Downtown

Amsterdam, 1986. At the flamboyant nightclub Downtown, Ronnie, Lennart and Bas seem untouchable. Their close-knit friendship revolves around nights full of freedom, desire and excess, set against the backdrop of a city in constant flux. But as the first rumours of AIDS begin to spread, the mood within their world slowly starts to shift. While Ronnie cautiously tries to look ahead, Lennart and Bas keep clinging to a life that seems endless — until Bas suddenly vanishes without a trace. More than thirty years later, during the coronavirus pandemic, Ronnie unexpectedly spots Bas again on the metro. He decides to organise a dinner, bringing Lennart along too, their first meeting in years.

Opening film NFF 2026
Downtown is directed by Gouden Kalf winner Michiel van Erp (Een Schitterend Gebrek, Niemand in de Stad) and written by Frank Houtappels (April, May and June, Gooische Vrouwen). The main cast includes Yorick van Wageningen, Hans Kesting, Roeland Fernhout, Daniel Cornelissen, Sebastián Mrkvicka and Thor Braun. Downtown is produced by Kaap Holland Film and Het Familiedrama.

Public opening on Friday 25 September
The screenings at 18:30 in the Blauwe Zaal at Stadsschouwburg Utrecht, and at 18:15, 18:30 and 18:45 at Kinepolis Jaarbeurs, include an introduction with cast and/or crew.