★RESUME ILJA WILLEMS★ TV- & FILM MAKER Director / Producer

United States of America The Brooklyn NY Amsterdam Tel: (1) 917 855 5791 Tel: +31 (6) 2902 5017

COMPETENCE Over the last 14 years, I have become an expert in making documentary series and television programs for various genres, mostly as a director, but I am also capable of producing, editing and researching my own subjects.

I am known for my energy and creativity. Colleagues describe me as a strong minded, driven but flexible professional who has worked all over the world in difficult situations with people from many different backgrounds.

My specialties are to get people to tell their personal stories, and then reproduce that story in a way that will make for good television. And most of all, I specialize in working abroad to create, realize and complete in difficult conditions and under any circumstance.

OVERVIEW WORK EXPERIENCE a.o.

Project/Program Explanation Metropolis Cultural Portraits, VPRO, USA O’Hanlons Heroes Travel documentary on 19th century explorers The Beagle, on the Origin of Species Travel documentary series on Charles Darwin Van Dis in Afrika Documentary series about Dutch author v. Dis In Southern (Mozambique, Namibia, S.A) Labyrinth Scientific program, VPRO, USA Goudzoekers (Gold diggers) Program on everyday economics VPRO NL Peking Express Derivative of ‘Amazing Race’ In , , Jamie Oliver's Fifteen in A’ dam Docu-series, Amsterdam -Netherlands Wildebeesten (Wildebeasts) Travel/reality - Terra Incognita Derivative of ‘Survivor’ in & Birma Yorin Travel Travel show - All over the world Art or Atrocity Art show, public art - Great Britain And many others…

COMPANIES WORKED FOR

★ As a freelancer: VPRO, AVRO, NCRV, TROS, RTL, SBS, NOS, Idtv, Blue Circle, Off World, Beeld Brigade, Kanakna, RTL , Simpel Media, Emolife, Diesel, Wereldland Nederland, Hazazah, JWT, YUNE, DAWN, RED, ROOTS, ESTA ★VPRO, Dutch National Public Broadcaster, ’08 – ‘10 The VPRO has a rather special position within the broadcasting system. Enthusiasm, curiosity and quality have more value than ratings. The VPRO takes its public task seriously but with slight stubbornness, purposefully choosing those programs and topics that the other broadcasting companies pass over.

★Kanakna, Production Company - Zodiac Network ’04 – ‘08 Kanakna is the biggest independent producer of in the Dutch speaking market. They produced: Survivor (Expeditie Robinson), Temptation Island, and various other programs.

★Blue Circle, production company - Fremantle Media Network ’01-‘04 Blue Circle is a production company that specializes in entertainment, reality and infotainment. It has produced Dutch versions of Idols, X-Factor, Holland’s Got Talent and The Bachelor.

★RTL National Commercial Broadcaster, affiliated with CBS ’01-‘02 RTL is one of the world's leading producers of television content such as game shows and soaps. It is Europe’s largest commercial TV, radio and production company.

★Endemol, International Commercial Production Company ‘01 Emerged from the co-operation between Dutch media tycoons Joop van de Ende (Big Brother and Broadway musicals) and John de Mol (Big Brother & The Voice of Holland).

EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

★‘The Beagle, On the Future of Species’: Sailing around the world for 9 continuous months in the footsteps of nineteenth century naturalist Charles Darwin viewed in a 35 episode scientific travel documentary for Dutch National Public television.

★‘Van Dis in Africa’ Winning the prestigious Dutch Nipkow Award for best TV program of 2007 for the documentary series made with well respected Dutch writer Adriaan van Dis and working on another Nipkow Award winning series: O’Hanlons Heroes in 2012

★ Freelance TV- & Film maker working in New York for several documentaries, tv- programs, news -(background stories) and films since January 2011.

EDUCATION -University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, English Language & Literature and International Relations, graduated - masters degree 1998 -Universidad Complutense , , Relaciones Internacionales, 1997 -Old Dominion University, Norfolk VA, USA 1992

Languages: Dutch (native), English (fluent), German, Spanish, French (good/fair)