WELCOME TO AMSTERTHEM

A new short film project for up-and-coming filmmakers.

 

there Is someone special In your neighborhooD

That lady with the shades at the local night shop who seems to know everything about pigeon contests, or your neighbor who is mostly quiet, but used to be in a band in the 60s and has stories for days. These people are hard to miss in Amsterdam.

Amsterthem is seeking stories about such people from all seven districts of Amsterdam, and it’s time for you, up-and-coming filmmaker, to tell those stories.

TIMELINE

The 7 selected projects

These 7 short films pitches have been selected by our Amsterthem jury and are now going into production, with the help of our partners.

Stay tuned!

Center: ‘Delicious Solitude’ by Masha Gurova.
Nieuw-West: ‘ABI’ by Janna Grosfeld.
Noord: ‘Gaya Above the Clouds’ by Finn Szumlas.
Oost: ‘De Barbara’ by Fabienne Boekel.
West: ‘Queen of Birds’ by Sophie van Bree.
Zuid: ‘God is a Woman’ by Nissim Khalifa. 
Zuidoost: ‘Lead by Example’ by Yve Baya.

The Jury

Ivan Barbosa

Director

Bobby Boermans

Director

Ruby Deelen

Producer, Head of Documentary at Halal

Jan Pieter Ekker

Head of the Art Section at Het Parool

Herco van Houdt

Journalist, Documentary and Wildlife Filmmaker

Maarten van der Kamp

Photographer

Coco Schrijber

Documentary Filmmaker

The mentors

They will coach and advise the 7 up-and-coming filmmakers all along their production process.

Ivan Barbosa

Director (DDG)

Carine Bijlsma

Director and Photographer (DDG)

Laura Hermanides

Writer, Director and Editor (DDG)

Rens Machielse

Composer (MiMM)

Biserka Šuran

Director (DDG)

What are the 7 winners getting?

 

Our wonderful partners and sponsors are currently helping them throughout the process by providing:

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

A €3500 cash contribution will be made towards your production.


LIGHTING GEAR AND MICROPHONES

APUTURE will supply specialized lighting equipment, along with microphone support through their sister company, Deity.


CAMERAS, LENSES AND ASSISTANCE

CANON will provide camera equipment and expert assistance during production.


MENTORSHIP WITH EXPERIENCED FILM DIRECTORS

DUTCH DIRECTORS GUILD (DDG) will help you to improve your skills, script and your final short film.


MENTORSHIP WITH EXPERIENCED MUSIC COMPOSERS

MUZIEKINSTITUUT MULTIMEDIA (MIMM) will help you with music composition, sound recording, sound FX, and mastering.


ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT

VOCAS will supply grip and additional resources.


TRIPODS

SACHTLER will provide tripods.


COACHING FOR FILM FESTIVAL DISTRIBUTION

SHORTCUTZ will be showcasing the winning work and engaging with industry established professionals.



QUESTIONs?

If you’re a director and would like further information, or if you’re not a director, but are keen to be part of a team working on this project, please get in touch!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Does it have to be a documentary or can it be fiction as well? 

Yes, it must be a documentary. No fiction. But sometimes truth is stranger than fiction,  especially in Amsterdam.

Does the director have to be an Amsterdammer? 

No, we don't care where you are from, as long as you live in the Netherlands for at least 5 years.

Can I submit more than one proposal? 

Absolutely, but you can only submit one per district.

Can my movie be about a bunch of people, like a cult, a band, or a company? 

Nopes. It has to be a portrait of one Amsterdammer.

Can I portray someone who's dead? 

No,they have to be alive. But living people are more fun to talk to anyway.

How about a building, an artwork, or a monument? 

No, let's just stick to human people in the lovely city of Amsterdam.