TILBURG – On May 16 and 17, a successful and well-attended anniversary edition of the Southern Film Festival took place at the Cinecitta cinema in Tilburg. This year, the festival celebrated its fifth edition with a special program full of short films by filmmakers from Brabant, Limburg, Zeeland, and Flanders. The festival concluded with the announcement of the winners of the Southern Film Awards. FILM AWARDS WINNERS The big winner at the film awards ceremony was the Flemish film Résumé d'un divorce by director Paul Ghesquière. The film had its Dutch premiere at the festival and went home with no fewer than two awards: the Talent Award and the Audience Award. The award for Best Film went to the animated film Fiego and the Magic Fish by director Joe Murray. The Youth Award, which was presented by a special youth jury, went this year to the fiction film Onderdak by directors Maarten Sleegers and Anna Sherstiuk. SOUTHERN FILM PITCH During the festival, a pitch competition also took place on Friday, May 16, organized in collaboration with CineSud and CineZee. The winner was Lore Loyens with her film project Tussen Dag en Dauw. As the winner, the project receives a €2,000 production budget to help make the film possible. SOUTHERN FILM FESTIVAL ON TOUR Those who missed the festival need not despair, as the Zuidelijk Film Festival On Tour follows in the autumn. This is a traveling film program through the Tilburg region featuring a selection of the best films screened at the festival this year. More information will follow in the autumn on the festival's website.

Maroesja Perizonius has secured a BAFTA nomination for her documentary 'Children of the Cult' (2024). This film, which tells the story of her childhood in the Bhagwan movement, was released in the UK in collaboration with ITV1. The film had previously been nominated for the British RTS Awards (Royal Television Society Awards). “Children of the Cult” is an international investigation into the Rajneesh movement. This was one of the world’s largest and most successful cults, with communes in over 30 countries in the 1970s and 80s. But until now, a central truth about the organization has remained hidden. Filmmaker Maroesja Perizonius, herself a child of the communes, has connected with other former commune children, and together they have decided to change that. Part looking back, part investigating, this film tells the almost unbelievable story of the treatment of children within the cult. Children who grew up separated from their parents in an environment where sex was everywhere and where no boundaries existed. “Children of the Cult” was directed by Maroesja Perizonius and Alice McShane.

Hollywood – Maximus Studios proudly announces their latest blockbuster: Challenging Gravity. This explosive aviation film, directed by Melany Maximus, promises to be an adrenaline-pumping cinematic experience, filmed entirely in IMAX and Screen-X. A battle against gravity When an unpredictable threat endangers the world, the U.S. Air Force has no choice but to call in the Navy's most reckless pilot: Einstein (played by Jonatan Varsenburg). With unparalleled flying skills and an indomitable spirit, he must achieve the impossible to avert a catastrophe. The film combines realistic aviation action with stunning visual effects, making it one of Maximus Studios' most ambitious productions to date. Star cast and creative force

On February 25 (9 PM), the Dutch-Canadian documentary 'RAIN' (73 min) will premiere at Eye in Amsterdam. RAIN offers a unique and poetic exploration of a natural and universal phenomenon that transcends us all. Murderer, God, Seducer, Spirit, Tormentor. Rain is something we often take for granted, but is becoming an increasingly major problem, closely linked to the climate crisis we are all facing. RAIN has already been selected for various international film festivals and won awards for best cinematography and best documentary. Includes Q&A with the filmmaker, Mark Limburg. Tickets still available. Sunshine bounds everywhere, but only when rains follows is there life.

My report on IFFR 2025 is available on https://jaapmees.nl, www.reportersonline.nl, and Blendle.

Top 5 films with the first two films inexplicably not mentioned in the Top 10 lists . 1. Songs of Slow Burning Earth, Olha Zhurba.. 2. Small things like these, Tim Mielants. 3. Offseason, Stephen Brize. 4. The Chimera,Alice Rohrwacher. 5. Conclave, Miri Navasky. For Songs of Slow Burning Earth see www. jaapmees.nl

On https://reportersonline.nl a plea to see the impressive documentary 'Songs of Slow Burning Earth' from Ukraine.

Hello! I am looking for team members for the 48h film project: - cinematography - photography - make-up -set dresser - actors and actresses - sound & light NB: It is possible to win a prize and go to the Cannes Film Festival! Greeting, Mahnaz

Rogier Kramer - Labyrint Film - wins CFAP Prize 2024 | Special Jury Prize for New Producers Academy Producer Rogier Kramer wins the 2024 CFAP Prize worth €25,000. He was selected from a shortlist of 10 excellent producers nominated by colleagues from the audiovisual sector. The special jury prize worth €10,000 was awarded to the New Producers Academy, a training platform for emerging producers with diverse backgrounds in Rotterdam. The Cultural Fund for Audiovisual Producers (CFAP) presented the CFAP Prize for the fifth time this year as a tribute to a Dutch audiovisual producer who distinguishes themselves in their field. With 180 nominations, over 40 film and television producers were nominated by colleagues in the sector for this prize worth €25,000. From these, the jury compiled a shortlist of 10 producers, which received nearly 500 votes over a period of two weeks. Based on all recommendations and motivations, the jury awarded the 2024 CFAP Prize to producer Rogier Kramer of Labyrint Film, partly due to the pioneering role he wholeheartedly embraces for 'queer cinema' and the impression he manages to make on filmmakers and audiences. At this anniversary, a special jury prize of €10,000 was awarded to an outstanding audiovisual project. More than 25 projects were nominated by colleagues in the audiovisual sector. The jury selected New Producers Academy. This Rotterdam-based initiative was launched in 2021 by filmmaker Loretta van der Horst, producer Claudio Montesano Casillas, and Yassin Karmoudi. It offers intensive coaching to emerging producers from underrepresented communities who wish to realize unique, untold stories from new perspectives. In a short time, the New Producers Academy has grown into a successful platform with strong partners such as Netflix. The 2024 CFAP jury consists of Edwin van der Veen (ITV Studios, Chairman SEKAM Video), Corine Meijers (Studio Biarritz, Board Member of the Dutch Audiovisual Producers Alliance - NAPA), and Michel Nilissen (IDtv, Member of the Dutch Content Producers – NCP). The winners of the 2024 CFAP Prize and Special Jury Prize may spend the monetary awards on a project or professional development of their own choosing.