Seenl Youth and Family Films from the Netherlands

SEE NL

Youth and Family films from the Netherlands Fall 2016/Spring 2017

Index

Introduction

2 Introduction 5 Testament of Youth

It all began back in the 1990s when a former teacher called Burny Bos decided that film entertainment for kids didn’t have to be American and dubbed. Before Bos, there were no Dutch children’s films in the cinemas. After Bos, the Netherlands is arguably the leading European producer of films within the kids sector.

elected releases S 8 Storm Letter of Fire 9 The Day My Father Became A Bush 10 Mister Twister At The Pitch 11 Enough!

12 Owls & Mice 13 Siv Sleeps Astray 14 Master Spy 15 The Club of Saint Nicholas 16 Mr Frog 17 Woozle and Pip 18 Monkey Business 19 Dummie the Mummie 20 Keet and Koen 21 Code M 22 Little Gangster 23 Kidnap 24 Boy7 25 Jack’s Wish 26 Life According To Nino 27 Loonies II 28 Secrets Of War 29 Boys 30 The Amazing Wiplala In development 31 Super Sully 31 Harley And The Dreamfactory 32 Vicious 32 My Extraordinary Summer With Tess 33 Spacekees 33 Totem 34 Kung Fu Lion

“Burny started off with The Flying Liftboy, and then there was Miss Minoes and Winky’s Horse and many, many others, and he proved that it was possible to make smart, serious, entertaining, sophisticated children’s films from the Netherlands, spoken in Dutch, attracting huge audiences and able to travel across borders,” says Netherlands Film Fund CEO Doreen Boonekamp. “He started getting families to Dutch films because the films he produced were so good.”

And the Dutch industry embraced the cause, with numerous filmmakers going on to win international renown, such as Maria Peters, Martin Koolhoven, Joram Lûrsen, Ben Sombogaart, Boudewijn Koole, Dennis Bots and Nicole van Kilsdonk and many more. These directors attracted Dutch kids (and adults) to cinemas in their millions. “It has been a long and exciting progress of developing and producing excellent children’s family films, and the very special thing is that the best filmmakers can tell their stories by taking the same eye level as the children, their audience, to address all the topics that these kids are confronted with as they grow into adolescence,” Boonekamp underlines.

“This is also why Dutch film is attractive for the international industry. Many countries would like to make these types of films for their own young audiences and through dialogue, co-operation and bringing talents together, we are very happy to join forces with them on an international level.”

Contact: Doreen Boonekamp CEO d.boonekamp@ filmfonds.nl

Ellis Driessen International Affairs e.driessen@ filmfonds.nl

2

Frank Peijnenburg Head Screen NL f.peijnenburg@ filmfonds.nl

Miss Minoes (2001)

3

Owls and Mice (p12)

4

Testament of Youth With the new four-year funding cycle kicking in from 2017, Dutch investment in the children and youth sector will remain a cornerstone of the Fund’s policy, while through additional investment in the development and production of individual projects we aim to increase the quality of the output, underlines Film Fund CEO Doreen Boonekamp.

Over recent years the core A-festivals with dedicated programmes for young audiences have consistently reserved top slots for new Dutch cinema. In 2016 Berlinale Generation selected six Dutch films, including the K-plus opener Siv Sleeps Astray, co-produced by leading Dutch producer Viking Film. The latest TIFF Kids included Nicole van Kilsdonk’s fantastical The Day My Father Became a Bush and this year’s Cinekid, one of the key international staging posts for the development, finance and exhibition of films and programmes for kids, opens with Simone van Dusseldorp’s Owls and Mice.

“When you take kids seriously they develop in a different way” “Children’s and youth film is a very strong Dutch brand,” points out Fund head Boonekamp. “These films not only appeal to a large audience in the Netherlands, but they also seem to be very attractive to international audiences, which we can tell from the selections not only at international festivals but from their travelling across borders through distribution, either theatrical or non-theatrical.”

Which is precisely why the Fund chief is looking to back at least six or seven youth films per year with selective funding,

whether majority or minority. “We think it is essential to increase production levels within this sector,” she confirms.

Frank Peijnenburg, head of Screen NL, puts Dutch success within the kids sector down to a very grown-up approach by the professionals within it. “They think of their audience in a different way to arthouse directors and producers of mainstream films,” he stresses. “They are so well aware of what is important for the kids from an entertainment point of view, but also from the perspective of life’s values and the problems that children face. The young audiences recognize and appreciate this. When you take kids seriously they develop in a different way.”

Peijnenburg cites the director/producer team of Dennis Bots and Harro van Staverden, responsible for the highly successful 2WW film Secrets of War (2014) and the upcoming €6 million Storm, a 16th Century historical drama about the Reformation. “They are very committed much to the world of children and to education. Denis is so clever, not comforting, not pleasing the audience, teasing them while knowing exactly what he wants, easily able to enter the imagination of the young people. He makes a study of it.”

Producer Van Staverden explains how the two films benefited greatly from Dutch soft money. “Secrets of War had a great impact within the target group. We had 170,000 admissions but, more importantly, we reached 300,000 kids with educational materials based on the film. And we had an additional release in the cinema thanks to these educational materials, after the film’s normal release, and this was all down to the soft money.

Otherwise you can never make such an expensive movie.”

“We hope Storm will do the same, also a historical movie about freedom of expression and religious tolerance, which are topics that are very urgent today,” Van Staverden adds of the film for which the Film Production Incentive provided 8% of the budget, a rebate of approximately €495,000. “That is very significant money,” he comments.

And could the film have been made without this rebate?

“It would have made it a lot more complicated, and we

5

wouldn’t have been able to find it in the Netherlands,’ the producer responds. “So we would have had to find another country to come on board as a co-producer which would have made the production more complicated. With the Incentive we were able to keep it as a Dutch majority production.”

The kids sector en masse is looking forward to the return of the Cinema Junior scheme that until 2012 invested heavily in the development and production of original screenplays, Boonekamp confirms. The initiative was scrapped four years ago after one of the partners pulled their support, but the market failed to plug the gap in investment in order to guarantee a supply line of high quality fare, opting instead for more formatted adaptations. “So we saw a considerable drop in original stories for children and youth. This has always been one of the strongest angles of the Dutch film industry and it needed to be brought back to life.”

“I think some six years ago 10% of Dutch

to make projects, from the very start, appealing to audiences across borders as they seek a wider audience.”

The Dutch/German co-development fund was launched at Berlinale in early February 2015 to develop and co-produce high-quality films for young audiences from both countries and beyond.

Another benefit of minority co-pro contribution within the youth sector is the successful export of Dutch production and creative talent which, argue both Boonekamp and Peijnenburg, can only improve the standard of output from the sector across Europe. Recent examples include Marleen Slot of Viking Film who co-produced the Swedish Siv Sleeps Astray, that opened Berlinale Generation, and production powerhouse Submarine’s decision to come on board the family adventure Cloudboy, produced with Belgium and Sweden.

“I think because of the experience within the sector, our professionals can make a big contribution to raising the level of the children and youth films of other countries,” Boonekamp underlines.

“This is, for us, what co-production is all about. It is not just a matter of exchanging money. It is very much an exchange of knowledge and creativeness too and, through collaboration, to grow the level of films as a whole, not just here in the Netherlands but across Europe and hopefully beyond,” she concludes.

“Another benefit is the successful export of Dutch production and creative talent”

films were internationally co-produced while now it is nearly 70%, so we are very happy for international partners to attach to these films that we develop and produce within this scheme,” she adds.

“And we continue our collaboration with Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung so we will not only be developing youth film projects with the professionals in the Netherlands but will collaborate with German producers

6

Mr. Frog (p16)

7

Selected releases

Storm Letter of Fire Original title: Storm Letters Van Vuur Antwerp 1521. Storm (12), the son of a book printer, becomes the object of a hunt for an important letter by Martin Luther, during which his father is arrested. Aided by Marieke (12), an orphan girl who lives in the underground sewers of Antwerp, Storm finds himself in a race against time to save his father from execution and fight for everyone’s freedom.

Director: Dennis Bots Screenwriter: Karen van Holst Pellekaan Producers: Harro van Staverden, Petra Goedings Production Company: Phanta Basta!

Co-producers: Marina Blok – NTR (the Netherlands), Nicolas Steil - Iris Productions (Luxembourg), Katleen Goossens - Bulletproof Cupid (Belgium), BNP Parisbas Fortis Film Finance (Belgium) Financers: Netherlands Film Fund, Netherlands Film Fund matching fund, Netherlands Film Production Incentive, CoBO, NTR, DFW, AT Fund, Taxshelter Belgium, Luxembourg Film Fund, Screen Flanders, ZDF. Distributor: Dutch FilmWorks for Benelux Length: 100 minutes Target group: 8-14 years Budget: €6.1 M Release: Spring 2017

8

Dennis Bots: Storm Letter of Fire (2017) Code M (2015) Secrets of War (2014) Cool Kids Don’t Cry (2012) House Anubis (2008, 2009, 2010) Contact: Harro van Staverden, producer M +31 653984346 T +31 206260255 harro@phantavision.com www.phantabasta.com

Selected releases

The Day My Father Became A Bush Original title: Toen mijn vader een struik werd When Toda’s dad is called away unexpectedly to defend his country, Toda undertakes an adventurous and challenging journey ‘to the neighboring country in order to find her mum.

Director: Nicole van Kilsdonk Screenwriters: Maureen Versprille, Nicole van Kilsdonk Producers: Eva Eisenloeffel, Fleur Winters, Leontine Petit, Joost de Vries, Production Company: Lemming Film Co-producers: Dries Phlypo, Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem (A Private View) Sinisa Juricic (Nukleus Film) Thomas Leyers (Minds Meet) Jacomien Nijhof (EO) Financers: Netherlands Film Fund, Netherlands Film Production Incentive, CoBO, EO, MEDIA, Eurimages, VAF, Taxshelter Belgium, Taxshelter Croatia Distributor: Lemming Film Distribution Sales Agent: Beta Cinema Length: 90 minutes Target audience: 8-12 / 12+ Budget: €1.6 M Release: Spring 2017

9

Nicole van Kilsdonk: The Day My Father Became A Bush (2016) Ventoux (2015) In the Heart (2014) Taking Chances (2011) Heading West (2010) How to Survive (2008) Johan (2005) Contact: Sarieke Hoeksma, Publicity, Marketing & Festival Coordinator Sarieke@Lemmingfilm.com www.lemmingfilm.com +31 206610424

Selected releases

Mister Twister at the Pitch Original title: Mees Kees langs de lijn

Photo: Victor Arnolds

During the school soccer competition Mister Twister suddenly has to take care of his mother, so Dreus replaces him as coach. But the results of team 6B worsen drastically so Tobias has to think of something to make Mister Twister come back. Eventually they help Mister Twister take care of his mother and for the final he’s once more at the pitch-side as their coach.

Director: Aniëlle Webster Screenwriter: Tijs van Marle Producer: Paul Voorthuysen Production Company: PVPictures Financers: AVROTROS, ZDF, ZDF Enterprises Distributor: Entertainment One Benelux Length of the film: 80 minutes Target audience: 6-12 years Budget: €1 M Release date: December 2016

10

Aniëlle Webster

Contact: Kiki The +31 620446569 kiki@pvpictures.nl www.pvpictures.nl

Selected releases

Enough!

Original title: Kappen!

Sander’s group of friends becomes a ‘gang’ when Emiel joins them but Sander realises this too late to back out. The gang violently robs a boy. Sander is recognised and everybody thinks he is guilty. Except Indra, who has glandular fever and knows how it is when people don’t believe you. But what if she finds out that Sander really is guilty?

Director: Tessa Schram Screenwriter: Maria Peters, Mirjam Oomkes Producers: Dave Schram, Maria Peters Production company: Shooting Star Filmcompany Financers: Netherlands Film Fund, KRO-NCRV, CoBO, AT Fund Distributor: Dutch FilmWorks Sales Agent: Mountain Road Entertainment Group Length: 80 minutes Target audience: 9-16 years Budget: €1.3 M Release: December 2016

11

Tessa Schram: Painkillers (2014, feature) Lost and Found (2012, short) Sammie is Missing (2011, short) Contact: Shooting Star +31 206247272 info@shootingstar.nl www.shootingstar.nl Mountain Road Entertainment Group +31 653948986 danielle@incrediblefilm.nl www.mountainroad.nl

Selected releases

Owls & Mice Original title: Uilenbal Thanks to her little mouse Peepeep, Meral quickly makes friends at her new school. But when Peepeep gets caught by an owl, Meral blames her friends and doesn’t want to see them anymore. In search of the owl nest where she hopes to find Peepeep, Meral’s friends try to help her, and Meral learns what real friendship is.

Director: Simone van Dusseldorp Screenwriter: Simone van Dusseldorp Producers: Eva Eisenloeffel, Leontine Petit, Joost de Vries Production company: Lemming Film Co-producers: Pita de Leeuw, Anna van der Staak, VPRO Financers: Netherlands Film Fund, Netherlands Film Production Incentive, VPRO, CoBO, Just Film Distribution Distributor: Just Film Distribution Sales Agent: Attraction Distribution Length: 80 minutes Target audience: 12+ Budget: €1.5 M Release: October 2016

12

Diep (2005)

Simone van Dusseldorp : Owls & Mice (2016) Life According to Nino (2011) Briefgeheim (2010) Frogspawn (2009)

Contact: Sarieke Hoeksma Publicity, Marketing & Festival Coordinator Sarieke@Lemmingfilm.com www.lemmingfilm.com +31 206610424

Selected releases

Siv Sleeps Astray Original title: Siv Sover Vilse Most things seem very strange when Siv, 7, sleeps over at her new friend Cerisia’s house for the first time. With the help of two talkative and funny badger friends, who appear in the middle of the night, she has some wonderful adventures that help her embrace differences, and to find herself.

Director: Catti Edfeldt & Lena Hanno Clyne Screenwriter: Lena Hanno Clyne Producer: Marleen Slot Production company: Viking Film Co-producers: Petter Lindblad Snowcloud Films Financers: Netherlands Film Fund, Netherlands Film Production Incentive, Swedish Film Institute, Filmpool Nord, SVT, SF, Nordisk Film & TV Fond Distributor: Twin Film Sales Agent: SF Length: 79 minutes Target audience (age): 5-8 years Budget: â‚Ź2.3 M Release: October 2016

13

Catti Edfeldt & Lena Hanno Clyne

Contact: Marleen Slot, producer +31 206254788 marleen@vikingfilm.nl www.vikingfilm.nl

Selected releases

Master Spy Original title: MeesterSpion Master Spy tells the story of Tim (10) who’s forced by his parents to move from the big city to an old hotel by the sea. He finds it hard to get used to the quiet life until he meets Simon. Simon has just awoken from the year 1974 and must now get used to the present time. He also has some unfinished business to attend to as a former master spy.

Director: Pieter van Rijn Screenwriter: Tijs van Marle Producer: Paul Voorthuysen Production Company: PVPictures Financers: Netherlands Film Fund, AVROTROS, CoBO, AT Fund Distributor: Entertainment One Benelux Length: 78 minutes Target: 6-12 years Budget: â‚Ź1.6 M Release: October 2016

Pieter van Rijn: Pluk van de Petteflet Familieweekend Flikken Maastricht Contact: Kiki The +31 620446569 kiki@pvpictures.nl www.pvpictures.nl

14

Selected releases

The Club of Saint Nicholas & Barking On The Steamboat Original title: De Club van Sinterklaas & Geblaf op de Pakjesboot

Photo: Erik van Wegen

The celebration of Saint Nicholas is once again in danger this year! A villainous doctor has devised a ‘bark spray’ that makes children bark. Afterwards he can make a lot of money by selling the antidote to all the concerned parents. Will the Club foil his plot in time or will all children contract the bark cough?

Director: Ruud Schuurman Screenwriter: Sander de Regt Producer: Tom de Mol Production company: Tom de Mol Productions Co-producers: Michael van Beers, Marcel de Block, Mike Steenvoorden Financers: Netherlands Film Fund matching fund, AT Fund, DFW Distributor: Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) Length: 67 minutes Target audience: 4-10 years Budget: €0.4 M Release: October 2016

Ruud Schuurman (1967) graduated in 1993 from the Dutch Film Academy with the short film EDR ONE, for which he also wrote the screenplay. After that he directed several TV series and films. His first Saint Nicholas movie The Club of Saint Nicholas & The Talking Horse (2014) won the audience award at the Dutch Film Festival.

Contact: Tom de Mol, producer +31 206727726 tom@tdmp.nl www.tdmp.nl

15

Selected releases

Mr. Frog Original title: Meester Kikker Sita adores her schoolteacher Mr. Frans, who sometimes changes into a frog.

But the animal world is not without danger...

Director: Anna van der Heide Screenwriter: Mieke de Jong Producer: Burny Bos Production company: Bos Bros Co-producers: Prime Time Financers: Netherlands Film Fund, Netherlands Film Fund matching fund, Netherlands Film Production Incentive, AVROTROS, CoBO, In the Air, Eurimages, VAF, Taxshelter Belgium Distributor: In the Air Sales Agent: Jos Bonouvrie Length: 90 minutes Target audience: 6+ Budget: â‚Ź 2.7 M Release: July 2016

16

Anna van der Heide: Mr Frog (2016) Fidgety Bram (2012) MissiePoo16 (2007) Contact: Burny Bos, founder +31 205245430 receptie@bosbros.com www.bosbros.nl

Selected releases

Woozle and Pip In search of the Scallywagger!

Original title: Woezel & Pip Op zoek naar de Sloddervos!

Holland’s popular children’s characters Woozle and Pip set out on a fantastic new adventure in their first feature length film. A journey full of friendship, adventure and happiness!

Director: Patrick Raats Screenwriters: Dinand Woesthoff, Michiel Snijders, Arnoud Rijken Producer: Tom de Mol Production Company: Tom de Mol Productions Co-Producers: Dreamchaser Europe Financers: Netherlands Film Fund, Netherlands Film Production Incentive, DFW, KRO, CoBO, Private equity Dreamchaser Distributor: Dutch FilmWorks Sales Agent: Dreamchaser - Debbie Schouten Length: 70 minutes Target audience: 2-6 years Budget: €1.1 M Release: January 2016

17

Patrick Raats: The Tumblies series, Barbazan stopmotion animation, Woozle & Pip series, OinkOink & Friends series, Rintje stopmotion series, Kiko & Koko stopmotion series Contact: Tom de Mol, producer +31 206727726 tom@tdmp.nl www.tdmp.nl

Selected releases

Monkey Business Original title: Apenstreken met Aap, Noot, Mies Nine year-old Wim longs to go to school, but he lives in an orphanage. Along with the other children he has been exploited and they wait anxiously for the introduction of the law that will require children to attend school. Wim manages to escape and experiences a lot of adventures.

But can he stay out of the clutches of the orphanage director?

Director: Johan Nijenhuis Screenwriters: Lars Boom, Maarten Lebens Producer: Klaas de Jong & Johan Nijenhuis Production company: 2Houses, Farmhouse Film & Johan Nijenhuis & Co Co-producer: Mollywood / AVROTROS Financers: Netherlands Film Fund matching fund, CoBO, Private equity MYM, Taxshelter Belgium, AT Fund, A-Film Distributor: Dutch FilmWorks Sales Agent: Danielle Raaphorst Incredible Films Length: 90 minutes Target audience: 5–13 years Budget: ₏2.8 M Release: June 2015

Johan Nijenhuis: Directed first Dutch daily soap Goede Tijden Slechte Tijden. Produced successful Dutch television series like Westenwind, Keyzer & De Boer Advocaten, Voetbalvrouwen, Penoza.

His debut feature Costa was a box office success, followed by Volle Maan, Liever Verliefd and Floris.

Contact: S. Werdmuller Marketing and Publicity info@farmhousefilm.nl www.farmhousefilm.nl +31 628512117

18

Selected releases

Dummie the Mummy and the Sphinx of Shakaba Original title: Dummie de Mummie en de Sfinx van Shakaba

Photo: Dennis Wielaert

When Dummie the little living mummy realizes he will never grow up to become a real pharaoh, he decides to become as famous as his father, the great Pharaoh of 4000 years ago.

Director: Pim van Hoeve Screenwriter: Tijs van Marle Producer: Paul Voorthuysen Production company: PV Pictures Financers: Netherlands Film Fund matching fund, Netherlands Film Production Incentive, Nickelodeon, DFW, AT Fund, Dutch Features Distributor: Dutch Filmworks Length: 77’15’’ Target audience: 6-12 years Budget: €1.8 M Release: December 2015

Pim van Hoeve: Dummie the Mummy (2014) Pretty Sick and Twisted (2007) Snow Fever (2004) Liever Verliefd (2003) Contact: Kiki The +31 620446569 kiki@pvpictures.nl www.pvpictures.nl

19

Selected releases

Keet and Koen and the Treasure Hunt Original title: Keet en Koen en de Speurtocht naar Bassie en Adriaan Keet & Koen are entertainers in a theme park. Their mission is to find the missing comedy duo Bassie and Adriaan, presumed kidnapped. Their eternal enemy, the old Baron, wants to prevent this of course. Keet & Koen prove to be the true heirs of Bassie & Adriaan as they continue their exciting search for the famous duo.

Director: Annemarie Mooren Screenwriter: Dick van den Heuvel/Annemarie Mooren Producer: Sjef Scholte Production Company: Mountain Road Ent Group Co-producers: Marmalade Content Belgium Financers: Private Distributor: Eone Benelux Sales Agent: Danielle Raaphorst Incredible Films Length: 79 minutes Target audience: 4-88 years Budget: â‚Ź0.85 M Release: October 2015

20

Annemarie Mooren: Puppy Patrol (2009, series) Cinekid audience award (2009) Koen Kampioen (2010) Z@pp/Avro (2012) Keet en Koen en de speurtocht naar Bassie en Adriaan (feature) 150K Admissions, Golden Film (2015) Puck en het verdwenen schaap, première Cinekid (2016) Contact: Sjef Scholte sjef@mountainroad.nl Founder/CEO Mountain Road Entertainment Group +31 653721827 mob +31 356235559

Selected releases

Code M

Photo: Pief Weyman

After her grandfather’s car accident, the perky Isabel (11) takes over the search for the legendary sword of the world famous Musketeer D’ Artagnan that has been lost for centuries. Isabel’s only clue is a secret code she has to unravel. With her friends she starts an exciting search. But they’re not the only ones looking for the sword ...

Director: Dennis Bots Screenwriters: Tijs van Marle & Karen van Holst Pellekaan Producers: David Jan Bijker, Harro van Staverden, Elbe Stevens Production company: Bijker Film & TV Co-producer: Living Stone (BvBA) Belgium Financers: Netherlands Film Fund, Netherlands Film Production Incentive, AVROTROS, AT Fund, Limburg Province, Sola Media, Independent Films, Belgian Taxshelter Distributor: Independent Films Sales agent: Sola Media Length: 98 minutes Target audience: 6+ Budget: €1.9 M Release: June 2015

21

Dennis Bots: Storm Letter of Fire (2017) Code M (2015) Secrets of War (2014) Cool Kids Don’t Cry (2012) House Anubis (2008, 2009, 2010) Contact: David Bijker, producer +31 655798167 david@bijker.tv www.bijker.tv

Selected releases

Little Gangster Original title: De Boskampi’s Rik (11) and his dad Paul are bullied by the neighbourhood kids. Inspired by a mafia movie, Rik fantasizes about being the respected son of a mafia boss. So when his dad is promoted and they move to a new town, Rik decides to tell everybody his dad really is a Mafia boss - but then their past catches up with them.

Director: Arne Toonen Screenwriter: Lotte Tabbers Producer: Dave Schram, Maria Peters, Koji Nelissen Production company: Shooting Star Filmcompany Co-producer: Hazazah Pictures Financers: Netherlands Film Fund, Netherlands Film Production Incentive, VPRO, CoBO, AT Fund, Hazazah, Shooting Star, DFW Distributor: Dutch Filmworks Sales Agent: Danielle Raaphorst Incredible Films Length: 95 minutes Target audience: Family / 6+ Budget: â‚Ź1.6 M Release: Spring 2015

22

Arne Toonen: Black Out (2011, feature) Chubby Drums (2010, feature) Awards: a.o Best European Film and Audience Award Schlingel Chemnitz Int. FF for Children and Young Audience Drop Dead! (2009, short) Awards: a.o. Best International Short Cleveland IFF, Best International Short Kerry FF, Best short Emden FF. Contact: Shooting Star info@shootingstar.nl www.shootingstar.nl +31 206247272 Incredible Films danielle@incrediblefilm.nl +31 653948986

Selected releases

Kidnap – Bo’s Most Exciting Holiday Ever Original title: Kidnep

Photo: Pief Weyman

Kidnap tells the story of the unexpected relationship between kidnapper Fred (Martin van Waardenberg) and rich kid Bo (Teun Stokkel). What at first seems to be a thrilling kidnap later turns into a crazy adventure during which Fred and Bo build a special friendship. A moving story for all ages by director Diederik Ebbinge.

Director: Diederik Ebbinge Screenwriter: Karen van Holst Pellekaan Producers: Frans van Gestel, Arnold Heslenfeld, Laurette Schillings, Errol Nayci Production company: Topkapi Films & The Storytellers Co-producers: Menuet Film, KRO-NCRV, Mona Film Financers: Netherlands Film Fund, Netherlands Film Production Incentive, CoBO, KRO, Taxshelter Belgium, Screen Flanders, September Film Distributor: September Film Sales Agent: Dutch Features Length: 87 minutes Target audience: 6+ Budget: €1.8 M Release: April 2015

23

Diederik Ebbinge is a Dutch director. His first feature film Matterhorn (2013) won the Audience Award at the IFFR and was internationally successful. Before Matterhorn, Ebbinge directed the short films Naked (2006) and Success (2008), which won the Fernand Raynaud Award for Best Short Film at the Clermont Short Film Festival. In 2009 he made the television film Just Hans.

Contact: Arnold Heslenfeld Topkapi Films +31 203032494 info@topkapifilms.nl www.topkapifilms.nl

Selected releases

Boy 7

Photo: Egon EndrĂŠnyi

When Sam (18) regains consciousness in the middle of a crowded subway, he does not know how he got there, where he came from or what his name is. He frantically searches for his identity, using the contents of his backpack. Slowly but surely he realizes his life is in great danger.

Director: Lourens Blok Screenwriters: Marco van Geffen, Philip Delmaar Producers: Derk-Jan Warrink, Leontine Petit, Joost de Vries Production company: Lemming Film Co-producers: Dries Phylo, Viktoria Petranyi, Frank Groenveld Financers: Netherlands Film Fund, Netherlands Film Fund matching fund, A-Film, NCRV, CoBO, MEDIA, Tax Shelter Belgium, Tax shelter Hungary Distributor: Attraction Distribution Sales agent: Attraction Distribution Length: 84 minutes Target Audience: 12+ Budget: â‚Ź1.9 M Release: February 2015

24

Lourens Blok: Boy 7 (2015) Midden in de Winternacht (A Christmoose Story, 2013) Feuten (Freshers, 2013)

Blijf! (2011) The Seven of Daran (2008) Liefde, Dood en luchtgitaar (2006)

Contact: Sarieke Hoeksma and Publicity, Marketing & Festival Coordinator Sarieke@Lemmingfilm.com www.lemmingfilm.com + 31 206610424

Selected releases

Jack’s Wish Original title: Jack Bestelt Een Broertje For years Jack has been asking for a baby brother for his birthday. When his 8th birthday comes around and there is no baby brother, just a giant rabbit, Jack decides he has had enough.

Director: Anne de Clercq Screenwriters: Anne Barnhoorn & Anne de Clercq Producer: Edvard van ’t Wout Production company: 2CFILM Distributor: Just Film Distrubution Sales Agent: Incredible Film, Danielle Raaphorst Length: 84 minutes Target audience: 6-12 years

Anne de Clercq graduated from the Dutch Film Academy in 1999. As a director, her work includes the feature films Jack’s Wish, Hallo Bungalow, NTR Kort!, Klokhuis and TV series RITA, Feuten, S1ngle, Floor Faber, Seinpost Den Haag, Julia’s Tango and the Co-Assistant.

Contact: Danielle Raaphorst Incredible Film Danielle@incrediblefilm.nl +31 653948986

25

Selected releases

Life According to Nino Original title: Het Leven volgens Nino

Photo: Kris Dewitte

The sudden death of his mom turns 8-year-old Nino’s family life upside down. With his dad in distress and his big brother in a street gang, Nino is left to his own devices. But Nino has a special talent – he can talk to animals! His pet rabbit Bobby offers him comfort, but when will Nino get his family back?

Director: Simone van Dusseldorp Screenwriter: Urszula Antoniak Producer: Floor Onrust, Jan van der Zanden Production companies: Family Affair Films, Waterland Film Co-producers: Savage Film, NTR Television Financers: Netherlands Film Fund, CoBO, VAF, Screen Flanders, MEDIA, NTR, Eurimages Sales Agent: Attraction Distribution - Xiaojuan Zhou Length: 80 minutes Target audience: 6+ Budget: €1.7 M Release: October 2014

Simone van Dusseldorp: Deep (2005) Frogs & Toads (2010) The Secret Letter (2010) Life According to Nino (2014) Owls & Mice (2016) Contact: Floor Onrust, Producer +31 207071713 info@familyaffairfilms.nl www.familyaffairfilms.nl

26

Selected releases

Loonies II Original title: Loenatik, te Gek!

Photo: Pief Weyman

Nursing home Zonnedael has been shut down and 4 psychiatric in-patients are reintroduced into society against their wishes. Nurse Ten Hoeven, who always cared for her patients, is grieving. But then to make matters worse, she is kidnapped. The patients take immediate action. They embark on a risky and lunatic venture to finally discover the incredible truth behind the kidnapping.

Director: Johan Timmers Screenwriters: Karen van Holst Pellekaan, Martin van Waardenberg Producer: Frans van Gestel, Arnold Heslenfeld, Errol Nayci Production company: Topkapi Films & The Storytellers Films & TV Co-producers: VPRO Financers: Netherlands Film Fund, BFD, CoBO, VPRO, MEDIA, AT Fund Distributor: September Film Length: 81 minutes Target audience: all ages Budget: â‚Ź1.2 M Release: July 2014

27

Johan Timmers is a director and writer, known for Wonderbroeders (2014), Loenatik, te gek! (2014) and Vreemd bloed (2010).

Contact: Arnold Heslenfeld Topkapi Films +31 203032494 info@topkapifilms.nl www.topkapifilms.nl

Selected releases

Secrets of War Original title: Oorlogsgeheimen Set against a provincial WWII backdrop, Tuur’s trust in best friend Lambert is tested when both boys befriend Maartje. The revelation of Maartje’s secret endangers both their lives and friendship.

Director: Dennis Bots Screenwriter: Karen van Holst Pellekaan Producers: Reinier Selen, Harro van Staverden and David-Jan Bijker Production Company: Rinkel Film and Bijker Film & TV Co-producers: Living Stone (BE), Tarantula Films (LUX) and in collaboration with KRO (NL) Financers: Netherlands Film Fund, Neherlands Film Fund matching fund, Luxembourg Film Fund, CoBO, Taxshelter Begium, DFW, KRO Distributor: Dutch FilmWorks Sales Agent: SOLA Media Length: 92 minutes Target audience: 8-14 years Budget: € 2.9 M Release: July 2014

28

Dennis Bots: Storm Letter of Fire (2017) Code M (2015) Secrets of War (2014) Cool Kids Don’t Cry (2012) House Anubis (2008, 2009, 2010) Contact: Reinier Selen +31 206163231 info@rinkelfilm.com www.rinkelfilm.com

Selected releases

Boys Original title: Jongens Boys tells the story of Sieger, a sporty, rather quiet 15-year-old boy, who lives with his older brother Eddy and father Theo. During athletics training, Sieger meets Marc, a new member of his team. In this summertime film, in which new loves begin to blossom, Sieger also tries to discover love.

Director: Mischa Kamp Screenwriter: Chris Westendorp, Jaap Peter Enderlé Producer: Pieter Kuijpers, Sander van Meurs, Iris Otten Production Company: Pupkin Co-producers: NTR, Marina Blok Sales Agent: Mappeal Length: 77’07” Target audience: Young Adults Release: February 2014

Mischa Kamp studied at the Film & Television Academy and her graduation film was the Dutch entry for the Student Oscars. A director of both documentary and fiction, the documentary animation series Naked won the Cinekid Kinderkast Jury Award for n ­ onfiction. Her film Winky’s Horses, which screened at Berlinale, was a crowd-puller.

Boys won the Cinekid Lion Jury Award for best Dutch Family Film.

Contact: Iris Otten, producer +31 204895088 info@pupkin.com www.pupkin.com

29

Selected releases

The Amazing Wiplala Original title: Wiplala Johannes Blom (7) makes the discovery of a lifetime, when he finds a tiny little man behind the peanut butter jar. The tiny little man’s name is Wiplala and he can work magic. When Wiplala by accident turns the Blom family into little people like him, they all start a great adventure. But will they ever become normal again?

Director: Tim Oliehoek Screenwriters: Tamara Bos & Vincent Bal Producer: Burny Bos Production company: BosBros Co-producers: Cine Cri de Coeur & Samsa Film Financers: Netherlands Film Fund, CoBO, AVRO, AT Fund, MEDIA, Screen Flanders, Taxshelter Belgium, Luxembourg Film Fund, Grid Distributor: In the Air Sales Agent: Fabienne van Dillen Length: 100 minutes Target audience: 6+ Budget: â‚Ź5.9 M Release: November 2014

30

Tim Oliehoek: Wiplala (2013) Chez Nous (2012) Pizza Maffia (2010/2011) Spion van Oranje (2008/2009) Zwartboek (2005) Vet Hard (2004/2005) Contact: Burny Bos, founder +31 205245430 receptie@bosbros.com. www.bosbros.nl

In development

In development

Super Sully

Harley And The Dreamfactory

Super Sully is a coming-of-age film about Gieles, a shy boy who has to spend the summer with his uncles who live near the runway of Schiphol airport. In this ominous place, Gieles makes unusual new friends, falls in love and gradually turns into a confident young man who dares to confront the airport in an unconventional way.

Original title: Harley en de Dromenfabriek

Harley (11) is plagued by peculiar nightmares and is determined to find out why. When she discovers the existence of a Dream Factory, she meets the grumpy old Dream Writer who turns out to be responsible for everybody’s nightmares.

Will Harley be able to figure out a way for, not only her, but for everyone, to have sweet dreams again?

Director: Nicole van Kilsdonk Screenwriter: Lotte Tabbers Producer: Marleen Slot Production company: Viking Film Co-producers: Dries Phlypo (A Private View, Belgium) Financer: Netherlands Film Fund Length: approx. 90 minutes Target audience: 9-12 years Budget: €1.7 M

Director: Dennis Bots Screenwriters: Eveline Verwoerd, Karen van Holst Pellekaan Producers: Harro van Staverden, Petra Goedings Production Company: Phanta Basta!

Co-producers: Ostlicht Filmproduktion Financers (this phase): Netherlands Film Fund, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung GmbH Length: 90 minutes Target audience: 5-10 years

Nicole van Kilsdonk: The Day My Father Became A Bush (2016, premiere TIFF) Ventoux (2015) In the Heart (2014) Taking Chances (2012, premiere Berlinale Generation, Cinekid Award Best Feature Film, ECFA Award) Going West (2010) How to survive Myself (2008, Audience Award Filmfestival Giffoni) Johan (2005, Grand Prize of the Worldfest Houston)

Dennis Bots: Storm Letter of Fire (2017) Code M (2015) Secrets of War (2014) Cool Kids Don’t Cry (2012) House Anubis (2008, 2009, 2010)

Contact: Marleen Slot, producer +31 206254788 marleen@vikingfilm.nl www.vikingfilm.nl

Contact: Harro van Staverden, producer Phanta Basta! +31 653984346 +31 206260255 harro@phantavision.com www.phantabasta.com

31

In development

In development

Vicious

Spacekees

Original title: Vals

Kees would have been an ordinary boy, if he hadn’t lived on planet Mars …

Four teenage girls travel to Belgium for a Christmas holiday. When they get stuck in their cabin because of a blizzard and discover that one of them is missing, their friendship must withstand enormous pressure.

Director: Dennis Bots Screenwriter: Alexandra Penrhyn Lowe Producer: Edwin Goldman & Petra Goedings Production Company: Goldman Film & Phanta Film Financer: Netherlands Film Fund Distributor: Dutch FilmWorks Length: 100 minutes Target audience: Young adults Budget: est. €1.8 M Release: 2018 Dennis Bots has over 20 years of experience in directing television drama and feature films for and with children. He has won numerous awards worldwide, such as the Tiff Kids Audience Award, and his films were sold and remade in several countries. His new feature film Storm is scheduled for release Spring 2017.

Contact: Edwin Goldman, producer +31 206260255 info@goldmanfilm.nl www.goldmanfilm.nl

32

Director: Victoria Warmerdam Screenwriter: Victoria Warmerdam Producer: Burny Bos Production Company: BosBros Sales Agent: In the Air Length: 90 minutes Budget: €2.5 M Victoria Warmerdam

Contact: Burny Bos, founder +31 205244030 receptie@bosbros.com www.bosbros.com

In development

In development

My extraordinary summer with Tess

Totem

Original title: Mijn wonderlijke zomer met Tess

Eleven-year-old Ama, daughter of African failed asylum seekers, journeys through wintery Rotterdam at night after her mother and little brother are detained, looking for her father. She is all alone without any help. Then her totem animal reveals itself.

Sam (10) and his family head off to a Dutch island on holiday. Sam meets Tess, a peculiar girl who has an ingenious plan for getting to know her birth father. Sam discovers during his adventures with Tess how important family really is. Based on the award winning book My Particularly Peculiar Week With Tess by Anna Woltz.

Director: Sander Burger Screenwriter: Bastiaan Tichler Producer: Denis Vaslin & Fleur Knopperts Production company: Volya Films Co-producers: Pallas Film (Germany) Length: 90 minutes Target audience: 10+ Budget: â‚Ź2 M

Director: Steven Wouterlood Screenwriters: Laura van Dijk & Steven Wouterlood Producer: Joram Willink Production company: BIND Co-producers: Marcel Lenz & Guido Schwab Ostlicht Filmproduktion Financers: Netherlands Film Fund / MDM (DE), VPRO broadcasting, CoBO Distributor: September Film (NL) – Farbfilm Verleih (DE) Sales Agent: Attraction Distribution, Canada Length: 90 minutes Target audience: Family (9-12 years & parents) Steven Wouterlood: Superstar VR - producer BIND in coproduction with VPRO, World premiere at Cinekid 2016 Koningsdag - producer BIND in coproduction with NTR TIFF Kids Award 2016 Alleen op de wereld - Lemming Film / VPRO Alles Mag - producer BIND in coproduction with VPRO International EMMY award, TIFF kids award, Cinekid Kinderkast Jury award, Best short film award Kinder FF Tokyo Contact: Joram Willink creative producer +31 203640030 +31 624641225 joram@bindfilm.nl www.bindfilm.com

33

Sander Burger

Contact: Denis Vaslin, producer denis@volyafilms.com www.volyafilms.com

In development

Kung Fu Lion Original title: Kung Fu Leeuw

When hot tempered Tom (13) is chosen by his Kung Fu master to dance on the back of a Chinese lion behind new pupil Yeye, his envy undermines his claim for top dog status in the group. A Taoist ‘coming of age’ story which unveils the multicultural world of a Kung Fu school.

Director: Froukje Tan Screenwriter: Froukje Tan Producer: Sabine Veenendaal Production Company: Submarine Film Co-producers: Alexander Ris, Neue Mediopolis Filmproduction (Germany) Length: 90 minutes Target audience: 9-12 years

Froukje Tan She graduated at the Academy for fine arts in Rotterdam in animation, film and photography. In 2008 she made her first feature Links (Left) that premiered at the Rotterdam International Film Festival and won a Silver Melies at the Fantastic Film Festival in Sweden.

Her second feature My adventures by V. Swchwrm was released in 2012.

Contact: Sabine Veenendaal, producent Submarine Film +31 208204940 +31 628637307 info@submarine.nl www.submarine.nl

34

Storm Letter of Fire (p8)

35

Colophon Netherlands Film Fund Pijnackerstraat 5 1072 JS Amsterdam The Netherlands +31 205707676 info@filmfonds.nl www.filmfund.nl www.filmcommission.nl

International promotion EYE International Marten Rabarts - Nathalie Mierop international@eyefilm.nl www.international.eyefilm.nl +31 207582375

Published by the Netherlands Film Fund Contributors: Nick Cunningham, Monique Ruinen, Jorien Klomp, Jonathan Mees Design: def. Amsterdam Š Netherlands Film Fund, Fall 2016 cover still: Storm Letter of Fire