On Reporters Online, Blendle and jaapmees.nl there is a piece about the deceased special filmmaker Leonard Retel Helmrich.

Following the documentary 'White Balls on Walls', a piece about diversity, inclusion, and gender equality as criteria for arts policy, causing assessments based on artistic criteria to be overshadowed. Available to read on www.reportersonline.nl (articles), Blendle, and jaapmees.nl, among others.

Following the renewal of the Filmpeople and Filmcastings websites, it is now time to put our most visited website in the spotlight: Filmvacatures, the largest website for work in the film and television industry, has received a new version! What's new? In addition to a new, friendlier look, we have made it even easier to post messages for a larger target audience. Furthermore, you can now very easily search for messages in your field. Accessibility for non-Dutch speakers has also been enhanced through an (automatic) English translation of messages. Post message Are you looking for someone for your next job, do you have a vacancy, or do you want to offer your services? Post an ad! You can post ads for as little as €1.30. Or even better: Get a membership, which allows you to post ads for free. Upgrade your account with a 30% discount using code FV2023 Not a member yet (as an individual or a company)? With a Filmpeople membership, you can post messages for free and add unlimited photos, showreels, and productions to your Filmpeople profile. Join now with a 30% discount. Part of Filmpeople Filmvacatures is part of Filmpeople, the network for film and television makers.

On Wednesday, June 21, the NPO Fund, in collaboration with Scriptbank, is organizing the third edition of Team up: an introduction between public broadcasters and new, talented screenwriters with diverse backgrounds, education, or writing experience. During this meeting, the drama departments of the participating public broadcasters explore, together with the scriptwriters, what their role could be in the public broadcaster's drama offerings. To support scriptwriters in their development, the NPO Fund offers various schemes. For instance, the Team Up scriptwriting scheme makes it attractive to include new writers in existing teams. Participating public broadcasters NTR, EO, VPRO, KRO-NCRV, BNNVARA, HUMAN, AVROTROS, 3LAB. Team up After two successful editions in 2022, new scriptwriters found their way to the KRO-NCRV Zapp series Broodje Aap and to the writers' room of Tentje Plof, a children's series that lead writer Tijs van Marle is developing with the EO. In addition, various writers are in talks with the broadcasters about developing their own plans. With a third edition, the NPO Fund and Scriptbank continue their commitment to the development of new, talented scriptwriters. New screenwriters can register via Scriptbank up to and including Monday, June 5.

Ali Remmelts neemt per 1 juli na 15 jaar afscheid als zakelijk directeur van Stichting Movies that Matter, organisator van het gelijknamige mensenrechtenfilmfestival. Remmelts was al vanaf het begin betrokken bij het evenement, toen nog het Amnesty International Film Festival. De zoektocht naar een opvolger is inmiddels begonnen. In 1995 startte Ali bij Amnesty International als bureau- en eindredacteur van o.a. Wordt Vervolgd. In haar hoedanigheid van uitgever periodieken en internet bij Amnesty was ze in 1998 betrokken bij de voorloper van het Movies that Matter Festival: het Amnesty International Filmfestival in Amsterdam. In 2006 werd Movies that Matter onder leiding van Taco Ruighaver een zelfstandige organisatie en in 2009 vertrok het festival onder eigen naam naar Den Haag, de stad van vrede en recht, met Ali als zakelijk directeur. Ze bouwde met een niet aflatende energie een breed netwerk aan partners en fondsen op die onmisbaar zijn geworden voor de organisatie. Het festival groeide uit tot een negendaags film- en debatfestival met onder meer een indrukwekkend hoofdprogramma rond mensenrechtenactivisten en ruim 27.000 bezoekers, een jaarlijkse Tour met mensenrechtenfilms langs achttien theaters door het hele land en een uitgebreid landelijk educatieprogramma waaraan jaarlijks zo’n 190.000 leerlingen uit het voortgezet onderwijs en mbo-studenten deelnemen. Ook ondersteunt Movies that Matter mensenrechtenfilmfestivals in landen waar mensenrechten en persvrijheid onder druk staan met subsidies, workshops en advies. Ali Remmelts loodste, inmiddels samen met artistiek directeur Margje de Koning, de organisatie door de pandemie. Na een geannuleerd festival, een volledig online en een hybride variant, vond vorige maand de 15de editie in Den Haag weer volledig fysiek plaats in Filmhuis Den Haag, Theater aan het Spui, Pathé Buitenhof, en andere locaties in Den Haag en acht satellietsteden. De Raad van Toezicht heeft de leiding over de openbare wervings- en selectieprocedure, die start op 5 mei 2023. Lilian Gonçalves – Ho Kang You, Voorzitter van de Raad van Toezicht Movies that Matter: “We zijn Ali onnoemelijk erkentelijk voor haar uitzonderlijke bijdrage aan MtM in de afgelopen 18 jaar. Dit jaar werd de 15de editie van het MtM Filmfestival gevierd in Den Haag. Het was een prachtig evenement waarin met de openingsfilm ‘Kinderen van de Oost’ de toon werd gezet. Mensenrechten in Oost en West, verbinding en confrontatie werden bespiegeld in debatten met makers in publiek. Prachtige mijlpalen zijn bereikt onder Ali’s bezielende leiding. Zonder Ali was er geen Movies that Matter. We zullen haar missen, maar de fundamenten zijn gelegd om de toekomst van MtM met vertrouwen tegemoet te zien.” Margje de Koning – Artistiek Directeur: “Heel graag bedank ik Ali, namens het team, voor haar ongelofelijk toegewijde werk voor MtM. Ze stond aan de wieg van ons prachtige festival, educatieprogramma, On Tour & Events en internationale werk. Ali heeft in 15 jaar een indrukwekkend netwerk opgebouwd aan partners en fondsen die onmisbaar zijn voor Movies that Matter. Nu staan het festival en de organisatie mede dankzij haar niet aflatende energie als een huis. Grote lof voor alles wat Ali voor MtM heeft betekend. Haar grote engagement voor mensenrechten en rechtvaardigheid wordt vanzelfsprekend voortgezet! En natuurlijk gaan we haar missen! We wensen Ali een mooi nieuw avontuur toe!” Ali Remmelts: “Film opent je ogen voor de wereld om je heen, laat je zien hoe belangrijk het is mensenrechten te blijven beschermen. Veel indrukwekkende films kwamen voorbij in de afgelopen 15 jaar. Ik noem hier graag Aurora’s Sunrise – de zeer terechte publiekswinnaar dit jaar. Heel knap hoe de filmmaker een ‘vergeten’ onderwerp als de Armeense genocide op een prachtige, zeer toegankelijke manier over het voetlicht brengt. Bijzonder trots ben ik op het fantastische team dat aan de hand van goed gekozen films onvermoeibaar aandacht vraagt voor belangrijke mensenrechtenkwesties, ver weg en dichtbij. Mijn grote dank gaat daarbij uit naar alle partners die ons werk mogelijk maken. Zonder de niet aflatende steun van partners als de Nationale Postcode Loterij, Amnesty International, het Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken en de Gemeente Den Haag, tál van fondsen, maar ook – vanaf het begin – dagblad Trouw, zouden we deze mensenrechtenverhalen niet kunnen laten zien.”

On www.Blendle.com, Reporters Online, and https://jaapmees.nl, there is an article about the beautiful, refined Irish film The Quiet Girl.

The 48 Hour Film Project will take place in Utrecht during the weekend of June 16-18. This filmmaking competition is held in more than 120 cities around the world, and now once again in Utrecht. The competition will be hosted at the Kinepolis Jaarbeurs cinema, where the premieres and award show will take place. Registration is now open. The originally American concept of the 48 Hour Film Project, in which teams compete against each other to make the best short film within 48 hours, is returning to Utrecht. This year, the organization is once again in experienced hands, including producer Indra van 't Hooft. "Utrecht is a cultural city, full of creative people. In addition, it has a vibrant audiovisual industry and educational institutions. We want to provide a space for both emerging makers and professionals," says van 't Hooft. The premieres of the produced films and the spectacular award show will take place on July 2 in the modern and beautiful Kinepolis cinema. The winner of the Utrecht competition qualifies for the world final, which will be held in Lisbon, Portugal, next March. From there, they even stand a chance of being selected for the Short Film Corner at the Cannes Film Festival. An expert jury judges the films and presents the prizes. The 48 Hour Film Project is for filmmakers and creatives of all levels. From beginners to professionals, everyone is welcome. As a result, it is a true breeding ground for talent. For more information: www.48hourfilm.com/utrecht

On Monday evening, May 15, ScriptAcademy is organizing an inspiring evening for screenwriters: The Writing Palace. The place where scripts-in-progress from experienced and novice, famous and unknown screenwriters come to life for the first time. Under the guidance of Simone van Dusseldorp, Nadja Hüpscher, Leny Breederveld, Victor Löw, and Cyriel Guds 'spell read' scripts that are still very much in development. Experts from the field (broadcasters, producers) provide constructive criticism and tips for their realization. You get a behind-the-scenes look at the writing process, discussions arise about what constitutes good drama, and besides being a platform to present your script, the ScriptAcademy Schrijfpaleis is a networking hub for writers, directors, producers, broadcasters, and funding bodies. In short: it is fun and interesting to be a part of! (And non-screenwriters are also very welcome :-). The presentation is hosted by Jaap Peter Enderlé, and Ger Beukenkamp provides an introduction.

TILBURG – On Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13, the third edition of the Southern Film Festival will take place at the Cinecitta cinema in Tilburg. A festival featuring the best short films by filmmakers from Brabant, Limburg, Zeeland, and Flanders. SOUTHERN MAKERS It has become increasingly clear in recent years that many filmmakers are active in the South, outside of the Randstad. The film program emphasizes this once again with a surprising mix of fiction, documentary, and animation by southern makers. A large number of the selected films from Flanders are also having their Dutch premiere at the festival. CINE SANDWICH In addition to the film competition, a special program item is the CineSandwich, in which one film and its maker are placed extra in the spotlight. Central to this is the film 'What Killed Timmy Benson' by filmmaker Nick Cremers, originally from Limburg. An exciting animated film on which Cremers worked alone for over 9 years. The full festival program can be viewed on the festival's website: www.zuidelijkfilmfestival.nl

We received the sad news that Luuk van Huët passed away last Sunday. Luuk was a co-initiator of the KLIK! Amsterdam Animation Festival (now: Kaboom Animation Festival), and an involved person in the Amsterdam film world, for which he wrote, curated, and organized. Judging by the reactions on Facebook to his passing, this has not left many unmoved. Luuk has also been involved with Filmpeople. Right from the start, he held various roles at Filmstart, and later spent several years responsible for the editing of Filmnieuws. Very loyal, humorous, and attentive. Luuk died far too young. We wish Luuk's family and friends much strength.

VRIJPLAATS 2023: CREATING THE EXPERIENCE FilmForward is organizing the Vrijplaats – Creating the Experience – at MACA. How do you tell immersive stories for film, interactively, and crossover (VR, AR, and XR)? The spectator becomes a participant. How do you shape this new experience in terms of film plan, script, visual language, and worldbuilding, and how do you talk about the feeling you want to evoke in the spectator? In addition to an inspiring program, filmmakers will have the opportunity to experiment with immersive narrative forms and conduct their own research. The residency program runs from May through November 2023. The application deadline is March 24. The 'Creating the Experience' Free Space accommodates all kinds of film professionals and visual makers who want to explore that immersive experience: production designers, theatre makers, game designers, screenwriters, producers, dancers, composers, etc. The Free Space is for emerging makers who want to experiment with immersive storytelling forms, but certainly also for experienced makers. You work on both your own research and that of others: you are a researcher, test audience, sounding board, and expert all at the same time. Community building is very important to the Vrijplaats, which is why we expect you to be available on all the dates below. Financial compensation is available for all artists. For your own research, you work with a mentor; in joint sessions and masterclasses—partially shaped by yourselves—we explore together the tension, the interplay, and the dance between maker and participant, between immersive artist and immersant. Recurring speakers at the Vrijplaats include Winnie Roseval (Positionality training) and Rogier Klomp, who organizes DasArts feedback sessions. View the Vrijplaats as an open and creative space, a laboratory where all questions contributing to the deepening and improvement of your artistry and the film and audiovisual sector can come into their own. Are you a maker from the Netherlands or Belgium (Flanders) and are you curious and empathetic, interested in giving and receiving feedback, in experimenting and reflecting, and in research that is currently not covered by existing subsidies? Then the Vrijplaats might be for you. Together, we create a safe space to work on cinematic stories outside of established frameworks. De Vrijplaats is not results-oriented but invests time in creative research processes. 'Creating the Experience' is curated by film journalist and writer Dana Linssen and immersive director Nienke Huitenga. Each participant is paired with a mentor in consultation, who guides your research process throughout the Vrijplaats.