 1971, February 25, Solar eclipse of July 22, 1971, July 22 and Solar eclipse of August 20, 1971, August 20) and two total lunar eclipses (February 1971 lunar eclip ...

) * ''Turkish Delight'' (

Paul Verhoeven Paul Verhoeven (; born 18 July 1938) is a Dutch filmmaker, who has worked variously in the Netherlands, the United States, and in France. He is known for directing genre films with strong satirical elements, often featuring graphic violence and ...

1973 Events January * January 1 – The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 14 - The 16-0 19 ...

) *''

Flodder ''Flodder'' is a 1986 Dutch comedy film written and directed by Dick Maas, and produced by First Floor Features. It is the first film in the ''Flodder'' franchise and is followed by two more films and a spin-off series. The film follows an ant ...

'' (

Dick Maas Dirk Herman Willem Maas (Dick) (born 15 April 1951) is a Dutch film director, screenwriter, film producer and film composer. Career Maas achieved fame after the success of his music videos for the Dutch band Golden Earring, including "Twilight Z ...

1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. ** Spain and Portugal en ...

) *''

The Northerners ''The Northerners'' () is a 1992 Dutch film written and directed by Alex van Warmerdam. The film was selected as the Dutch entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 65th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee. This black comedy ...

'' (

Alex van Warmerdam Alex van Warmerdam (born 14 August 1952) is a Dutch screenwriter, film director, and actor. He is also a painter. Life and career Van Warmerdam was born in Haarlem, a city in the province of North Holland in the Netherlands. He was cofounder o ...

1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...

) *''

The Pocket-knife ''The Pocket-knife'' () is a 1992 Dutch children's film directed by Ben Sombogaart and written by Sjoerd Kuyper, based on his novel '' Het Zakmes''. The film won several awards, including a Golden Calf Best Director Award. Plot The story is abou ...

'' (

Ben Sombogaart Bernard Cornelis (Ben) Sombogaart (born 8 August 1947) is a Dutch film and TV director. His film '' Twin Sisters'' (2002) was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Filmography *''The Pocket-knife'' (''Het Zakmes'', 19 ...

) * (

Jos de Putter Jos de Putter (Terneuzen, 1959) is a Dutch film director, film critic and screenwriter who primarily makes Dutch documentary films. He studied political science and literature at the University of Leiden, and was a member of the editorial staff ...

1993 The United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly of the United Nations designated 1993 as: * International Year for the World's Indigenous People The year 1993 in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands had only 364 days, since its ...

) * ''Father and Daughter'' (

Michaël Dudok de Wit Michaël Dudok de Wit (; born 15 July 1953) is a Dutch animator, director and illustrator based in London. He won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for '' Father and Daughter'' (2000) and was nominated in the same category for '' Th ...

2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...

)

Special guests

Since 1992, the festival organisation invites a special guest, usually a respected director or actor in the Dutch film business. * 1992:

Paul Schrader Paul Joseph Schrader (; born July 22, 1946) is an American screenwriter, film director, and film critic. He first became known for writing the screenplay of Martin Scorsese's ''Taxi Driver'' (1976). He later continued his collaboration with Scor ...

* 1993:

Krzysztof Zanussi Krzysztof Pius Zanussi (born 17 June 1939) is a Polish film and theatre director, producer and screenwriter. He is a professor of European film at the European Graduate School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland where he conducts a summer workshop. He ...

* 1994:

Rutger Hauer Rutger Oelsen Hauer (; 23 January 1944 – 19 July 2019) was a Dutch actor, with a career that spanned over 170 roles across nearly 50 years, beginning in 1969. In 1999, he was named by the Dutch public as the Best Dutch Actor of the Century. H ...

* 1995:

Nouchka van Brakel Nouchka van Brakel (born 18 April 1940 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch film director known for her 1982 movie ''Van de koele meren des doods (film), Van de koele meren des doods''. That movie, and A Woman Like Eve, A Woman Like Eve (1979), established ...

* 1996:

Jan de Hartog Jan de Hartog (April 22, 1914 – September 22, 2002) was a Dutch playwright, novelist and occasional social critic who moved to the United States in the early 1960s and became a Quaker. Early life In 1914, Jan de Hartog was born to a D ...

* 1997:

Monique van de Ven Monica Maria Theresia "Monique" van de Ven (; born 28 July 1952) is a Dutch actress and director. Career Van de Ven's film debut as an actress was in the Paul Verhoeven film ''Turkish Delight'' in 1973. This film was an immediate breakthrough ...

* 1998:

First Floor Features First Floor Features is a Dutch film production company founded by Laurens Geels and Dick Maas. History First Floor Features was founded in 1984 The first film the studio released was ''Abel'' in 1986. In 1991, Geels and Maas built a film st ...

* 1999: ? * 2000:

Heddy Honigmann Heddy Honigmann (1 October 1951 – 21 May 2022) was a Peruvian-born Dutch film director of fictional and documentary films. Early life and education Honigmann was born on 1 October 1951 in Lima, Peru, to Jewish refugees. Her mother, Sarah Pa ...

* 2001:

Renée Soutendijk Renette Pauline Soutendijk (born 21 May 1957), known professionally as Renée Soutendijk (), is a Dutch actress. A gymnast in her youth, Soutendijk began her acting career in the late 1970s. She was a favorite star of director Paul Verhoeven's fi ...

* 2002:

Pieter Verhoeff Pieter Verhoeff (4 February 1938 – 17 April 2019) was a Dutch film director. He studied at the Netherlands Film and Television Academy and graduated in 1966. He is known for his films ''The Mark of the Beast (film), The Mark of the Beast'', ''Th ...

* 2003:

Jan Decleir Jan Decleir (born as ''Jan Amanda Gustaaf Decleir'' on 14 February 1946) is a prolific Belgian movie and stage actor born in Niel, Antwerp. Career He had his first big role in Fons Rademakers's ''Mira'' (1971). Since then, he has appeared in ...

* 2004: Jean van de Velde * 2005:

* 2006:

Johanna ter Steege Johanna ter Steege (born 10 May 1961) is a Dutch actress. Career She won the European Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her movie debut in '' The Vanishing'' (1988). Among her other films are Robert Altman's '' Vincent & Theo'' (1990), ...

* 2007:

Burny Bos Bernard Gerrit "Burny" Bos (8 April 1944 – 1 December 2023) was a Dutch film producer, screenwriter and children's book writer. He also worked as an actor in children's programs on radio and television. Life and career Bos started working wi ...

* 2008:

Monic Hendrickx Monic Hendrickx (born 3 December 1966 in Sint Anthonis) is a Dutch actress. She has won several awards during her career including four Golden Calf awards for Best Actress at the Nederlands Film Festival, the Jury Award at the 2001 Newport Be ...

* 2009:

Jack Wouterse Jack Wouterse (born 17 June 1957 in Soest) is a Dutch actor. His career as a movie actor took off with his role in the 1992 film ''The Northerners'', directed by Alex van Warmerdam. Wouterse made his international debut in an episode of the TV ...

* 2010:

Anneke Blok Anneke Blok (born 24 December 1959) is a Dutch actress. She won the 2008 Golden Calf for Best Actress award for her performance as Anne in '' Tiramisu''. Selected filmography References External links * 1959 births Living people ...

* 2011: Frans van Gestel * 2012:

Jeroen Willems Jeroen Willems (; 15 November 1962 – 3 December 2012) was a Dutch Golden Calf and Louis d'Or winning film, TV, and stage actor and singer. Early life Willems was born on 15 November 1962 in Maastricht, the third child of a drama teacher and a ...

* 2013:

Paula van der Oest Paula van der Oest (born 1965) is a Dutch film director and screenwriter. Her 2001 film ''Zus & Zo'' was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. With her final exam at the Dutch Film and Television Academy, ''Zinderend'', ...

* 2014: Fons Merkies *2016: Willem de Beukelaer

Awards

Besides the Golden Calves the Festival also has its own special awards. * Dutch Film Critics award * Award of the city

Tuschinski Tuschinski may refer to: People * Abraham Icek Tuschinski (1886–1942), founder of the Tuschinski theatre * Alexander Tuschinski (born 1988), German film director and writer Places *Tuschinski Theatre The Koninklijk Theater Tuschinski (English: ...

Award (former Cannon City Prize) * Talent & Pro Student Award * NPS Award for best short film * Teen Award * Cinema.nl Film Poster Award (former Skrien Afficheprijs) *

Grolsch Koninklijke Grolsch N.V. (; "Royal Grolsch"), known simply as Grolsch, is a Dutch brewery founded in 1615 by Willem Neerfeldt in Groenlo. In 1895, the Family de Groen, de Groen family bought the brewery. They had started their own brewery in Ensc ...

Film Award

Opening films

* 1981 ''

The Girl with the Red Hair ''The Girl With the Red Hair'' (original title in Dutch: ''Het meisje met het rode haar'') is a popular biographical novel by Dutch author Theun de Vries (1907–2005). It was first published in 1956, and has been reprinted many times. ''The ...

'' * 1982 * 1983 ''Giovanni'' * 1984 * 1985 * 1986 ''

The Pointsman ''The Pointsman'' () is a 1986 Dutch film directed by Jos Stelling, starring Jim van der Woude, Stéphane Excoffier and John Kraaijkamp, Sr. It tells the story of a French woman who moves in with a Dutch railwayman at a remote railway station. The ...

'' * 1987 ''

A Month Later ''A Month Later'' (), also known as ''One Month Later'', is a 1987 Dutch comedy film directed by Nouchka van Brakel, starring Renée Soutendijk and Monique van de Ven as two women who switch their identites for a month. The film was released in ...

'' * 1988 ''Shadow Man'' * 1989 ''Blueberry Hill'' * 1990 ''Vigour'' * 1991 ''The Province'' * 1992 ''

The Three Best Things in Life ''The Three Best Things in Life'' () is a 1992 Dutch comedy film directed by Ger Poppelaars. It was entered into the 18th Moscow International Film Festival. Cast * Loes Wouterson as Sacha * Victor Löw as Caspar * Jack Wouterse as Maarten * ...

'' * 1993 ''Unknown Time'' * 1994 '' 1000 Roses'' * 1995 ''

Antonia's Line ''Antonia's Line'' (Original title: ''Antonia'') is a 1995 Dutch feminist film written and directed by Marleen Gorris. The film, described as a "feminist fairy tale", tells the story of the independent Antonia ( Willeke van Ammelrooy) who, afte ...

'' * 1996 * 1997 '' Tropic of Emerald'' * 1998 * 1999 '' Under the Palms'' * 2000 ''

Wild Mussels ''Wild Mussels'' () is a 2000 Dutch drama film directed by Erik de Bruyn. It was entered into the 23rd Moscow International Film Festival. Cast * Fedja van Huêt as Leen * Frank Lammers as Daan * Frederik Brom as Jacob (as Freek Brom) * Will v ...

'' * 2001 * 2002 ''Ramses'' * 2003 '' Phileine Says Sorry'' * 2004 ''Simon'' * 2005 ''

Life! ''Life!'' () is a 2005 Dutch drama film directed by Willem van de Sande Bakhuyzen and written by Maria Goos. Director Willem van de Sande Bakhuyzen died the day before the premiere. won the 2005 Golden Calf award for the best supporting actress. ...

'' * 2006 ''Waiter'' * 2007 ''Duska'' * 2008 ''In Real Life'' * 2009 ''Tramontana'' * 2010 ''

Tirza ''Tirza'' is a 2010 Dutch drama film written and directed by Rudolf van den Berg, based on the Dutch bestseller of the same name by Arnon Grunberg. The film was selected as the Dutch entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 83rd Academ ...

'' * 2011 '' The Gang of Oss'' * 2012 ''

The Zigzag Kid ''The Zigzag Kid'' () is a 2012 Dutch-Belgian family adventure film directed by Vincent Bal and starring Thomas Simon (as the title character) and Isabella Rossellini. The film is based on the novel of the same name by David Grossman. Plot Nono, ...

'' * 2013 ''The Price of Sugar'' * 2014 ''Reckless'' * 2015 '' J. Kessels'' * 2016 * 2017 ''

Tulipani, Love, Honour and a Bicycle ''Tulipani, Love, Honour and a Bicycle'' (, ) is a 2017 Dutch comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy en ...

'' * 2018 '' Open Seas'' * 2019 ''Instinct'' * 2020 '' Buladó'' * 2021 '' My Father Is an Airplane'' * 2023 '' Sweet Dreams''

References

External links

Official website

Netherlands Film Festival
at the

Internet Movie Database IMDb, historically known as the Internet Movie Database, is an online database of information related to films, television series, podcasts, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and biograp ...

{{coord, 52, 05, N, 05, 07, E, display=title Film festivals in the Netherlands Recurring events established in 1981 1981 establishments in the Netherlands Organised events in Utrecht (city)

History

Canon of Dutch cinema

Special guests

Awards

Opening films

See also

References

External links