The Netherlands Film Festival has set its lineup of nominees for the 2025 Debut and Student Competitions, spotlighting first-time filmmakers and film school graduates across the country. Winners will be announced Sept. 29 in Stadsschouwburg Utrecht during the festival’s Talent Awards Ceremony.
Three first-time filmmakers are up for the Utrecht City Film Award in the Debut Competition, which comes with a €7,500 cash prize from the municipality of Utrecht and the “De Gouden Berg” sculpture designed by artist Noor Nuyten.
The jury — composed of international promotion manager Edith van der Heijde, director Sophie Dros, and sound designer/composer Arno Willemstein — praised the breadth of work among the nominees, ranging from intimate shorts to layered drama.
Muriel d’Ansembourg’s “Fuck-a-Fan” was praised as “an original, layered and daring approach” that pulls back the curtain on the adult industry. “Koud Water,” directed by Ayan Egal and Alexander Roux, won notice for “a strong lead role, credible supporting roles and carefully chosen images” that strike a balance between tension and emotion. Serin Utlu’s short “Mannenmelk,” running just seven minutes, was singled out for its ability to address “several social themes” in what the jury called a “refreshing, layered and careful way.“
Student filmmakers will compete across six categories.
The EY Talent Award — which comes with a €5,000 grant toward the director’s next project and a coaching program — will be decided between Nour Alkheder (“The Birds Shall Return,” Netherlands Film Academy), Tim Smink (“Closing Hour,” Utrecht School of the Arts) and Young-Ju Yoo (“When Yin Meets Yang,” Willem de Kooning Academy). Jurors are Olivier S. Garcia, Ivo Siebum and Patty Stenger.
In the Topkapi Film Award category for best fiction graduation project, nominees are “Depronima” (Utrecht School of the Arts), Julia van Braak’s “De Kleine Hoteldetective” (Netherlands Film Academy) and Job Wolters’ “Matieu” (Utrecht School of the Arts). The award includes a €5,000 contribution.
Screenwriting work will be honored with the Shalky Award, also worth €5,000. Nominees are Jamy Guda (“Adze”), Julia Buijs (“Als de zon in de maan verandert en niemand het ziet”) and Jia Jia Hu (“The European Dream”). The jury consists of Tom Enzler, Lance Hossein Tangestanien, Gijs Kerbosch, Emma Nagelmaker and Matthijs van der Veer.
The Association of Dutch Film Critics (KNF) will present its prize for best graduation production, with nominees “Monkey to Monkey” by Meike Schaapveld (Utrecht School of the Arts), “Distance” by Noël Pool (Utrecht School of the Arts) and “HAUSFRAU” by Alanis Neva Bani (Willem de Kooning Academy). Jurors are Boaz van Luijck, Fabian Melchers and Alexander Zwart.
Documentary contenders for the VPRO Award are Evan Frijters’ “I Didn’t Get Into Berghain But I Did Meet Vica,” Nina Suijkerbuijk’s “Star of the Show” and Leticia van Neerven’s “What Is Speaking Worth?” The €5,000 award will be decided by Karina Beumer, Urias Boerleider and Vincent Boy Kars, after nominations by a VPRO committee.
Documentary contenders for the VPRO Award are Evan Frijters’ “I Didn’t Get Into Berghain But I Did Meet Vica,” Nina Suijkerbuijk’s “Ster van de Show” and Leticia van Neerven’s “Wat is spreken waard?” The award, carrying a €5,000 cash prize, is decided by a jury of Karina Beumer, Urias Boerleider and Vincent Boy Kars, following nominations made by a VPRO selection committee.
A more recent addition to the lineup, the Cam-A-Lot & Filmmore Best Live Pitch Award — with €10,000 in camera and post-production support — will go to one of five nominees: Juliette van Ardenne (“BESS”), Ömer Akgün (“Artikel 12.5”), Nynke Benschop (“Kermis Kids”), Leticia van Neerven (“De Spaghettidames”) and Engel Stam (“WONINGNOOD”). Filmmaker Beri Shalmashi joins representatives from Cam-A-Lot and Filmmore on the jury.
The NAPA Award, recognizing a producer with an innovative vision for the future, will be decided by jurors Avinash Changa, Digna Sinke and Floor de Wolf. That prize, along with the Film Fund Wildcards — €50,000 grants awarded to young filmmakers in documentary, fiction, animation or digital projects — will be announced during the Talent Awards Ceremony.
Films nominated in both the Debut and Student Competitions will be presented in compilation programs and made available through the Online Filmzaal. Tickets are on sale at filmfestival.nl.
The 45th edition of the Netherlands Film Festival runs Sept. 26–Oct. 3 in Utrecht.