A record 104 Dutch film journalists took part in the traditional election of best film of the year. It became a neck-and-neck race between two already critically acclaimed titles that eventually finished in shared first place with a wide lead over the rest of the field.
The ode to Hollywood La La Land and the contrasting German tragicomedy Toni Erdmann received equal points, although La La Land mentioned once more, though.
Moderate year
Number three is, rather surprisingly, Ma vie de Courgette. This touching stop-motion animation about a boy who has to find his place in an orphanage after the tragic death of his mother was the Swiss Oscar entry.
Several participants thought 2016 was a mediocre year as far as Dutch cinema was concerned. Some even gave their vote to two French productions directed by Dutchmen: The Red Turtle (Michael Dudok de Wit) and Elle (Paul Verhoeven). The eventual winner became, fairly uncontested, the Dutch Oscar entry Tonio by Paula van der Oest. Notable number two also scored high, The children of Juf Kiet, the documentary made with love and a keen eye about a class of migrant children.
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