DANA LINSSEN RECEIVES LOUIS HARTLOOPER PRIZE
FOR FILM JOURNALISM 2009
Award ceremony: Thursday, October 1, 7:15 PM
Louis Hartlooper Complex, Utrecht

On Thursday, October 1, during the Netherlands Film Festival, the annual Louis Hartlooper Prize for Film Journalism will be awarded for the fifth time to an individual who has rendered meritorious service to written film culture. This year, the prestigious award will be presented to Dana Linssen, editor-in-chief of De Filmkrant and regular film critic for NRC Handelsblad.
The award ceremony will take place at 7:15 PM at the Louis Hartlooper Complex, Tolsteegbrug 1, Utrecht, where the KNF (Circle of Dutch Film Journalists) drinks reception will also be held between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM.

This year, the winner was chosen by the members of the DDG (Dutch Director's Guild) based on a shortlist of five individuals nominated by the members of the Louis Hartlooper Society. The fact that filmmakers ultimately determined the choice is interesting in itself; however, the downside is that there is no extensive jury report. Therefore, we must suffice with the recommendation accompanying the shortlist.

And it read short and powerful: In the tradition of old icons like Beerekamp and Van Bueren, she is appreciated for the broad and reflective journalistic context.

With this prize, the initiators aim to draw attention to writing about film in the Netherlands. A national film culture is unthinkable without (good) film journalism. Film culture benefits from, and cannot exist without, the written word, which is steeped in passion, idealism, research, and historical awareness.

The prize is awarded to a writer who, through one or more publications over the past year, has made an eminent contribution to thinking about cinema and to the deepening of film culture in our language area.

In addition to an honorable place, represented by a photographic image in the Louis Hartlooper Complex, the prize consists of a medal with a certificate and a Black Mirror. That this Black Mirror looks like a small satellite dish is a wink of coincidence. More important than the form, in this case, is the meaning. Traditionally, as early as classical antiquity, the Black Mirror has been used in the world of magic, where it served as an aid in 'the art of scrying'. The parallel with film is evident.

The prize has previously been awarded to Joyce Roodnat (2005) for the article series European Film Classics in M, the monthly magazine of NRC Handelsblad, to Dirk Lauwaert (2006) for his book Dromen van een expeditie, to Annemieke Hendriks (2007) for her book De pioniers. Interviews met 14 wegbereiders van de Nederlandse cinema, and André Waardenburg (2008) for his inspiring articles, particularly in NRC Handelsblad and in Skrien.



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