Gamila Ylstra will become the new chair of Stichting CineCrowd, the leading crowdfunding platform for film, effective April 1. She succeeds Pepijn van Dijk, who has been chair since CineCrowd's founding in 2011.

Outgoing Chairman Pepijn van Dijk: “CineCrowd is a success, thanks to the dedicated team, the results, and the position we have secured in the film world. A success rate of over 80% on funds raised exceeding 2 million euros means that in recent years, a great many filmmakers have been able to realize their dreams. Dreams that otherwise would never have been realized. That is nothing short of fantastic. I expect Gamila will ensure the further professionalization of CineCrowd. I wish her every pleasure.”

Van Dijk is director of social innovator De Publieke Zaak and active as an advisor and manager of international projects focused on innovation and sustainable development. He launched The Fact Club, among others, and was a founding participant of THNK, School of Creative Leadership.

Gamila Ylstra is Director at the Binger Filmlab, an international talent development center for feature films and documentaries. "Money is emotion; film – at its best – is too. I see Cinecrowd as a means to bring this together: it connects audiences with projects they love. That is a winning formula, and I am happy to help make it work optimally."

In-Soo Radstake (Director of CineCrowd): “We thank Pepijn for his years of dedication since the founding of CineCrowd and for helping to build it into what it is today. With Gamila, we are bringing on board a highly experienced executive with an extensive network, who has more than earned her stripes in the film world. We have every confidence that she can help us take the next steps necessary to further professionalize CineCrowd.”

In the past, Ylstra served as Head of the Film Department at the Ministry of Culture (1990–1997), among other roles, where she was responsible for establishing the current Netherlands Film Fund. In 1998, she was appointed Film Project Manager at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, tasked with developing new financial instruments for the Dutch film industry. In 1999, she was the founding director of FINE BV, a film investment company. FINE BV invested in more than thirty feature films, such as MINOES, PHILEINE ZEGT SORRY, ZUS & ZO (Oscar Nomination), and SHOUF SHOUF HABIBI. In 2004, she became Program Director at the national public broadcaster NPS, the predecessor of the current NTR. Gamila is a board member of the Media Fund, distributor Cinema Delicatessen, and LIMA. Additionally, she serves on the advisory board of the Netherlands Film Festival.

CineCrowd is a non-profit foundation where filmmakers can present and pitch their film ideas. Since its founding in 2011, more than 300 films have been financed through crowdfunding. The overall success rate of film projects at CineCrowd is 83%. Individuals as well as companies can contribute without risk to make the realization of a film possible. CineCrowd is a foundation and has no profit motive.



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