Nineteen exciting and highly promising new projects are selected for the New Dutch, Stories & Beyond and BoostNL programmes of the 2023 Holland Film Meeting. Fifteen of the projects are majority Dutch (including Curaçao), 1 Flemish project in coproduction with the Netherlands, and three projects are invited from far afield as Peru, India and Colombia. With Dutch filmmaking luminaries such as David Verbeek (Full Contact), Mischa Kamp (Boys, Romy's Salon), Erik de Bruyn (Wild Mussels, J. Kessels) and Shamira Raphaëla (Shabu) and director Edson da Conceiçao (Golden Calf Best Drama Series – Rampvlucht).
Of the nineteen projects presented within the New Dutch, Stories & Beyond and BoostNL categories, the majority are fiction features with the subprogramme Stories & Beyond placing special emphasis on Dutch genre films this year. Additionally, one project this year is a creative documentary, and one is a feature-length animation.
Holland Film Meeting Selections 2023
New Dutch Selection
New Dutch is a curated selection of the most exciting new projects from the Netherlands whose production teams will receive a tailor-made trajectory best suited to their individual goals, wishes and needs. This year eight projects are earmarked for bespoke creative and business mentorship as they eye up their immersion into the marketplace and their eventual roll-out to (inter)national audiences.
From 2023 onwards, we will put our program “New Dutch” front and center in showcasing the best of what the Netherlands and Dutch-speaking territories like Curaçao and Flanders have to offer. We will focus not only on the potential for co-production or sales but also on incorporating international feedback to make a bigger splash in global waters for the Dutch film industry.
Alles Komt Goed
Netherlands
Director and screenwriter: Marcel Visbeen
Producer: Annemiek van Gorp, René Goossens (De Productie)
Boni
Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname
Director: Edson da Conceiçao, Timo Ottevanger
Screenwriter: Tessa Leuwsha (treatment), Kenrich Cairo (research)
Producer: Emjay Rechsteiner (Staccato Films)
Her name was Laboni
Netherlands
Director and screenwriter: Claudio Montesano Casillas
Producer: Loretta van der Horst
Mester Muri
Curaçao, Spain
Director: Kristen Dania
Screenwriter and producer: Kristen Dania, Ralph Winedt
Photo: Tamira Koeiman
Porte Bagage
Netherlands
Director and screenwriter: Abdelkarim El-Fassi
Producer: Asma El-Fassi, Karim Mrabti (Zouka)
Stairway to Earth
Netherlands
Director and screenwriter: Finn Szumlas
Producer: Edwin Goldman, Petra Goedings, Maaike Benschop (Goldman Film & Phanta Film)
An Other Green World
Netherlands
Director and screenwriter: Jesse van der Kolk
Producer: Jelmer Wristers (No End Cinema)
24 Strong
Belgium, Netherlands
Director and screenwriter: Rieneke van Santen
Producer: Kristian van der Heyden (Harald House), Rieneke van Santen (Dendezo Productions)
BoostNL Selection
BoostNL, the tailor-made professional programme run in collaboration with Dutch partner festival IFFR presents six projects. Three projects from The Netherlands, and three more from Peru, France/India and Colombia supported by IFFR's Hubert Bals Fund. The selected projects begin their five-month training trajectory in Utrecht and conclude in Rotterdam in January/February 2024. The programme places particular emphasis on script and story development and helps develop festival, sales and marketing strategies for optimal business returns.
A Tied Woman
Peru
Director and screenwriter: Olivia Manrufo, Miguel Angel Moulet
Producer: Katitza Kisic (El Navegante Films)
AWA - The sea between us
Curaçao, Netherlands
Director: Shamira Raphaëla
Screenwriter: Roelof Jan Minneboo, Shamira Raphaëla
Producer: Michel Drenthe, Robin Amatmoestar (Caribbean Filmcom N.V.)
Clockwork Universe
Netherlands
Director and screenwriter: Cindy Jansen
Producer: Iris Lammertsma, Boudewijn Koole (Witfilm)
Cold Ashes Can Cause Forest Fires
France, India
Director and screenwriter: Ashmita Guha Neogi
Producer: Avantika Singh Desbouvries (Salt For Sugar Films)
Jasmine
Netherlands
Director: Mischa Kamp
Screenwriter: Kate Brown
Producer: Loes Komen, Eva Verweij (Room for Film)
Mi papá el camión
Colombia
Director and screenwriter: María Cristina Pérez
Producer: Mauricio Cuervo Rincón (Pez Dorado Animaciones)
Stories & Beyond Selection
Five Dutch genre projects are selected for Stories & Beyond. The section offers the maximum opportunity for screenwriters and filmmakers at the early stages of the development and production to explore the international potential of their projects and obtain feedback and advice from key creative and industry professionals.
“HFM has always been about spotting and promoting trends in the industry, and we are happy to contribute to a fresh wave of enticing genre projects from Dutch soil this year, from both established professionals, as well as upcoming talent,” confirms Head of Professionals & Talent Sterre de Jong.
.Nevel (Curtain)
Netherlands
Director and screenwriter: Herbert Alfonso
Producer: Jonathan Smit (CABIN Content)
De Mantra van de Dief
Netherlands
Director and screenwriter: David Verbeek
Producer: Wout Conijn (Conijn Film)
Keelin's Return
Netherlands
Director and screenwriter: Erik de Bruyn
Producer: Rianne Poodt (The Rogues)
Lily
Netherlands
Director: Jan Doense
Screenwriter: Nathalie Pagie
Producer: Annemiek van der Hell (Windmill Film)
Meet Jimmy
Netherlands, Belgium
Director: David-Jan Bronsgeest
Screenwriter: Tim Koomen
Producer: Tim Koomen (Bloodrave)
About the Holland Film Meeting
Since 1998 the Holland Film Meeting (formerly also known as the Netherlands Production Platform) has been considered one of Europe’s must-attend co-production, showcasing and development events, and generally acknowledged as an essential hub for the formation of strong ties between the Dutch and international film industries, as well as strengthening the Dutch audiovisual industry.