Next year, the Netherlands Film Festival will have to face extensive budget cuts. Therefore, let's enjoy this year extra, was the recommendation with which festival director Willemien van Aalst closed the press conference presenting the programme of the 32nd Netherlands Film Festival this afternoon.
Especially in this time of economic headwind, this year's festival has chosen The Promise as its main theme. The various promises that Dutch film holds will be highlighted during this Utrecht event. The promise of films, the promise of deeds, the promise of talent.
The festival highlights a number of promising talents from various disciplines at the beginning of their careers, including six young actors and actresses: Reinout Scholten van Aschat, Abbey Hoes, Mamoun Elyounoussi, Hannah Hoekstra, Willem Voogd and Sigrid ten Napel. They can be seen in films and audiences can meet them in the daily talk show, where they talk about their ambitions and sources of inspiration.
Another spearhead is further boosting the already substantial audience inflow. That will certainly come in handy next year to keep the budget on track. Indeed, research showed - rather surprisingly - that many potential visitors still have the idea that the festival is primarily something for filmmakers and other professionals, with a private Golden Calf Gala to conclude. With an early programme presentation and the festival starting a week later this year, more space is now created for marketing. On the rebound, the NFF now uses the slogan: 'Your films, your festival'.
Actor Jeroen Willems and director George Sluizer are key guests this year. Special attention is paid to the success of Dutch family films (also internationally). That is why the choice for the opening film was Nono, the zigzag child.
It was also announced that this year's Golden Calf for the Culture Award goes to Willeke van Ammelrooy for her outstanding merit for Dutch film culture.
The Dutch Film Festival takes place from 26 September to 5 October.
English (UK) 
Nederlands 
Français 