Every year during the last week of September, Utrecht becomes the Dutch capital of film. It is the time of the Netherlands Film Festival when public and industry alike can concentrate solely on Dutch cinema in all its facets. In 2009, the festival screened 432 films - 106 of which had their première - and attracted a record number of 151,000 visitors, who attended not only film screenings but unique cinematographic presentations, discussions and exhibitions. In addition, more than 1.9 million people viewed the online supply of short films, reports and interviews.
Golden Calf
The Main Programme of the festival is a selection of long feature films, short films, documentaries and TV films completed over the previous 12 months. Any Dutch filmmaker can submit a film to the festival before the June 15 deadline. Some of the selected films compete for the much-coveted Grand Prize of the Dutch Film, better known as the Golden Calf. Furthermore, a selection of first-time features, culled from the Main Programme, compete in the Debut Competition for the Film Prize of the City of Utrecht. In the Panorama section, the festival surveys the best student films, the pick of Flemish films and a number striking foreign films in which Dutch talent made an important contribution. In addition, productions are selected for screening during the Netherlands Online Film Festival (NOFF). From 1 May, this online competition offers a choice of films with a maximum duration of ten minutes.
Guest of the Year
In the Spotlight Section the festival presents highlights from Holland's recent and distant cinematogaphic past. A central feature of this section is the Guest of the Year, when the work of a Dutch actress, actor, filmmaker or producer is closely analysed and widely screened. In The Choice of… section, the festival presents the favourite Dutch films of well-known people who have a special affinity with Dutch cinema. After the screenings, they discuss these films with the filmmakers and festival audiences.
Kids & Youth
The festival presents a broad selection of children’s and family films. It organises the Kids’ Cinema and Youth Cinema for thousands of students from primary and secondary schools in Utrecht and surroundings. The ‘meet & greets’ and educational workshops are other much-loved programme sections.
International meetings
Dozens of foreign festival programmers, distributors, TV programmers and producers attend the festival to keep abreast of developments within Dutch film. During the Holland Film Meeting, valuable contacts are established for international co-productions.
Talkshow with Matthijs van Nieuwkerk
The Festival Pavilion on the Neude Square is the location of the daily talkshow with host Matthijs van Nieuwkerk. The Pavilion will also house the nightly Cinema Dinner, hosted by Jan Eilander, where film professionals talk about their love of the trade. Live bands, DJs and VJs create the right atmosphere at celebrations and parties into the small hours.
Reports
People at home can follow the festival via the festival website which is updated daily with festival reports and on-the-spot accounts. The Talkshow and the Gala of the Dutch Film - with the presentation of the Golden Calves - can also be followed on www.filmfestival.nl. In addition, Nederland 2 will broadcast many film classics, festival newscasts and behind-the-screen reports, while Film1 will present TV premières, a film blog with interviews and, of course, red carpet photos.
Crystal, Golden, Platinum & Diamond Film
Throughout the year, the festival brings Dutch film to the attention of the public by means of various activities. The festival website provides the latest news on Dutch cinema via features, interviews and reports. Supported by the Dutch Film Fund, the festival awards a Golden, Platinum or Diamond Film when a release sells 100,000, 400,000 or 1,000,000 tickets respectively. The Crystal Film is granted to documentaries attracting more than 10,000 visitors. Moreover, the festival organises sundry programmes and open-air screenings throughout the yearly calendar.
Netherlands Film Festival 2010
The 2010 edition of the Netherlands Film Festival will be taking place from Wednesday 22 September until Friday 1 October. The Holland Film Meeting will take place from Thursday 23 September - 27 September 2010.