Beyond Sleep opening IFFR New IFFR director Bero Beyer Strike a Pose in Berlin Panorama Fiona Tan’s History’s Future in Tiger competition Dutch line-up in Sundance, Rotterdam and Berlin ProfilesHanneke Niens and Richard van Oosterhout

Issue #22 January 2016 IFFR/Sundance/Berlin issue

Download the free app for iPad and Android Index Renate Rose: Managing Director EFP View from the edge Colophon

See NL is published four times per 3 View from the Edge Renate Rose 26-27 Caught on film Maurice Dekkers’ year by EYE International and presented to the international film The Netherlands Film Fund and Managing Director, European Film Ants on a Shrimp world prems in Berlin’s industry and media during the 66th is distributed to international film Promotion Culinary Cinema section professionals. Berlinale this year. Past editions of 4-5 Silence and Nothingess Boudewijn 28-29 Digging to Berlin Rosie Stapel’s the talent showcase saw the Editors in chief: Marten Rabarts (EYE), Jonathan Mees Koole’s Beyond Silence opens IFFR feature doc, about a kitchen garden, will spotlight turned on such actors as (Netherlands Film Fund) 2016 whet appetites in Berlin Culinary Cinema Sylvia Hoeks, while the multi- Executive editor: Nick cultural dimension of Dutch society Cunningham Contributors: 6-7 Taking Charge IFFR director Bero 30-31 Food for thought In Need for Meat, ­Geoffrey Macnab, Melanie Beyer talks to See NL about his first selected for Berlin Culinary Cinema, Marijn reflected in the selection of such Goodfellow and Renate Rose Concept & Design: Lava.nl, Frank examines her carnivore within actors as Marwan Kenzari. festival at the helm Amsterdam Layout: def., It is almost two decades since the Amsterdam Printing: mediaLiaison 8-9 Beyond Memory Visual artist Fiona 32-33 Viking in Sweden Minority co-pro pan-European promotional Dynamic and entrepreneurial Printed on FSC paper Circulation: 2600 copies Tan makes her feature debut with Siv Sleeps Astray will open Berlin organisation European Film women producers are a force to be History’s Future, about a man in search Generation. Dutch producer Marleen © All rights reserved: Promotion (EFP) was launched to reckoned with in the Dutch film The Netherlands Film Fund and of his past Slot talks to See NL promote European cinema around industry, as shown by the EFP’s EYE International 2016 10-11 Chasing the Tiger Dutch minority 34-35 The Vanishing Minority co-pro the globe and, despite its relatively Producers on the Move platform in Contact co-productions in IFFR Tiger competition Humidity is selected for Berlin Forum small size for a film industry, the Cannes. Over half of the 14 Dutch Sandra den Hamer CEO EYE Netherlands has always played a key producers selected have been E [email protected] 12-13 In a Strange Town Kaweh 36-37 To Berlin via Amsterdam The role in the development of joint women, beginning in 2000 with Modiri’s feature debut Bodkin Ras, set to Turkish All of a Sudden, co-produced by Marten Rabarts activities under the EFP umbrella. Els Vandervoorst and followed in world premiere in IFFR Bright Future. Topkapi, is selected for Berlin Panorama Head of EYE International subsequent years by such colleagues E [email protected] 38-39 Art of Deception A Real Vermeer To start with, Holland Film, the as Petra Goedings and Leontine 14-15 Holland in Rotterdam Profiles of EYE International three new Dutch projects that will be about Dutch master forger Han Van predecessor of EYE Int’l, was one of Petit, all now key figures in the PO BOX 74782 pitched at CineMart 2016 Meegeren is in production. Producer EFP’s ten founding members back European co-production landscape. 1070 BT Amsterdam Reinier Selen talks fake with See NL The Netherlands in 1997, with Holland Film’s MD 16-17 Way out West Dutch films at T +31 20 758 2375 W www.eyefilm.nl Sundance 2016 40-41 Character Building Producer Claudia Landsberger serving as the It goes without staying that we have profile: Hanneke Niens organisation’s President for 12 always admired Dutch cinema (and Doreen Boonekamp 18-19 Berlin Commune Topkapi Film years until 2009, then continuing as its funding institutions) for the CEO Netherlands Film Fund is Dutch co-producer on Thomas 42-43 Lensing by Candlelight Talent Vice-President until May 2013. commitment to the development of E [email protected] Vinterberg’s Berlin comp selection profile: Richard van Oosterhout a vibrant and diverse children’s film Ellis Driessen The Commune Today, EFP has a membership of sector, but Holland has also been International Affairs 44-45 In Short Dutch shorts in selection Netherlands Film Fund 20-21 Express yourself Reijer Zwaan at Clermont Ferrand 37 organisations representing 36 the source of innovation for the E [email protected] and Ester Gould Strike a Pose with the countries in Europe and serves as a international film industry. IFFR’s Jonathan Mees 46-47 More in Short Dutch shorts in dancers from Madonna’s Blond Ambition forum for the exchange of ideas and CineMart prides itself on being the Head of Communications tour selection at Berlin and IFFR best practice between the members. ‘mother of all co-production Netherlands Film Fund The Dutch industry has featured in markets’, while the Hubert Bals E [email protected] 22-23 China Crisis Sophia Luvarà’s 48-49 New Dutch disorder The latest particular in two of EFP’s flagship Fund provided the inspiration for Inside the Chinese Closet is selected for EYE exhibition focuses on the new Netherlands Film Fund initiatives: Shooting Stars in Berlin the creation of numerous other Pijnackerstraat 5 Berlinale Panorama and competes in generation of Dutch film and video artists 1072 JS Amsterdam TEDDY competition and Producers on the Move (Cannes). festival funds around the globe to The Netherlands 50-51 Short Cuts News from the Dutch Now in its 19th year, Shooting Stars foster the production of T +31 20 570 7676 W www.filmfonds.nl 24-25 Fight Club Dutch-Turkish film industry 2016 includes Reinout Scholten van independent artistic cinema. producer Mete Gümürhan’s directorial Aschat as one of ten promising debut Young Wrestlers will world 52 Star profile Reinout Scholten van premiere in Berlin Generation Asschat, Shooting Star 2016 European acting talents who will be

Cover still: Beyond Sleep. Boudewijn Koole Still: Siv Sleeps Astray See page 32 Script: Boudewijn Koole Production: KeyFilm (NL) Co-production: Nordisk Film (NO) See page 6

2 3 IFFR opening film Silence and nothingness Beyond Sleep Boudewijn Koole

guide him, to help him make the meeting him when he visited the right choices.” Netherlands to give a talk about producing the Golden Globe and Alongside producers Hanneke Niens Academy Award nominated film ‘We were in a film and Hans de Wolf at Amsterdam- Kon-Tiki. Aaberge’s film starred Pål bubble for six weeks, based KeyFilm, Koole secured rights Sverre Hagen who was also cast in it was a very special to Hermans’ classic partly because the lead supporting role of Arne atmosphere’ Boudewijn Koole the late writer’s son loved Koole’s opposite up and coming Dutch actor award-winning last feature Kauwboy, Reinout Scholten van Aschat. Dutch director Boudewijn Koole about a young boy who develops a talks to Melanie Goodfellow relationship with a jackdaw. Koole originally planned to cast a about Beyond Sleep which opens British or German-speaking actor for IFFR in the presence of Queen Koole has focused on the middle the lead but changed his mind after Maxima of the Netherlands. section of Hermans’s novel, when meeting Van Aschat on an audition troubled Dutch protagonist Alfred for another film. “I auditioned Director Boudewijn Koole, like many embarks on the geological another 30 to 40 actors – many of people in the Netherlands, first read expedition alongside three them very good – but there was Dutch writer Willem Frederik Norwegian researchers, Arne, something about Reinout which Hermans’ classic novel Beyond Sleep Qvigstad and Mikkelsen. “You can’t stuck with me,” says the director. while at school. The survivalist- adapt a book without making big Van Aschat was subsequently existentialist tale, about a man choices. This isn’t so much an selected as Dutch Shooting Star 2016. grappling both with the elements adaptation as [a film] inspired by the and his inner demons during a book. Once I decided what to focus Koole praises cinematographer and scientific research trip to prove the on I started to write it like it was my long-time collaborator Melle van existence of meteorite craters in own screenplay,” explains Koole. Essen for artfully capturing the Norway, was a staple on the Dutch majestic landscape. “He did such a school curriculum for many years. The production was located August good job. He understands how to and September 2015 in the film landscapes and faces… It was not until re-reading the novel municipality of Malselv in northern sometimes he films the face like a during a trip to Scandinavia some Norway, using a former military landscape,” says the director. 20 years later that Koole was struck compound as a base. “We were in a by its cinematic potential. “I fell in film bubble for six weeks. Working The pair are set to work together love with the silence and the hard by day and then having fun at again on an upcoming dance-based nothingness that the author creates night, smoking and drinking fiction feature which is currently in in the quest of the main character whiskey, grabbing a few hours sleep development. Prior to that, a second which I thought would be interesting and then heading back to the set. feature by Koole set in Norway – a to explore cinematographically,” It was a very special atmosphere,” family drama entitled Disappearance explains Koole. “There is this person recounts Koole. (Verdwijnen) – will also hit the big who finds himself in complete screen later this year. “I shot it last whiteness on top of a mountain KeyFilm’s Niens brought Norwegian winter after finishing editing on with nothing to hold onto, no God, producer Aage Aaberge of Nordisk Beyond Sleep. It’s been a crazily busy no science – there’s nothing to Films on board the production after period,” Koole concedes.

Script: Boudewijn Koole Production: KeyFilm (NL) Co-production: Nordisk Film (NO)

4 5 IFFR report Bero Beyer, Artistic Director Taking charge

It’s not exactly a case of poacher Rotterdam plays a part, starting (There are no strings attached to turned gamekeeper but Bero with the Hubert Bals Fund and the money either.) All of the Tiger Beyer (Rotterdam’s new artistic continued at the festival and movies bar one are World director) is certainly experiencing beyond… gives a scope which was Premieres. (Pieter-Jan De Pue’s this year’s IFFR from the other too appealing for me to resist.” Prior The Land Of The Enlightened is a side of the fence, writes Geoffrey to joing IFFR Beyer was Feature European premiere.) Macnab. Film Consultant at the Netherlands Film Fund. Thanks to his experiences as a Beyer has been coming to producer, Beyer has strong Rotterdam for many years. He was connections with sales agents and at the festival’s co-production ‘It was too appealing distributors. He also has a sense of market CineMart with Hany for me to resist’ what practical measures he can put Abu-Assad’s Paradise Now (2005), in place to help industry delegates. which he co-wrote and produced At the same time, the new artistic and which went on to win an Oscar Beyer points out that the auteur- director knows that the festival is an nomination. Last year, another of driven films shown in Rotterdam audience-facing event. The secret is his films, Atlantic., which also are “not the easiest of films, not to balance the demands of the passed through CineMart, was the middle of the road stuff. These are public with those of the industry. first title showcased through the quality films that are often festival’s new distribution initiative, challenging, new and take a while to This is a festival, Beyer continues, at IFFR Live. Now, though, he isn’t digest.” Nonetheless, since the which the films and the filmmakers submitting films for selection – he festival was founded in the early come first. The 2016 edition already is choosing and programming them 1970s by the late Hubert Bals, it has has the royal seal of approval – Her himself. mushroomed to become a mass Majesty Queen Máxima will be in audience event. “That, in itself, is town for the opening night film “For me, it was a logical choice,” something we should be extremely Beyond Sleep (a Dutch-Norwegian Beyer says of the decision to take proud of,” Beyer states. “Apparently, co-production that, Beyer believes, over at Rotterdam. “If you’re an we’re doing something right.” reflects the new “outward looking” independent producer like I was, perspective of the Dutch industry.) you can only take up so many This year, the Rotterdam Tiger projects at the same time. Projects competition has been streamlined The new festival director is take a lot of years to develop, to just eight titles. Beyer is promising a festival that will produce and put out there promising that more attention continue to “put the films first…of properly, especially if it is the kind will be paid to each one of them. course the films are still our stars”, of cinema that I stand for and love.” “It should be an honour to be but that will be enjoyable too, When the opportunity came to nominated. It is quite a select group offering what he calls ‘happy chaos’. become artistic director, he realised of films.” The idea is to have one “It’s also a lot of fun! There are that, rather than working as a Tiger movie in the limelight each parties, there’s music, there’s producer on a handful of titles every day. The Hivos Tiger Award now celebration – it (the festival) should year, he could programme and carries a generous €40,000 cash be joyful. You cannot be creative if help nurture hundreds of films. prize to be split between the you’re gloomy!” “The entire programme in which director and the lead producer. Photo: Adriaan van der Ploeg

6 7 IFFR Tiger competition Beyond memory History’s Future Fiona Tan

with new eyes, and take the viewer humour, and a very dedicated and along with me. The idea to make sensitive actor. It felt very fitting that this film was something that slowly he, as it turned out, is also a took seed and grew inside me scriptwriter. He approached and I guess over a number of years, ever treated my script with due respect since 2008. Triggered by the and attention to detail,” Tan [economic] crisis (and the many acknowledges. “A friend of his Fiona Tan Photo: Marieke Wijntjes crises which came after that) and suffered brain damage some years thinking about its aftermath, back and he visited and talked with Visual artist Fiona Tan makes I found myself asking the question: him in preparation for the role. her feature film debut with Are we living at the end of an era, Before the shoot we rehearsed in my History’s Future, selected for and if we are at the end of an era, studio every day intensively, delving IFFR Tiger competition. what should we keep? Is this also into how MP makes himself up as the end of a cinematic era? What are he goes along; the different In History’s Future, made within these times we are living in?” personae he tries out for size. We “De Verbeelding” scheme overseen discussed the different stages of by the Netherlands Film Fund and MP’s loss of his past determines MP’s condition and how to show Mondriaan Fund, MP embarks on that his grip on the present is weak that on the screen.” an existential odyssey after he to non-existent, and he is compelled suffers profound memory loss, the to wander aimlessly across myriad The locations were numerous and result of a vicious mugging. MP bleak European landscapes which, the production schedule was stands for Missing Person, although despite the precise symmetry of exhausting, Tan concedes, not that at one point in the film he is Tan’s framing and the crystal clarity this was a bad thing. “Reality and referred to as David by the Parisian of her lens, reek of hopelessness. In fiction blurred – just as in the film Caroline with whom we must a scene mirroring the brutal assault – and documentary and fictional assume he had a previous he suffers at the beginning of the scenes are intercut. We would wake relationship (although he has no film, MP declaims that “hope is up not remembering which city we memory of such), and then as violent” to a lovesick drinking buddy were in. We suffered sleepless Philip, a name he uses when picking in Greece before, just as violently, nights in the heat of southern up a woman in a London theatre. demanding that the man stop living Europe and anxiety in the noisy, That aside, the journey that MP in the past, a thing that MP is most threatening atmosphere of undertakes is as a man re-born, pointedly unable to do himself. Barcelona’s red light district. We albeit involuntarily. The film opens had to put up with horrible hotels with credits that read ‘The End’, and The role of MP is played by the Irish and lost luggage at Charles du we are soon to discover that MP’s Mark O’Halloran with an alluring Gaulle airport.” past really is something that is no intensity, whether in delivering a more, and totally beyond memory. rapid fire monologue on fear or “[But] it was great for the film, hopelessly handing out missing because it meant that we, my cast, “[MP’s] extreme retrograde amnesia person leaflets that bear the image crew and I, were physically and is a way of starting again,” stresses of his own gaunt face. “Working emotionally going through what MP director Fiona Tan. “It allows me to with Mark was great. He is a fine goes through in many ways,” Tan look at the world I live in afresh, human being with a great sense of concludes. Nick Cunningham

Script: Fiona Tan, Jonathan Romney Production: Family Affair Films (NL) Co-production: Rohfilm (DE), Vico Film (IE), Antithesis Films (NL) Sales: Mongrel International

8 9 IFFR Tiger Competition Chasing the Tiger Dutch Competitors

In addition to Fiona Tan’s problem. Teaming up with the with her again. Oscuro Animal is a History’s Future, three other Chilean Cinestacíon for (sound) film with a very small budget but it films with significant Dutch post-production was a very good is amazing what we managed to interest will compete in IFFR decision as well as the collaboration achieve. It is beautiful. I am very 2016 Tiger competition. Nick with Haghefilm/Nedcipro in happy with it.” Cunningham reports. Amsterdam. All together, good teamwork, and a happy marriage.” Pieter-Jan De Pue’s The Land of the Pablo Lamar’s La última tierra (The Enlightened (Dutch co-producer Last Land, Paraguay) is produced by Felipe Guerrero’s Oscuro Animal is a Submarine) is about a group of Argentina-based Dutch producer film ostensibly without dialogue, Afghani children who sell explosives Ilse Hughan who, for many years, but this did not deter Dutch to child workers in a lapis lazuli has been producing award-winning producer Marleen Slot from coming mine. Comments Femke Wolting films from South America, including on board as co-producer. “When I from co-producer Submarine: Jauja (2014) and Fantasma (2006), read the script I immediately loved “A couple of years ago I met with both by Lisandro Alonso. La última it. It contains no dialogue but it was Bart van Langendonck of Savage tierra, selected for Tiger competition, [nevertheless] a beautifully written Film (Belgium) and Pieter-Jan at concerns the aged Amancio who, screenplay that tells a very IDFA. They showed me a teaser and over the course of a single night, important story. In the film three I immediately fell in love with the cares for his wife during her women flee their homes in war-torn project. The trailer already showed passing, all the time coming to Colombia bound for Bogota. an incredible cinematic quality, terms with his impending sense of showing Afghanistan and the effects loss and solitude. Oscuro Animal was made with the of decades of war through the eyes support of Hubert Bals Fund Plus. of children. I was interested in the “When I met Pablo a few years ago “We did the mix in the Netherlands way Pieter-Jan wanted to show the I was intrigued by his proposal since with Jan Schermer (who also mixed subjective world of the children in it is exactly what I am looking for, Siv Sleeps Astray, see page 16). In a Afghanistan, to show it through what I am interested in – a film where you almost have no their eyes.” filmmaker with a voice of his own, dialogue the sound mix is of course looking for a way to tell a story with highly important, maybe more so “And the result is really magical,” images and not with words,” than in other films, so it was a really Wolting continues. “He managed stresses Hughan. nice co-operation.” to show how the children live independently from adults from a Working together with Paraguayan “It is Felipe’s feature film debut,” very young age, with incredible production house Sapukai Cine, Slot continues. “He has made many strength and resilience, close to Hughan decided early that there experimental documentaries before nature in a visceral way… Pieter-Jan should be a solid Dutch dimension and when I saw them I knew I would is incredibly courageous, filming in to the project. “With my partner, really like to work with him. I a war-tormented country, and also Wiebke Toppel, Fortuna Films was worked with the producer Gema in the way the film is made. He very eager and happy to get the Juarez Allen on Antipodas (Victor showed courage and a unique project off the ground, which took Kossakovsky) when I was still at approach to the blend of fictional us quite some time, but we had faith Lemming Film and I knew that it and documentary.” in it from the very beginning, so no would be great to work together

Pieter-Jan De Pue’s The Land of the Enlightened produced by Belgian Savage Film and co-produced by Submarine (NL)

10 11 IFFR Bright Future In a strange town Bodkin Ras Kaweh Modiri

trust of the Forres community his needs and whatever they feel on to past catches up with him and he Bodkin, and the story is built becomes a hazard to himself and around that idea.” his surroundings. Van der Kaaij concedes that much “The provinces create their own of the production, made with the reality, with many characters and support of the Netherlands Film Kaweh Modiri stories that are both intriguing and Fund, was built on faith and trust. very dramatic,” points out producer “There was not really a script but a Kaweh Modiri’s feature debut is Van der Kaaij. “There are high levels guideline – a story-line – although the thriller/doc mash-up Bodkin of alcohol and drug use and many we did have some scenes with Ras, set in Forres on the Moray people have their own struggle with dialogue that was pre-written. Other coast of northern Scotland and life. Maybe it is something to do scenes just evolved in the moment selected to world premiere in with the Scots or the town itself but or were improvised.” IFFR Bright Future. Producer it is how people deal with their lives, Raymond van der Kaaij talks to and that’s what makes it also “You need a certain amount of Nick Cunningham. beautiful and fascinating.” freedom as a director especially when a lot of things are unclear, For many years filmmaker Kaweh including the number of shooting Modiri was fascinated by the remote Bodkin becomes a days for example,” Van der Kaaij Scottish town of Forres, explains hazard to himself and continues. “We were a team of producer Raymond van der Kaaij of his surroundings people that went there for x amount Revolver Amsterdam. He was of time, which became one and a intrigued by it and inspired by its half months, and we thought in that inhabitants. With the exception of actor Sohrab x amount of time we would shoot Bayat who plays Bodkin, the something that would be really cool, With Elgin a few miles up the road characters in the film are genuine 50% of which we knew and the rest in one direction, and Culloden, the townsfolk, but it was always we had no idea of.” scene of the Jacobites’ last stand, Modiri’s intention to interweave a a few miles in the other, Forres is fictional narrative into their lives While Van der Kaaij confirms that beautiful and impressive and and see what the outcome would be ‘other major festivals’ will imbued with an historic splendour. over a six-week shoot. “He was, like, subsequently screen Bodkin Ras, he what if we introduce a fictional is delighted that the film’s inaugural But the town hides many secrets, character into the town and then outing will be during IFFR Bright Van der Kaaij argues, and if a build a story around that,” points Future. “Rotterdam is one of the stranger arrives bearing secrets of out Van der Kaaij, “and I was very most important festivals that his own then he will not escape for intrigued by that idea because it is a nurtures talent and producers who long the attentions of those living very unconventional way to work.” take risks and do unconventional within Forres’ less privileged Yet as the fictional outsider slowly and daring things, so I am underbelly. In Bodkin Ras the becomes an insider the rest of the honoured that we have the world eponymous hero experiences just ‘cast’ continue with their own premiere there.” that, but just as he starts to win the struggles. “People project their own

Script: Kaweh Modiri Production: Revolver (NL) Co-production: Inti Films (BE)

12 13 IFFR CineMart Holland in Rotterdam Projects from the Netherlands

Dutch producers feature heavily continue in this tradition? America with his beautiful, witty at CineMart with the selection of “It certainly will,” Onrust responds. and troubled teenage daughter 3 projects among this year’s “I have never read a script before Sophie. crop of 25 new and innovative with such a daring female main international co-pro offerings. character. Guido will create a portrait Sleep. is produced by Ineke Kanters of a female alcoholic, intertwining and Jan van der Zanden. “There is Family Affair Films is back with art, poetry and violence set in the a lot of potential with this film,” Bloody Marie, to be directed by Amsterdam Red Light District.” stresses Van der Zanden. “The story Guido van Driel, whose debut itself is interesting, about the loss of The Resurrection of a Bastard Ben Sombogaart’s drama Rafaël is a loved one and the different ways to opened IFFR 2013. The company’s based on the true love story between cope with that, and there is the 2016 Tiger competition History’s a Dutch woman and her Tunisian cinematic quality of the whole Future, (Fiona Tan, see page 8) was husband, set against the backdrop journey through the mountains of pitched at CineMart in 2013. of the Arab Spring. “We are quite the US. So I would like very much to advanced on the film. We have just produce it. But at the core of the Bloody Marie tells of an alcoholic applied to the Flemish Audiovisual story is the subject of gun graphic novelist Marie who does not Fund for co-production funding. ownership, which is an intriguing know how to hold herself together If they come on board, together with topic for me.” until horrific events in the flat next the tax shelter, we’ll have 65% of the door force her into action. “I met financing,” points out producer Van der Zanden claims it is an Guido years ago through our mutual Reinier Selen of Rinkel Film. ‘honour’ to work with van Ewijk, friend Lennert Hillege (Guido’s “We are in the middle of casting and whose Atlantic. was selected for DOP and co-writer),” points out finding locations. We are preparing both Toronto 2014 and IFFR Live producer Floor Onrust. Besides the our Eurimages application. The film 2015. “This will be his third feature fact that Guido is a very likeable is going into pre-production in April so I think at such a time within the person, I enjoyed his previous film or May. As we are not 100% financed development of a working career CineMart continues to be a fertile and graphic novel work a lot and yet, we are still very open to find a you should be able not only to give breeding ground for Dutch (co-) therefore was more than willing to sales agent, for example, that wants him the opportunity but also production. Alex van Warmerdam’s work with him. I love his sense of to get involved with an investment adequate coaching to develop the Schneider vs Bax (CineMart 2013) humour and his eye for detail. He is or a pre-sale to a European story to the fullest extent, and also premiered at Locarno 2015 while an artist, and that reflects is his broadcaster. Rafaël is the kind of to set up a co-pro strategy that will The Paradise Suite (Joost van Ginkel, films. Also the bold and wilful project that fits the CineMart profile work. We want to preserve the CineMart 2012) not only premiered at female protagonist is what attracted and creative producer Jelle Nesna poetic quality and also the last year’s Toronto International Film Festival but was submitted to the me further to Bloody Marie.” and Ben Sombogaart will be taking cinematic quality of the film, but at Academy Awards in the Best Foreign- meetings.” the same time we know what our language Film category. Dutch Having developed an enviable limits are. We know that we can’t minority co-productions included reputation for producing cutting Sleep., by Jan-Willem van Ewijk shoot a 10 million dollar film with a Brand New U (Simon Pummell, edge and controversial arthouse (Atlantic.) is a road movie with budget of 2.5, so it is important that selected for Edinburgh, CineMart films over the years – Onrust, tragedy at its root. Traumatised by a you are on the same level of 2010), Neon Bull (Gabriel Mascaro, together with Topkapi Films gun violence incident, the film’s communication as your director – Orrizonti Venice, CineMart 2011) and produced Antoniak’s cause célèbre protagonist Jacob slowly loses his and so far that has gone very well.” The Lobster (Yorgos Lanthimos, Code Blue in 2011 – will Bloody Marie sense of reality as he drives across Nick Cunningham Cannes competition, CineMart 2013).

The CineMart team

14 15 Dutch in Park City Way out West

The Dutch offer at Sundance Reinier Selen. “We also worked on Pictures and written by Lotte 2016 includes four world Rebecca Daly’s first film The Other Tabbers) will be presented in premieres among the seven Side Of Sleep. For us, it was a very Sundance Kids. The film had its productions and co-productions natural and logical continuation of international premiere at the Seoul in selection. Nick Cunningham that collaboration. I was very fond of Youth International Film Festival rounds ‘em all up. the script. We were able to provide and has received several some crucial crew members for international awards, among them The World Cinema Dramatic Rebecca – music, DP, sound and the Starboy Prize of the Oulo Competition of Sundance 2016 also make-up. We’re actually now International Children’s and Youth includes world premieres of two evaluating working on her next film Film Festival. Little Gangster tells Dutch minority co-productions: which she is already preparing.” the story of Rik (11) and his father Belgica by the Flemish Felix van who are continually bullied. When Groeningen and Mammal, directed In World Cinema Documentary his dad is promoted and they move by the Irish Rebecca Daly. Belgica, Competition is Pieter-Jan De Pue’s to a new town, Rik decides to tell which tells the story of two brothers The Land of the Enlightened (Dutch everybody his dad is really a Mafia who become more estranged the co-producer Submarine), produced boss… more their business thrives, was by Savage Film, Belgium. See page 8 co-produced by leading Dutch for comment from co-producer Included in New Frontier is the production outfit Topkapi Films. Submarine’s Femke Wolting. virtual reality music video Surge, directed and produced by Dutch “We chose to produce this film Another minority co-production artist Arjan van Meerten. The film is because of Felix van Groeningen, Love and Friendship will world described as “an abstract because of our faith in his talent premiere as part of the Premieres meditation on the evolutionary and our loyalty to him,” points out program. Adapted from the Jane process and our relentless march Topkapi MD Frans van Gestel. Austen novel, the film is directed by towards complexity”. “Also because this is the sixth Whit Stillman (NL co-prod: collaboration between [Belgian Revolver) and stars Kate Beckinsale, Finally, the minority co-production producer] Menuet and Topkapi. Chloë Sevigny and Stephen Fry. The Lobster by Yorgos Lanthimos We strongly believe in long-term Love and Friendship follows the (NL co-prod: Lemming) is selected relationships and the reciprocity beautiful Lady Susan as she for Spotlight. The sci-fi/comedy/ between us. Our collaboration with attempts to find a husband for drama feature world premiered at Menuet is mutually beneficial. herself and her long-suffering Cannes where it won the Jury Prize. daughter Frederica. Stillman’s last It has since been selected for Mammal, meanwhile, tells the film Damsels In Distress closed the numerous film festivals worldwide. unorthodox love story of a homeless Venice Film Festival in 2011. He youth and a woman who has lost received an Oscar nomination for All the above films were made with her son in tragic circumstances. his Metropolitan screenplay in 1990. the support of the Netherlands Film The film was co-produced by Fund. Amsterdam-based Rinkel Film. The Dutch family film Little Gangster “This is our fourth co-production by Arne Toonen (produced by with [Irish company] Fastnet Shooting Star Filmcompany in Films,” comments Rinkel chief co-production with Hazazah

Virtual reality music video Surge

16 17 Berlin Commune Commune Films. Van Gestel’sworking and FransvanGestelofTopkapi production powerhouseZentropa collaboration betweenDanish the filmmarksyetanother elements intheproject. For a start, and youwillfindseveralDutch Delve beneaththesurface,though, and Denmark. The Commune wasshotinSweden selected forBerlincompetition, Fares andLarsRanthe. Now Thomsen, TrineDyrholm,Fares familiar faces,amongthemUlrich Scandinavian cinema’smost – andthecastisledbysomeof grew upinacommunethe1970s director ThomasVinterberghimself autobiographical undertow– 1970s. Itisunderstoodtohavean tolerance inacommunethe personal desires,solidarityand story abouttheclashbetween scripted byTobias Lindholm, isa The Commune,aDanishfilm talks toGeoffreyMacnab. producer FransvanGestel,who co-pro interestofleadingDutch 2016 competition,attractedthe Thomas Vinterberg’sfeature Thomas Vinterberg , selectedforBerlin The The Bouquet (2 Wardt (make-up)andDaniël Lens (costumedesign),Marlyvande the Netherlands,includingEllen creative inputtotheprojectfrom Vinterberg andTopkapi brought key Gestel hasworkedwithThomas This isthefirstfilmonwhich Van Film Fund’sco-productionfund. to thefilmthroughNetherlands also abletobringfinancialsupport to minorityco-produce,whowere Danes thereforeturnedtoTopkapi their Swedishcollaborators, The co-production partneralongside needed anextraEuropean for Eurimages support,Zentropa In ordertoqualifyTheCommune co-founder Peter AalbækJensen. several timeswithZentropa Blue (2011)andhehasworked back toUrszulaAntoniak’sCode relationship withZentropaextends Van Gestel,hasalongassociation September Films.Hermeling,like Netherlands byPimHermeling’s The filmwaspre-boughtforthe tone. “Itisgettingabitmorenasty!” Gestel suggestsitisfardarkerin comedy Together (2000)butVan hallmarks asLukasMoodysson’s The Communehassomeofthesame reflects. of peopletheyneeded,”Van Gestel Graum Jørgensen)aboutwhatkind course withtheproducer(Sisse Merkies. “We wereincontactof composer, thehighlyregardedFons Additionally, thereisalsoaDutch nd cameraoperator). 18 from ataxrebate.” can benefitinthebestpossibleway for therightterritories.Thenyou producer –tofindtherightstories benefit... That’sthejobof the Netherlands,thenyoucan a storythatcouldtakeplaceherein exceptional technicalcrew,andit’s something withwateror don’t haveonebutifyoutodo there. “If youneedagiantstudio,we soft moneyistheironlyreasontobe shoot inaterritorywhenaccessto It can beastruggleforproducersto The reverse,headds,isalsotrue. money, thenitiseasy.” have anaturalwaytospendyour connection withthecontent.Ifyou you userebates,thereshouldbea in acertainregion.Always,when are thedo’sanddon’tsforshooting period, “beforepeoplefindoutwhat he saysoftheIncentive’sbedding-in film industry. “Ittakessometime,” incentive torevolutionisetheDutch caution aboutexpectingthecash However, Van Gestelurgesanoteof emerging regionalfilmfunds. with itsnew30%cashrebateand more toofferforeignproducers After all,thecountryhasmuch could shoot(inpart)inHolland. Danish filmslikeTheCommune In future,itismoreconceivablethat agents, TrustNordisk. many filmsfromZentropa’ssales with theDanesandhasacquired The Commune The (Sweden), TopkapiFilms (NL)Sales:TrustNordisk Entertainment 19Aps (DK)Co-production:ZentropaInternational Sweden Script: ThomasVinterberg, TobiasLindholmProduction:Zentropa

19 ThomasVinterberg Berlinale competition

Photo: Henrik Petit Berlinale Panorama Express yourself Strike A Pose Ester Gould, Reijer Zwaan

Geoffrey Macnab talks to Ester the meaning of TROOP STYLE, trick was to convince them all to Gould and Reijer Zwaan, co- BEAT BOY and VOGUE… Wimps appear in the film. Some responded directors of Strike A Pose, about and Wanna-Be’s need not apply.’ immediately and agreed to appear. the male dancers on Madonna’s The singer chose well. “They are still Others were more cautious. “It’s not infamous Blond Ambition tour. very intriguing characters, all of the same story for each dancer but them,” Zwaan says of the dancers as in general, they were interested in Reijer Zwaan was around 11 years they are today. “To this day, they are what we were talking about… they old when he first saw Madonna: Truth great, inspiring and bold characters. were flattered and wary at the same Or Dare (or In Bed With Madonna as These guys, when they were 20, were time,” Gould suggests. it was called in Europe.) The hugely having the time of their lives. They successful 1991 documentary were travelling the world. They were It was clear to the dancers that this followed Madonna during her 1990 well known. They were performing wasn’t a gossipy, nostalgic film with Blond Ambition world tour. Zwaan in front of 50,000 people.” Madonna at the centre. The real was fascinated by the film. As the intention was to explore just how years passed, he couldn’t help but During their time with Madonna, these dancers re-invented their lives ask himself what might have the dancers were a close-knit group, once their time in the limelight was happened to the young dancers who akin to a family. Sadly, it didn’t stay over. These dancers are acknowledged accompanied her on the tour. like that. The dancers may have to have had a considerable been icons of sexual freedom and influence on gay culture. “They When he started researching the self-expression but their own private know they had an impact but, at the dancers’ stories, at first more out of lives were often clouded with same time, they’ve had to live on.” curiosity than with any idea of making compromise and secrecy. the film, Zwaan realised that this Gould and Zwaan found it very easy wasn’t just a case of happy ever Zwaan’s co-director Gould was to work together. “It was a co- after. In their early 20s, these fearless working on Strike A Pose at the same direction made in heaven,” Gould dancers, most of them gay, had time she was making her own, very says. The two directors made all the been on top of the world – but that personal feature A Strange Love Affair key decisions together. Zwaan meant they had a long way to fall. With Ego (about her relationship conducted the interviews while with outspoken and seemingly very Gould took more responsibility for Zwaan, a successful TV current successful older sister, Rowan, which directing the crew. “Editing was affairs journalist on News Hour, won best Dutch documentary at IDFA quite split…we edited in periods. decided to collaborate with 2015). Like Zwaan, Gould has very He did four weeks, I did four weeks filmmaker Ester Gould in making a vivid memories of Truth Or Dare. and sometimes we worked together documentary about the dancers’ “I remember there was something for a week. I just think we bring lives. That is how Strike A Pose liberating about the film. I am not different things to the film.” (world premiering in Berlinale really a big Madonna fan but I think Panorama and TEDDY competition what she was doing then was With his experience in journalism, and supported by the Netherlands probably the highlight of her career… Zwaan was “very sharp” on Film Fund) was conceived. she was pushing the envelope.” storytelling. Gould, meanwhile, had more experience in structuring Madonna had originally advertised Thanks to social media. the dancers feature-length documentaries. for ‘FIERCE male dancers who know weren’t hard to track down. The “We did it all together,” she states. Competition

Script: Ester Gould, Reijer Zwaan Production: CTM Docs (NL), The Other Room (NL) Co-production: Serendipity Films (BE)

20 21 Berlinale Panorama China crisis Inside the Chinese Closet Sophia Luvarà

She credits Dutch producers Producer Lammertsma first Boudewijn Koole and Iris connected with Luvarà while Lammertsma at Amsterdam- attending the Sheffield Doc/Fest based Witfilm with keeping the some four years ago. “I’d just started project on track. “I was upfront with working with Witfim, having moved them from the start that it would be into documentary from theatre,” difficult to convince people to take she says. “I’d put the word out that Sophia Luvarà part, but Boudewijn and Iris trusted I was looking for new talents and me and believed that I could make Sophia sought me out. She had a Director Sophia Luvarà and the film, although sometimes I simple trailer and we thought it had producer Iris Lammertsma talk didn’t believe it myself,” says Luvarà. the makings of an attractive story.” to Melanie Goodfellow about “I would sometimes think what am delving into China’s gay scene I doing here? Am I crazy? Knowing “Then she found Andy, who is one for her Berlinale Panorama and they were there was a huge help.” of the main characters,” continues TEDDY competition pic Inside Lammertsma. “He is this very nice, the Chinese Closet. In the end, Luvarà managed to loveable guy who is under huge convince two young Shanghai pressure from his father to get Sophia Luvarà’s Inside The Chinese residents – Andy and Cherry – to married and have a child. It gives Closet, supported by the participate in the film on the proviso a particular insight into Chinese Netherlands Film Fund, explores it was never broadcast in China. society through a specific what it means to be a young gay “I also wanted to get people’s community.” adult in China through a touching families involved too but that was portrait of two Shanghai residents nearly impossible – very often people Other upcoming Witfilm films juggling personal desires with didn’t even want me to meet them include Transit Havana, about parental expectations. – but I did manage to meet Cherry’s Cuban President Raul Castro’s gay family and interview her mother.” rights campaigner daughter Mariela Homosexuality was legalised in Castro and the country’s progressive China in 1997 but it is still very At first, Luvarà had planned to transgender stance, and The Three much taboo, especially in the revolve the documentary around the Lives of My Father, exploring provinces. “It’s legal but gay people phenomenon of fake marriages Chinese mass migration through still have a tough time linked to between gay youngsters as a ruse to the family of a second-generation society’s views,” says Luvarà. It took keep families happy. But then, Chinese-Dutch director. the Italian filmmaker three years to another, very Chinese, angle came find people who were willing to talk to the fore: the pressure on the only “We’ve really grown a lot recently. on camera about their experiences children of China’s 30-year ‘one We used to have two or three as a gay person. “I met many, many child’ policy to give their parents a documentaries a year and now we people with great stories but they all grandchild. The documentary have nine in production,” says backed out at the last minute,” she touches on the subject of fake Lammertsma. “We focus on recounts. “This went on for years. partnerships but homes in more author-driven works. We’re really I was going back and forth, staying a closely on the issue of bearing a looking for a different way to tell a month at time.” child as Andy and Cherry explore story, which is more artistic or options such as surrogacy. experimental.” Competition

Script: Sophia Luvarà Production: WitfilmSales: Films Transit

22 23 Berlinale Generation Fight Club Young Wrestlers Mete Gümürhan

based Kaliber Film, which he support of his new partners at the founded in 2007. company Aydin Dehzad and Bas Broertjes. The pair jointly produced The Rotterdam-born filmmaker, Nima Mohaghegh’s 2014 Student ‘Children are more who studied film at the Willem de Academy Award- nominated Sacred easy-going. They don’t Kooning Academy Rotterdam and is Defense – set against the backdrop also an alumnus of Berlinale of the Iran-Iraq War – while have an ego yet’ Mete Gümürhan Talents, IDFAcademy, CineMart’s studying production at the Rotterdam Lab and EAVE, now Netherlands Film Academy. Dutch-Turkish producer Mete divides his time between the The pair will be attending IFFR’s Gümürhan talks to Melanie Netherlands and Turkey. Rotterdam Lab this year. Goodfellow about his directorial debut Young Wrestlers ahead of For Young Wrestlers, Gümürhan and Other upcoming productions on the its Berlinale world premiere. his crew followed pupils at the company’s slate include Gümürhan’s Amasya Wrestling Centre, a debut fiction feature MNK Boy about Turkey’s national sport of oil boarding school where children a Dutch-Turkish 12-year-old getting wrestling, in which fighting train to be wrestling champions used to life in Istanbul after moving competitors douse themselves in while getting an education too. The there from Rotterdam when his olive oil, has an increasing global film focuses on half a dozen 12-year father gets a job with a Dutch bank following thanks to social media old boys including the motherless in Turkey. Production companies and the spread of the sport by Baran, who struggles with his attached included Dutch Topkapi Turkish expats. Less well known are weight, Harun, a strong contender Films and Turkey’s Filmalti. The film the children’s tournaments that run who is training hard to catch up also won the support of the Turkish alongside the main championships after breaking his arm, and Ahmet Cultural Ministry’s cinema fund. in June and which are taken every who is in awe of his older brother, bit as seriously by the young an Olympic wrestler. Gümürhan is also developing a contenders and their families. second feature doc about child Gümürhan says the idea of exploring labourers on different continents. Dutch-Turkish producer and the world of child wrestling came to “I want to follow the lives of several filmmaker Mete Gümürhan’s him while producing Dutch Willem children who do heavy work but still feature documentary Young Baptist’s award-winning doc find hope in their misery” he says. Wrestlers explores the phenomenon I’m Never Afraid, about a young in the province of Amasya in motor-cross enthusiast. “It switched The unique blend of diverse cultural Northern Turkey. The feature me on to the topic of children in backgrounds that makes up Kaliber documentary, supported by the sport,” he explains, adding that he Film creates a perfect bridge between Netherlands Film Fund and likes the honesty of children. East and West. This influences the premiering in the Berlinale “They don’t have a mindset that kind the stories we find important. Generation section, marks a they have to back up what they say We want to shine a light on parts of directorial debut for Gümürhan or do... They don’t have an ego yet.” the world that are not often shown who has spent the best part of a in Dutch cinema. In this way we decade producing under the banner Gümürhan is directing the work aspire to take on a guiding role of his Amsterdam and Istanbul- through Kaliber Film with the within the Dutch film industry.

Script: Mete Gümürhan Production: Kaliber Film (NL), Filmaltı (TR)

24 25 Berlinale Culinary Cinema Caught on film Ants on a Shrimp Maurice Dekkers

I thought it would be fantastic to example, the head chef is shown make a film about the creation of a ordering himself a pizza in the piece of art.” middle of the night. “I wanted to show that, also. These (the kitchen Dekkers acknowledges that there staff) are just normal guys and they have been many recent films about are working very hard to achieve chefs. “Most of the time, they’re something. They’re eating pizza and Maurice Dekkers about the struggles in their personal they’re drinking Red Bull.” life.” That wasn’t the direction that Rene Redzepi is nicknamed the he wanted to go. Instead, in Ants on For all his Michelin stars, Redzepi is “Prince of Denmark” and is a Shrimp, the focus is on the process. renowned for dishes that are “quite often called the best chef in the The aim was to give the audience simple.” Sometimes, customers world. Last year, he announced the illusion that they were part of who’ve flown all the way around the that he’d be taking his world Redzepi’s team as they raced against world to arrive at Noma experience a famous Noma restaurant to Tokyo time to create 14 new dishes. (The sense of anti-climax that the cooking for a two-month residency. film stops on the day the restaurant isn’t more elaborate. Even so, as opens.) Their work is filmed in Dekkers points out, an immense Food-obsessed filmmaker Maurice sweaty, realist fashion. There are amount of work will have gone into Dekkers decided to follow him there lots of setbacks along the way. anything the chef serves up. “Some­ and the result is new feature doc Ants times, people will be disappointed. on a Shrimp, a world premiere in “To be honest, I didn’t want to make They’ll say what is this? It is just a Berlin’s Culinary Cinema strand and pornography of food,” the director potato. There is a lot of thinking sold internationally by Fortissimo. declares. “I know that when you are in and a lot of effort that has gone into a kitchen, it is hard work…I wanted that potato. Not every dish is comfort Dekkers had originally intended to to film it very raw. When you get the food…the dishes he creates, you’ll make a TV series about “cooking food on the table, it always looks think of 4 weeks after you eat it. It techniques” with the celebrated fancy but you’ve got no clue what is stays with you, like good art.” chef. They’d already started writing going on behind the scenes.” the series together when Redzepi Yes, Dekkers sees similarities mentioned his plans to head to Redzepi and his close-knit kitchen between the process of cooking and Tokyo. Immediately, the director crew worked punishing hours in the his own struggles as a filmmaker. decided to change tack and make a lead-up to the opening of the Tokyo That was one reason why he was film in Japan instead. He realised restaurant, “testing, testing, tasting, able to strike up such an easy that this would be a unique tasting” as the director puts it. The rapport with Redzepi. The chef was opportunity to spend time with the chef went on trips all over Japan to generally easy-going and friendly to chef when he was devising a check ingredients and develop ideas. everyone but he could also become completely new menu. Dekkers accompanied him on tense and frustrated when at work. several of these trips and also spent “I could recognise that in him and The director likens his subject to three months filming in Tokyo. he could recognise that in me as an artist. “Obviously, this wasn’t well,” the director reflects on the real art…but I guess this was the art There are some surprising insights anguish of creation. of food. With that in my mind, into the lives of the cooks. For Geoffrey Macnab

Script: Maurice Dekkers Production: BlazHoffski Sales: Fortissimo

26 27 Berlinale Culinary Cinema A Stapel Diet Portrait of a Garden Rosie Stapel

midst. “For the first month or puts it) “thin” the film out and she maybe even the first two months, it recruited Jozef van Wissem (the was quite difficult. They tried to Dutch minimalist composer best forget me – but they didn’t!” the known for his work on Jim director recalls of her initial Jarmusch’s Only Lovers Left Alive) to struggles to relax her subjects. write the music score (for flute). However, she was in the garden Rosie Stapel for 100 days and they couldn’t help The film is full of philosophical but become accustomed to her references. (In the credits, Stapel Portrait Of A Garden is Rosie presence. “In the end, I was part of thanks the famous Dutch thinker Stapel’s first film as a director the garden.” and author, Spinoza.) One goal was after many years as a production to explore the way humans interact designer, scenic painter and Peter Greenaway, with whom Stapel with nature. She held a special props guru on films ranging from has worked several times, was an screening of the film for the Paula van der Oest’s The Domino obvious influence on the look of 60-year-old gardener in her studio Effect to Peter Greenaway’s Portrait Of A Garden. She may have and then arranged for it to be shown The Tulse Luper Suitcases. been working with a video camera to the older gardener on a big but she took immense care in screen in the kitchen garden itself. The film, screening in Berlin’s framing and shooting the film. “The older man said ‘Rose, thank Culinary Cinema section, takes “I really worked on the composition. you so much. I am so impressed viewers on a journey through Every shot is actually a painting,” that you can make this of an old “the secrets” of a very old, very well she says. man!” maintained Rotterdam kitchen garden. Stapel first started shooting It was a strange year for the garden. The director has now returned to in the garden in January 2013. At The frost lingered and the plants the day job. She has no doubts, that stage, she had little idea of how were slow to blossom. “It took a lot though, that she will direct again the film would develop. “I didn’t of time until spring came. In May, soon. In the meantime, she is have a strategy,” she recalls. “My a lot of things were still under the delighted that Portrait Of A Garden research was going to be the film.” ground. The wintertime was very is screening in Berlin as part of the long and it was quite wet at that Culinary Cinema programme. “It is No, the director admits, she didn’t time,” the director remembers. about the importance of taking care have green fingers herself. The Even so, everything was OK. “I was of our earth…we’re living in a period garden was being tended by two waiting for a big disaster as a movie when everything goes quicker and perfectionists – a 60-year old maker but it didn’t come.” quicker but the garden dictates a gardener and an 85-year old pruning certain natural time – everything master. Stapel looked to these two The director acknowledges the needs time to grow. You can’t make experts to guide her. “I tried to stay similarities between her own job it quicker than nature intends.” with them as much as possible to and that of the gardeners. She Geoffrey Macnab get the information I needed.” ended up shooting a gargantuan 500 hours so there was certainly a At first, the old-timers were a little lot of pruning to be done in the wary of the filmmaker in their editing suite. Stapel had to (as she

Script: Rosie Stapel

28 29 Berlinale Culinary Cinema Food for thought Need for Meat Marijn Frank

documentary about meat, this is the ethically and with professional moment. Because it wasn’t all about guidance, one of the cows that will me anymore, I had to decide for her provide the delicious meat that she too.” craves? “I wanted to be there with the camera at all the key moments. Frank is buffeted within a vortex of Capturing these moments when indecision as she assesses the they really happen makes a film Marijn Frank Photo: Harmen de Jong advantages of a meat-free diet. She special and exciting,” she witnesses her first animal slaughter underlines. When director Marijn Frank had and talks to committed (and very her brain scanned, it transpired persuasive) vegans. She visits Frank is grateful to fellow Dutch that she responded more horrendously crowded battery filmmaker Suzanne Raes to whom feverishly to images of meat chicken farms and is told that half a she accords co-director status. than to images of sex. Her billion animals are slaughtered “I did the research, but Suzanne impulse was similar to every year in the Netherlands alone came up with some very important alcoholics shown a bottle of to meet consumer demand. ideas for the film, such as the whisky or compulsive gamblers therapy that put everything into the passing a betting shop. But despite all this, when it comes context of an addiction, but also the to meat Frank just cannot stop fantasies and the dreams,” she says. In her very funny and illuminating herself, especially when sexy chef “Suzanne was always there for me film Need for Meat, selected for Joris comes on the scene. He is a when I was completely messed up, Berlinale Culinary Cinema section, man whose meat is ethically reared which was a lot in this film. She was Frank tries to overcome her meat and lovingly prepared, and her a good friend as well as my mentor.” obsession by taking a job in an carnal desires re-surface once more, abattoir, before plumbing her own so much so that she dreams of a Judging by her excitement after the psychological depths during an naked marinade massage beneath world premiere at IDFA 2015, Frank intensive course of therapy. his professional hands. And the isn’t bearing any emotional scars steak he cooks for her is lustily, after her experiences on the film, “This has been an issue for a long greedily and messily consumed. but it was a tough and revelatory time for me,” Frank stresses. “I grew “You need a little bit of lightness journey nevertheless. “I never up in one of those macrobiotic, and humour just to digest a film thought the film was going to have vegetarian families. ‘Eating meat is about the subject,” Frank claims. such a big impact on my life – I was for people who don’t think,’ my “The dream sequences were completely a mess by the end,” she Mum used to say. But when I was important so that I could introduce stresses. “The therapy was pretty five I wanted to start eating meat a bit of fantasy and sexiness. It hard core, and also working in a and I’ve never been able to stop wasn’t all hard core reality.” slaughterhouse I was constantly since. I’ve wanted to be a vegetarian pushing my own boundaries and since I was in my twenties but Dramatic tension is raised to thinking ‘if I can do this what kind somehow I didn’t manage. But breaking point at the film’s end of person does that make me? since my daughter Sally was born, when a key and recurring ‘will she/ Could I fight in a war now?’ It was all three and half years ago, I thought, won’t she?’ question is resolved. Is much more intense than I expected if I’m ever going to make this Frank prepared to slaughter, albeit it to be.” Nick Cunningham

Script: Suzanne Raes Production: IDTV Docs

30 31 Viking inSweden waiting tobehad.“Itisafilmforthe discovered andwhereadventureis where stuffiswaitingtobe normal familyrulesnolongerapply, within anunfamiliarspacewhere first thrillingsenseofdisplacement company. Thefilmexploresthat highly talkativebadgersfor world, withapairoffunnyand exploits withinanewandstrange one atthat,repletewithfantastic girl’s firstsleepover,andamagical Siv SleepsAstrayisaboutayoung Berlin Generation2016opener. this veinfollowingitsselectionas Viking Filmverymuchcontinuesin co-produced byAmsterdam-based Swedish outfit Snowcloud Films and Siv Sleeps Astray,producedbythe for thegenre.Theco-production raised thebarintermsofsupport both ofwhichhavecontinually are SwedenandtheNetherlands, easier whenthecountriesinvolved for childrenismadeconsiderably The businessofco-producingfilms She talkstoNickCunningham. which opensBerlinGeneration. Swedish minority co-produceronthe Viking Film’sMarleenSlotis Catti EdfeldtandLenaHannoClyne Siv Sleeps Astray Sleeps Siv , from thebeginningthat the table.Itwasalreadyveryclear we couldreallybringsomethingto was suchagoodco-operationand Film ProductionIncentive.“This cash rebateviatheNetherlands Netherlands FilmFundaswella production financefromthe Slot wasabletosecureco- give itagoandworktogetheronit.” “I read thescriptandwedecidedto Lab inHamburg,”pointsoutSlot. we weretogetherattheProducers’ “I really fellfortheprojectandthen set upitsStockholmdivision. Copenhagen Bombayforwhomhe Danish productionhouse formed Snowcloud,afterleaving was upandrunning.Petter had just pitched SivandwhenVikingFilm the eventafewyearslaterwhenhe at LemmingFilm.Theymetagain Lindblad atCinekidwhenshewas Slot firstmetproducer Petter close toher.” sweetheart tolookat.You really feel so amazinglyandisatrue continues Slot.“Sheplaysthepart choice forSiv(AstridLövgren),” “The directorsmadeaperfect attract audiences.” the filmandIthinkitiswhatwill fantasy. Thatiswhatattractedmeto real world,itiscombinedwith problems thatchildrenhaveinthe from therealworldand Slot. “Ireallylikeditbecauseaside comments VikingFilm’sMarleen really youngestaudience,” 32 great tobeableworkthatway.” me toproducemyownfilms.Itis Netherlands becauseitalsohelps those kindsoffilmshereinthe given theopportunitytoworkon Europe. Iamveryhappythatweare Netherlands andsometimesoutside countries outsideofthe producer whenworkingwith “It teachesmesomuchmoreasa Colombia. must fleetheirhomesinwar-torn 6), agrittytaleofthreewomenwho contender OscuroAnimal(seepage co-producer onIFFRTiger Viking Filmisalsominority on board’ heads ofdepartment those talentedDutch ‘It wasgreathaving on board.” those talentedheadsofdepartment done heretoo.Itwasgreathaving composer. Thefinalsoundmixwas very goodinvolvementwithaDutch during post-productionwealsohad was fromtheNetherlandsand costume designerduringtheshoot (Accused) toplaythoseparts.The (Stricken) andAnnemariePrins Netherlands andtogetBarryAtsma decided theycouldcomefromthe another country,sothat’swhywe sleepover friend)tocomefrom and grandmotherofCerisia(Siv’s directors wantedtohavethefather Siv Sleeps Astray Astray Sleeps Siv CattiEdfeldt/LenaHannoClyne Opening FilmBerlinaleGeneration 33 Co-production: VikingFilm(NL) Sales: SFInternational Script: LenaHannoClyneand ThobiasHoffmén Production: SnowcloudFilms(SE)

Photo: Karolina Pajak Berlinale Forum The vanishing Humidity Nikola Ljuca

have gone near. “I was very, very While the budget didn’t extend to impressed by Sergeant – a great Warrink being on the Belgrade set, short that, despite its low budget, he was nonetheless happy that he kept me glued to my seat.” was able to contribute to the production. “Of course, they are Humidity was selected for young filmmakers. It was their first co-production markets CineLink in feature film, just like it was myfirst Nikola Ljuca Sarajevo and CineMart 2012, where co-production. The combination of it won the Eurimages Co-Production knowledge and network, from both “It’s kind of a sweaty film!” Development Award worth €30,000. Dart Film and Lemming Film, Derk-Jan Warrink of Lemming This was a sure sign that the project benefitted the film hugely.” Film jokes to Geoffrey Macnab had credibility in the international of young Serbian director Nikola marketplace. Even so, it took two The Dutch contribution includes Ljuca’s debut feature Humidity. years to get the movie financed and cast members Dragan Bakema (who into production. The problem, at lives in the Netherlands but has The film, premiering in Berlinale least initially, was that the Serbs Serbian origins) and Dutch actress Forum and supported by the couldn’t provide any financing from Maria Kraakman (Schneider vs Bax) Netherlands Film Fund + Hubert their home country. Everyone as well as the film’s sound editor. Bals Fund Co-production Scheme agreed the script was top notch and Warrink himself had just been (NFF + HBF), is about a successful Ljuca was a young talent to watch collaborating on Yorgos Lanthimos’ and charismatic businessman but that, apparently, wasn’t enough. surrealistic comedy drama The whose wife vanishes in bizarre Lobster, starring Colin Farrell and circumstances and whose life “Most of the film funds don’t grant Rachel Weisz, produced by Element suddenly begins to unravel. This you money if the home territory is Pictures. This, he suggests, was a wasn’t an obvious choice for not in yet,” Warrink explains. great experience to draw from. Amsterdam-based Lemming to “It was very hard to get funding out board as minority co-producers. of Germany and France without Humidity wasn’t high-budget, Nor, as Warrink recalls, was it an Serbian support.” Nor did it help Warrink maintains. Nevertheless, easy film to finance. with some potential financiers that post-production support was Nikola Ljuca was a first-time offered by the Netherlands Film Warrink met Ljuca’s producer director. Fund, which gave the filmmakers Natasa Damnjanovic in 2011 at the the opportunity to achieve what they Berlinale Talent Campus – and they In the end, NFF + HBF (which did. “We appreciate the help and immediately hit it off. “She pitched supports filmmakers from support offered by the Fund, who me the project and screened me emerging industries) agreed to back stayed with us through to the end.” Nikola’s short gay love story the project. Humidity was put Sergeant.” The Dutch producer was together as a Serbian/Dutch Warrink is keen to collaborate with immediately struck by the co-production. By 2014, when the the Serbs again. “It was great to cinematography and by the film went into production, the work with Nikola and Natasa. They’re confident and sensitive style in producers were finally able to attract incredibly passionate and gave their which the young director dealt with some Serbian backing through the all for the film. I’d definitely like to material few other Serb directors Film Centre Of Serbia. follow them on their new projects.” Dragan Bakema, star of Humidity

Script: Stasa Bajac, Nikola Ljuca Production: Dart Film (RS) Co-production: Lemming Film (NL), Marni Films (GR), Cinnamon Production (RS), Two Thirty Five - 235 (GR)

34 35 Berlinale Panorama To Berlin via Holland All Of A Sudden Asli Özge

Topkapi was introduced to But for Topkapi, this wasn’t just filmmaker Özge by Bero Beyer, now a case of providing cash. There ‘We’re developing IFFR artistic director but who had was creative involvement too. relationships with the co-produced Özge’s debut Men On Heslenfeld’s partner and co- people behind the talent’ The Bridge and who had also worked founder of Topkapi, Frans van as Feature Film Consultant at the Gestel, advised on the editing. Netherlands Film Fund where Dutch crew worked in key creative Asli Özge Photo: Emre Erkmen co-pro is high on the agenda. roles and part of the post- production was done in the All Of A Sudden, selected for All Of A Sudden is a drama about a Netherlands. Berlin Panorama Special and wealthy and complacent man who, co-produced by Topkapi Films, after being caught up in a Pim Hermeling’s September Films is the third feature from much- completely accidental event, is is set to handle the Dutch release. heralded young Turkish writer- made to face up to his own These, though, aren’t easy times for director, Asli Özge, following on weaknesses and starts to question foreign language arthouse fare in from her debut Men On The his seemingly stable and the Dutch market. The DVD market Bridge (2009) and Lifelong comfortable life. As Heslenfeld is disappointing and VOD isn’t yet (2013). Geoffrey Macnab reports. remembers, the Topkapi executives making amends. TV and pay-TV also were initially uncertain about the seem to have lost their appetite for Amsterdam-based Topkapi Films, first drafts that Özge provided. auteur-driven films from names who co-produced All Of A Sudden, “They were not clear enough about unknown to local audiences. has long made it a policy to support what was the theme of the film but That, Heslenfeld suggests, is why auteur-driven films from emerging she really improved the scripts major festivals are now so directors like Özge. As the amazingly. That is, of course, her important. With a Berlin premiere, company’s Arnold Heslenfeld puts talent.” All Of A Sudden (sold internationally it: “We are always interested in by leading French company working together with the long-term Özge’s passionate producer Fabian Memento) has the perfect potential with talent and we are interested in Massah was young and relatively launch pad. looking for projects we think will inexperienced. He was looking to have a chance in the international Topkapi for guidance as well as Heslenfeld suggests that demand in market.” Heslenfeld also talks of co-production support. “We could the Netherlands for traditional, “developing relationships… with help him a bit and advise him on middle of the road arthouse has the people behind that talent.” what he could and couldn’t do… disappeared almost entirely. That is why the company has Fabian wasn’t leaning on us but he That is why Topkapi encourages partnerships with production wanted to have our advice.” Topkapi filmmakers whose movies aren’t companies like Zentropa (with was able to bring in financing from right for festival selection to whom it worked on Thomas the Netherlands Film Fund. There re-think their work in mainstream Vinterberg’s The Commune) and was German regional film funding terms. Nonetheless, the company’s directors such as Belgian backing, some French support, and commitment to new, edgy and wunderkind Felix Van Groeningen some money from Eurimages too distinctive voices like that of Asli or the acclaimed Iranian-born – but nothing from Özge’s home Özge remains undimmed. Babak Jalili. country, Turkey. Photo: Emre Erkmen

Script: Asli Özge Production: EEE Productions (DE) Co-production: Topkapi Films (NL), Haut et Court (FR), WDR-Arte (DE/FR)

36 37 Art ofdeception Vermeer Selen suggests, man’s motivationtostartforging about itsomuchwasthatthis about himandalsowhatIliked all, neverhadafilmbeenmade “I wasquitefascinatedthat,firstof of anAutumn2016delivery. This isafilmwhichhashadvery even ifno-oneknowstheyarebyhim. more, there forging wasbasicallyanger.” What’s him. “Hismotivationtostart an artestablishment thatrejected understandably hugelyresentfulof modernism andPicasso.Hewas and Vermeer intheageof working inthestyleofRembrandt be abrilliantclassicalpainter Van Meegeren’smisfortunewasto Vermeers wasrevenge,”Selenreflects. Vermeers. Nowhis forger famousforhisfake (1889-1947), theDutchartistand story ofHanvanMeegeren Selen heardtheextraordinary Eight yearsagoproducerReinier hang ingalleriesallovertheworld, achievement isthathispaintings the culturaleliteoftime.His Van Meegerenfoughtbackagainst Reinier Selen isinproductionahead was somethingheroic, about thewaythat A Real Real A reputation butIreallyenjoyworking figure. “Ofcourse,hehasthat known asastrongmindedandfiery with him. Heis very loyalto the people Maltha, producero the projectatanearlystage. San FuMalthaofWorks aboard film inDutch.Hebroughtproducer work out,Selendecidedtomakethe as collaborator. Whenthatdidn’t and directorDominiqueDeruddere with veteranBelgianscreenwriter movie abouttheforger,working of makinganEnglish-language company RinkelFilmhadthought lengthy gestation.Atfirst,Selen’s creates alotofturmoil.”Upcoming frustrated andangry,aguywho wife andmistressbutheisalso warm, lovingartist,inlovewithhis Van Meegerenisacharming,very challenging role.Ontheonehand, Meegeren. AsSelenexplains,it’sa Süskind) waseventuallycastasVan Jeroen Spitzenberger(starof just areforthe‘happyfew.’” interested inmakingfilmswhich films forawideaudience.Heisnot is thathewantstomakequality suggests. “Whatwelikeabouthim exceptional circumstances,”Selen about exceptionalcharactersin is adirectorwhowantstotellstories also joinedtheproduction.“Rudolf Cadenza, runbyJeroenKoolbergen, as director. Van denBerg’scompany Rudolf vandenBerg(Tirza,Süskind) In 2011,theproducersrecruited that heworkswith,”saysSelen. 38 f Black Book Black f , is

to recruitanotherartistforgethe neat irony,theproducershavehad They’re undercopyrightandso,bya Van Meegerenpaintingsinthefilm. Don’t expect,though,toseereal master faker’swork.GeoffreyMacnab roll isbothareliefandvindication. any backingfromDutchbroadcasters. exasperation atthefailuretoattract and Selenadmitstoacertain €3.7m budgettogetherforthefilm filmmakers astheytriedtoputthe frustrations weresharedbythe Some ofVan Meegeren’sown and theloveofhislife. Fields) wascastastheartist’smuse known forTVseriesInFlanders Flemish actressLizeFeryn (best For Selen,seeingthecamerasfinally Benelux distributionrights. Cinéart gotonboard,taking before themaincastwaschosen, Films ishandlingworldsales.Even Croatia. LaurentDanielou’sLoco shooting inLuxembourgand finally, themovieisinproduction, Film ProductionIncentive.Now, Netherlands FilmFundandthe continuing supportfromthe Eurimages andtherewas managed tosecuremoneyfrom helped, too,thatthefilmmakers Belgian outfitLivingStone.It from Tarantula inLuxembourgand In theend,Selenfoundsupport financing dossiersonourserver.” recently discoveredthatwehave30 really long,”Selensighs.“We “The fundingprocesswasreally,

A Real Vermeer Real A 39

Production: RinkelFilm(NL),Fu Works (NL),Cadenza Films(NL) RudolfvandenBerg Co-production: Tarantula(LU),Living Stone(BE) Script: JanEilander,Rudolf vandenBerg Production report basically anger’ to start forgingwas ‘His motivation

Photo: Patricia Peribanez Producer profile Hanneke Niens Character Building

Hanneke Niens, producer of IFFR “The reasons for getting involved in internationally and then we approach opening filmBeyond Sleep, talks an art-house film or a more a writer and a director.” to Melanie Goodfellow about her mainstream work are very different near 20-year career. but I enjoy both types of film. On Soof, After IFFR, Niens and De Wolf will we had so much fun. We loved the head to the Berlinale, where the Hanneke Niens, who co-founded story and were really proud when it Dutch lead actor of Beyond Sleep, Amsterdam-based KeyFilm with Hans became a box office hit. On Nena, Reinout Scholten van Aschat is an EFP de Wolf in 2008, belongs to that rare I was struck by the autobiographical Shooting Star this year (see back breed of producer who successfully story and its unique signature and cover). Niens plans to support sales switch between art-house and wanted to make it even though I knew and promotion on the film and also mainstream fare with ease. “I like to it would have a smaller audience.” network for new co-productions. make accessible art-house films and intelligent audience-oriented Prior to KeyFilm, Niens spent nearly She notes KeyFilm has become pictures. I’m not into every genre or a decade at IDTV Film, which she increasingly active on the co- really plot-driven films. I like strong co-founded and helped build into one production front since the intro­ character driven pictures with a target of the Netherlands’ biggest film and duction in 2014 of the Netherlands’ audience. It doesn’t need to be a big TV production houses, producing 30% cash rebate for film production. target audience but there needs to be films such as Ben Sombogaart’s 2003 “International producers now actively a target,” says Niens. Oscar nominated Twin Sisters and seek out Dutch producers as minority Pieter Kuijpers’s Godforsaken!. co-producers so we’re having quite a The experienced producer will be at few meetings in Berlin,” says the IFFR this year with Boudewijn Koole’s Her decision to leave and set up shop producer. ambitious opening film Beyond Sleep, with De Wolf came from a desire to inspired by Dutch writer Willem get back to producing. “It was a really The company’s first cash rebate- Frederik Hermans’s classic novel (see successful company both in terms of supported co-production was with page 6). the box office and awards, but I found Vienna and Luxembourg-based myself being a manager rather than a Amour Fou on Austrian director Virgil Other recent productions include the producer/filmmaker,” she explains. Widrich’s upcoming epic family Dutch feel-good drama Ventoux, “I wanted to focus on producing and drama The Night of a Thousand Hours, about a group of old friends reuniting be more of a part of the creative starring Amira Casar. on a cycling holiday in the South of process again.” France; Antoinette Beumer’s hit Upcoming majority productions on romantic comedy Soof, which drew Niens and De Wolf’s collective KeyFilm’s slate include Clara Van some 800,000 spectators at home; filmography now runs to some 40 Gool’s dance feature The Beast in the Saskia Diesing’s multiple award- feature productions, roughly 15 of Jungle, which the director is creating winning coming-of-age tale Nena, them literary adaptations and the rest in collaboration with poet Glyn which premiered in the Berlinale’s original works. “About 60% of our Maxwell; Saskia Diesing’s next feature Generation Plus section in 2014, and projects start with us, from our ideas, Dorst, an adaptation of a novel by Palestinian Hany Abu Assad’s The perhaps inspired by a novel or Esther Gerritsen (who co-wrote Nena), Idol, on which KeyFilm was a minority something we read in the newspapers and the feel-good comedy Barry will co-producer. on a movement, a trend or an urgent Come Tomorrow. issue having an impact in Holland or

Hanneke Niens, producer of IFFR opening filmBeyond Sleep

40 41 DOP profile Richard Van Oosterhout Lensing by candlelight

involving production company graphy world, belonging to Dutch Revolver Amsterdam and is made and Belgian cinematography with the backing of the Netherlands societies as well as the European Film Fund selective scheme. “In the Film Academy, Van Oosterhout first instance it was about the reveals he fell into the profession money and who was paying for the by chance. film,” says Van Oosterhout with Richard van Oosterhout characteristic Dutch directness, Prior to moving behind the camera adding: “As part of the co- he worked as a technician for a The work of respected Dutch production deal it was decided the small theatre company, before DOP Richard Van Oosterhout cinematographer should be Dutch.” deciding to study architecture/ will be seen on both sides of the interior design and photography. Atlantic this January in Whit He also suggests that his recent He then moved to Belgium to study Stillman’s Love & Friendship work on the children’s picture The film but dropped out, instead which premieres at Sundance Legend of Longwood, also shot in opting to work as assistant to Chris before moving on to Rotterdam. Ireland, may have helped land him Dercon who went on to head up He talks to Melanie Goodfellow. the position. “I already knew some London’s Tate Modern. Then he of the crew and how they work in tried to make his way as an artist Love & Friendship, inspired by Jane Ireland which was helpful,” he says. before finally landing up on film Austen’s unpublished novella Lady “I’d read the script and loved it. sets to pay the bills. He credits Susan, is set within the opulent It was different and special so I Dutch cinematographer Marc drawing rooms of 18th Century really wanted to work on the film.” Felperlaan with giving him his first English society and stars Kate break on set. “I worked as grip for a Beckinsale as a devious young widow. The production joins a growing list long time, before moving on to of feature credits for which Van focus puller, assistant camera and “I’ve done costume dramas before Oosterhout has won critical acclaim then finally DOP,” he says. but set during World War 2. Love & including &Me, Little Black Spiders, Friendship was entirely different. It’s Nowhere Man, Wolfsbergen, Guernsey, Van Oosterhout says he is not a DOP set in 1790 and I only had daylight Rosie, Atlantis and Black Swans. who likes to prep a film too much and candlelight to work with, so Upcoming films to which he is before hitting the set. “I like to work that was interesting,” says Van attached include Job Gosschalk’s intuitively rather than from a Oosterhout. “My job is all about musical-inspired De Zevende Hemel storyboard. Of course, there are a lot framing and lighting so I like to set and Ties Schenk’s family drama Monk. of discussions before you start myself new challenges and do shooting but I like to work with the something new on every film I work In between times, Van Oosterhout conditions on the set rather than on. I hate doing the same thing twice.” has also found time to co-edit the from pre-set ideas. It’s so different book ‘Shooting Time’ featuring a when it’s black and white on paper Van Oosterhout notes how his series of interviews with nineteen to when you’re on the set. I think attachment to the film was due in top DOPs and looking principally at this approach brings a special part to the heavy Dutch component how technology is changing the art ingredient to the production which within its construction. The film is of cinematography. Now a respected can’t be added at the writing or an Irish-French-Dutch feature figure in the Benelux cinemato­ editing stage.”

Whit Stillman’s Love & Friendship

42 43 Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival In short... Dutch selections

In a sign of the Netherlands’ Vroege is now making the feature Short Film Festival Nijmegen as part flourishing short film scene, six documentary Theater of the Crowd, of its drive to encourage the Dutch productions will screen at which won the €125,000 Dutch screening of short films ahead of the Clermont-Ferrand Int’l Short Cultural Media Fund Documentary the main features in cinemas. Film Festival this year. Melanie Award in 2015 and which looks in “They invited me to think about a Goodfellow reports. more depth at the start of the Syrian short film that I would like to see conflict. as pre-feature film,” he says. The Netherlands will be out in force The filmmaker spoke to 17 people, at Clermont- Ferrand International Bethany de Forest and computer including one deaf man who Short Film Festival this February, animation pioneer Robin Noorda’s communicated via sign language, regarded by many as the Cannes of 4K digital cinema stop motion work before creating the short, consisting the European short filmmaking for Red-end and the Factory Plant of multi-layered tableaux illustrating scene. Two Dutch titles, the follows a group of red-ants on a their words. “It really is made for non-fiction work 9 Days – From My mission to save a fellow ant the cinema and the big screen and Window in Aleppo and the imprisoned in a factory processing works well when you see it play in a stop-motion animation Red-End and carnivorous plants. theatre. There are a lot of shots in the Factory Plant, will play in the there in which things are happening International Competition. Experimental video artist and in a bigger picture,” he says. filmmaker Douwe Dijkstra returns 9 Days – From My Window in Aleppo for the second-year running to Lab Dijkstra is now working on a new was born out of a collaboration Competition with his Supporting short documentary hybrid, between Syrian photographer Issa Film, exploring people’s rituals provisionally entitled Green Screen Touma and Dutch filmmakers Floor connected to watching films. Gringo, combining interviews he did van der Meulen and Thomas on the streets of Sao Paolo (while on Vroege, and follows the early days ‘It is really special an artist’s residency at the city’s of the Syrian civil war. Museum of Music and Sound) using seeing your film his trademark collage-style of Vroege proposed the project to watched by more than filmmaking. Touma after hearing him give a 1,000 people…’ talk in Amsterdam about the Other Dutch works screening at importance of making art in war Clermont-Ferrand include Joost zones, during which he showed “It’s a great festival. It’s amazing Lieuwma’s comic Panic! which will some of the footage used in the film. how many people come to the play in the Youth Audience “You see the birth of a war on the screenings. They’re always full. It’s Programme. Tami Ravid’s street. It’s very rare that you see that really special seeing your film being Benin-shot dance and road from the perspective of civilians watched by more than one thousand movie Son du Serpent, produced by rather than conventional media,” people at one time,” says Dijkstra, Family Affair Films, has been says Vroege. “There was only one or who attended last year with selected for the African Perspectives two hours of material and some Démontable, which was also sidebar. It follows a man on a frantic photographs so the short format selected for Lab Competition. search for his lost wife against an was a natural fit.” Supporting Film was commissioned increasingly supernatural backdrop. by the Netherlands International

Bethany de Forest and Robin Noorda’s Red and the Factory Plant

44 45 Berlinale/IFFR Tiger Shorts More in short... Dutch selections

Berlin Generation 2016 be a grown-up genre and we have confiscated by the entertainment invested in them heavily over the industry to establish it as a new Four Dutch short films have past 15 years through the project Land of Eden. been selected for the prestigious Kort!, run together with broadcaster Berlinale Generation section. NTR, Mediafund and CoBo-fund. In Makino Takashi’s Cinéma concret, shadow presences gradually In Generation Kplus are Ninnoc by “We also fund the the production of emerge, composed of layers upon Niki Padidar (prod: Zuidenwind approx. 8 short films per year by new layers of natural imagery that Filmproductions, world prem IDFA) talents. Producers like to work with awaken the senses. about a girl who struggles when she them because they want to try out is in a group because she doesn’t the relationship or try something Night Soil – Economy of Love, want to adapt to the ways of others, new and innovative. There are a lot directed by Melanie Bonajo and part but nor does she want to be left out. of great ideas and people from other of the current EYE exhibition of disciplines such as artist Noël Dutch video artists, portrays a Jonas and the Sea by Marlies van der Loozen (Spoetnik) who are making Brooklyn-based movement of Wel (prod: Halal, sales: SND Films, their first short features. female sex workers who regard their world prem Heart of Gold Film work as a way for women to reclaim Festival, Australia), is an animated “Since long, we also fund the power in a male-dominated short film about a man who casts post-­production of shorts across all pleasure zone. aside everything in pursuit of his genres, also experimental films and dream. documentaries. Animation has our Marten Rabarts, head of EYE special attention too, so Jonas and International, comments: Skatekeet (Dir: Edward Cook. the Sea is a good example of a young “Our shorts selected for Rotterdam, Prod: Tangerine Tree, world prem talented maker starting with a Clermont – Ferrand and Berlin once IDFA 2015), is a short doc about a personal film.” again announce the remarkable ten-year-old girl whose diversity of talent and voices coming skateboarding skills stand out in a Dutch Tiger shorts 2016 from the Netherlands. Animation, skate-world dominated by boys. experimental and women Four more Dutch shorts will film-­makers feature strongly in the In Generation 14plus is Spoetnik, compete in IFFR Tiger Awards lineups, and they cast their gaze directed by Noël Loozen (Prod: Competition for Short Films. around the entire world, Halal, world prem Netherlands Film reconfirming our Dutch industry as Festival) about teenager Sam The Double, directed by Roy Villevoye global in scope, in spite of a working at the fries stall Spoetnik and Jan Dietvorst, in which an relatively small homebase. across the street from a brothel exacting sculpture of a middle-aged Geography is no obstacle in the that houses an alluring girl who white man is hammered out in a pursuit of a great story.” evidently needs Sam’s help… studio. Voices bring him to life, but who is he really? NB The jury for the 2016 Tiger Comments Dorien van de Pas, Awards Competition for Short Films Head of New Screen NL at the Establishing Eden (Persijn Broersen includes Mieke Bernink, professor Netherlands Film Fund: “We in the and Margit Lukács) recreates the on the Master’s degree course at the Netherlands consider short films to landscapes of New Zealand as Netherlands Film Academy.

Jonas and the Sea by Marlies van der Wel

46 47 EYE Exhibition Close-Up: New Dutch film and video artists New Dutch disorder

EYE’s Jaap Guldemond talks to universe of their own making work out of the corner of your eye Nick Cunningham about the (Cristóbal León and Joaquín while looking at another is what museum’s latest exhibition, Cociña), artist and composer really interests us a lot. But of which focuses on the new Mariska de Groot will capture light course most people that are working generation of Dutch film and frequencies onto light-sensitive with the moving image are also video artists. speakers in order to transform them working with sound, so to prevent into sound. all the works from interfering Following EYE’s tentpole sound-wise we have had to build exhibitions of 2015 – William All of which means, according to some walls and also even some Kentridge’s astounding If We Ever Guldemond, that the one major ceilings upon those walls, creating a Get to Heaven and the Michelangelo element that unites all of these type of black box.” Antonioni, Il maestro del cinema artworks is that there is no one moderno extravagaza – the uniting element. “The way this new Another artist on display is museum’s gaze will be directed generation uses film and video and established Dutch auteur David closer to home in 2016. A core remit the moving image is completely Verbeek whose Toronto 2015 of the museum, argues exhibition open,” he continues. “Moving Competition selection Full Contact director Jaap Guldemond, is as picture technology is easy to use, forms the basis of a two-screen much to celebrate new talent as to and even if you don’t have such a big installation. “He is still working on venerate the older order, which is budget you can have high quality it so we have no idea if it will be 10 why the works of 14 new, highly work. But the most important thing minutes or 40 minutes but it will be talented, idiosyncratic and diverse is that the use of moving image is a new work based on the story and Dutch visual artists will be on becoming more and more material from the film. That is display Jan 31 to May 22 to Dutch self-evident, using a cell phone or a exactly what we are interested to see and international audiences alike. video camera or whatever, people at the EYE museum, where are probably using it more now than filmmakers come to use the The highly impressive Melanie they use written text.” exhibition space instead of the Bonajo, for example, will examine cinema theatre.” the changing relationship of The exhibition will again be housed modern man to his surroundings in EYE’s sharply angled exhibition The Dutch theme continues into within the context of enigmatic space which has, historically, Summer 2016 when EYE will stage occult rituals. The worlds of proved a challenging environment an exhibition of the works of hallucinatory imagination and for Guldemond and his team. The acclaimed Dutch cinematographer science will collide with the difficulties are compounded this Robbie Müller, the lenser of choice presentation of works by Amos time as museum staff look to satisfy for the likes of Wim Wenders, Mulder and Joris Strijbos/Matthijs the requirements of 14 artists all Lars von Trier and Steve McQueen. Munnik respectively, while the rubbing shoulders within the “We will screen these works in political observations of belit sag˘ unique environment. “We figured combination with a lot of material and Hamza Halloubi offer the out that the more open the space, he has been shooting for private use opportunity to contemplate and the better it worked because of all when working on the set or looking assess the contemporary Islamic those different angles and tilted for locations, in hotel rooms. There world. Meanwhile, as some artists walls,” explains Guldemond. “In a are hundreds of hours. It will be and filmmakers seek to create a way the interference of seeing one fascinating to see.”

Melanie Bonajo’s Night Soil – Economy of Love

48 49 Dutch industry news Short Cuts

EYE Discover

Every day the world of the moving EYE on set displays 95,000 photos that image is explored and explained to were taken on film sets over the past visitors to Amsterdam’s EYE museum century-plus, and the EYE walk is a during the EYE discover presentations. video tour for children aged 7/12 that Visitors of all ages can view the brings exciting films from the EYE Panorama collection of film devices collection to life, such as Georges that mark significant moments in the Méliès’ Voyage dans la lune and the history of the cinema. horror film Nosferatu.

These include the legendary 35mm The compact camera of Joris Ivens Comments EYE’s Digital Presentation Mitchell camera, used to shoot many Manager Irene Haan: “With a various of Hollywood’s greatest films, a the camera and the projector, and when range of playful, interactive and freely mutoscope showing Chaplin’s The you put on your 3D-sound headphones accessible presentations throughout Waiter and an über compact camera EYE listen will present five classic films the building, the public can explore used by Dutch film pioneer Joris Ivens (Jaws, Chinatown, Run Lola Run, All is the technical evolution and history of for his famous documentary The Bridge. Love and Once Upon a Time in the West film.” from the perspective of the cameraman, EYE explore presents the precursors of the scriptwriter, the editor, the casting the two most basic pieces of film kit, director and the composer. Admiral

2015: strong year for Dutch film industry Short-sighted EYE

In 2015 cinema attendance in the (693,202). The art house sector money form of recreation in the The Short Film Pool, EYE’s short film distribution initiative Netherlands rose 7% to 32,951,335, performed well too, especially Still Netherlands. that went live 18 months ago, is going from strength to the highest number since 1967. The Alice (101,663 visitors) and 45 Years strength with Dutch exhibition outlets now numbered at most popular film of 2015 was Spectre (94,499 visitors). The healthy development in the 27 cinemas. Funded by the Netherlands Film Fund and (2.04 million visitors). The total cinema sector contrasts starkly, sponsored by Haghe Film and Gofilex, the Pool currently revenue from ticket sales in 2015 A key driver behind the success of 2015 however, with the home entertainment offers 250 short films from the Filmbank/EYE collections, increased 10.32% to €275.65 million was the further expansion of capacity market. DVD and Blu-Ray sales Kort!, the NIAf (Netherlands Institute for Animation Film) from €249.88 million in 2014. in the Netherlands. The total number dropped 23% in 2015. The Video on and independent distributors. As a result of EYE entering of cinemas increased by 34 to a total of Demand market could not offset the into partnership with several European short film 2015 was a good year for Dutch films 893, with greater investment also in decline, its growth stagnated by illegal distributors, a selection of some 30 European short films is even though the market share dropped technological innovation and downloading and illegal streaming also available to Dutch exhibitors. Films (both Dutch and to 18.7% from 20.84% in 2014. In total customer satisfaction. movies and TV series. international) are updated on a regular basis. All films are Still: Otto there were more than 6.1 million converted to DCP format. visitors to Dutch films. The top Even though the average price per cinemas that do not screen on a daily basis. Comments Pool performing Dutch films were Vipers ticket increased 3% to 8.37 euros, Subscriptions are priced at €500 per year plus €225 head Peter van Hoof: “The Short Film Pool brings short film Nest 2 (818,113 visitors) and Admiral cinema remains very much a value for transportation costs. This fee is effectively halved for back to the cinemas, where it belongs.”

50 51 Reinout Scholten van Aschat: Shooting Star 2016

Reinout Scholten van Aschat, who On the big screen Reinout has citation reads: “Often filmed all stars in IFFR opening film Beyond featured in films such as Alex van alone in Norway’s Finnmark Sleep, is the European Film Warmerdam’s Borgman as well as wilderness, Reinout affirms himself Promotion Shooting Star for the The Heineken Kidnap, for which he as the magnetic centre of the Netherlands at the 66th Berlin Film received a Golden Calf for Best Actor philosophical adventure story. In a Festival. Reinout is one of ten highly at the Netherlands Film Festival. riveting performance, he walks the gifted young actors selected from delicate line between lucidity and across Europe by a jury of acclaimed On Reinout’s performance in madness.” industry experts. Beyond Sleep the Shooting Stars jury Photo: Janita Sassen