
Event Dates: 10-11-12 November 2023
Festival Theme: PEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES
The city of peace and justice will host the fifth season of International Film Festival The Hague in November 2023 with the theme “PEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES”.
The fifth edition of The International Film Festival The Hague encompasses people’s perspectives across the globe through highly crafted motion pictures. The need to spread love and awareness about topics that matter in our world is core to the filmmakers and organizers of the festival through which we can contribute to changing the world with you through your perspective.
The festival provides a platform for filmmakers from all over the world to showcase the challenges and issues in all spheres of life. International audience and filmmakers get a chance to watch their films and appreciate others’ perspectives.
Screening of the films will be held in the prestigious Filmhuis, Den Haag (The Hague). This is an IMDb qualifying festival. Award winners and Honorable Mentions will get a free page on the IMDb.
Guest of Honour
MARIËLLE VAVIER
MARIËLLE VAVIER worked as a board secretary at Youth Protection West, a certified institution for youth protection and juvenile probation. She has done many different things for GroenLinks in recent years. From 2011 to 2015 she was a member of the support group for the GroenLinks Parliamentary Party, in 2012 and 2013 she was a member of the candidate committee in The Hague, and until June 2016 she was a board member of GroenLinks The Hague. From June 2016 to March 2018 Mariëlle was a parliamentary party representative for the GroenLinks municipal council. In 2021 she was party leader of GroenLinks and she was party leader for the municipal elections of 2022. Since September 2022 she has been an alderman with the portfolios Poverty, emancipation and public health for GroenLinks.
Reviews

Marcelo Lagreze
It was an honour to be part of The Hague Global Cinema Festival.
I’m so happy and grateful for the award of my short film “Utopia Of The Outraged” for best documentary.
Thanks again and sending my best wishes to the Festival team!
Hope to see you soon.
Greetings
Marcelo Lagreze

David Stolin
This was the second year I participated in the festival. It is extremely well organized and friendly – a great pleasure to participate in its events, and the Filmhuis venue is fantastic. Highly recommended!
David Stolin

Dirk Gunther Mohr
It was great being part of this filmfestival!
The whole weekend I’ve met many people, had great conversations and saw many great movies.
I’m proud I won the award for Best Actor in Capo di Famiglia III.
Dirk Gunther Mohr

James Thomas
Very honored to have TRUE DRAMA included in this festival. As the name of the festival suggests, they are especially interested in thoughtful films about democracy and Justice. Highly recommended.
James Thomas

Heimo Aga
Thanks Avnish + IFFTH team for selecting “HOT!—Hooked on Chili”! Spicy regards from Vienna, Austria 😉
Heimo Aga

tineke van veen
We were so proud to be a part of this amazing festival! It was very well organized and showed urgent and poignant films. The workshops were a good addition and we were able to broaden our network with interesting filmmakers. Thanks for hosting and rewarding our short environmental documentary Unsettling Dust!
Barbara Prezelj and Tineke van Veen
tineke van veen

HOME Storytellers
Congratulations to the International Film Festival The Hague. We are able to compare with our participation in several festivals and for sure this is one to look for. I can see it developing to become a really important festival. You can feel the commitment and passion of the leadership and the organizing team, they certainly know what kind of film festival they want to become. I highly recommend it.
HOME Storytellers

Kara M. Canton
Thank you so much, International Film Festival Hague for officially selecting our short film, Merry Go Round, for your festival. While we were unable to travel this year, we have been to The Hague in the past and the city is absolutely gorgeous!
We hope to be involved in your festival and offerings in the future!
Thank you!
Kara M. Canton

nicolas cazalé
Thank you very much for selecting my film. I am very proud to have been distinguished in your very beautiful festival. It’s very important for me to share “A day will come” and I’m glad you like it.
I wish you all the best,
Nicolas Cazalé
nicolas cazalé

Brenda Malley
Attending this festival was very special – the personal interactions with the director and volunteers was wonderful, their genuine interest in wanting to support and advance our projects, their objectives are very well aligned with mine- love and world peace, social justice, human rights etc. a magical experience!
Brenda Malley

Patrick Maijer
It was so nice to participate in a film festival that I could attend in my own country. I really value the way of communication by e-mail and how social media outings were arranged. Announcements, posters, stills, etc. The film and director got the attention they deserved that way.
It was oh so nice to be received at the Nutshuis in The Hague by the organisation with coffee, tea and pastry. And wow…my film won 1st prize in the category LGBTQ+, for which I feel very honoured!
Patrick Maijer

Ranno Kasemaa
It was an honour to be included in this festival and get an honourable mention for our documentary “Rooted in Song”. Such a fantastic boost to our confidence.
Thank you for your clear and friendly communication during the time.
I loved that The Hague Global Cinema Festival reacted to the times and was able to make their programme available online making it accessible to all.
Ranno Kasemaa

Maxim Shalygin
Good luck in 2021 and hope to visit your festival at the Filmhuis Den Haag.
Maxim Shalygin

James Fitzmaurice
Hope to visit the festival in person once the virus is under control.
James Fitzmaurice

Burak Oguz Saguner
We are honoured to have received an Honourable Mention with our film One Third Of A Second at this year’s The Hauge Global Cinema Festival. The festival staff was very attentive, and the communication was excellent. Thank you for having us, and we hope to see you next year.
Burak Oguz Saguner

Aravind Lekha
Very nice festival. I loved it..
Aravind Lekha

Dara Semerad
It was a great experience. Everyone was very professional and our film got a lot of exposure. Thank you so much.

Trista Suke
Festival had to be moved online because of COVID. It was very well organized nonetheless and the organizers truly cared about indie film.
Would love to attend the festival in person one day.
Trista Suke

Kevin J. Howard
I’m truly honored to have my thriller “Protector of the Emerald City” as an Official Selection in 2020! Thank you so much!
Kevin J. Howard

Emilia Bunea
The festival was perfectly organised, which was remarkable especially given late-moment new Covid regulations. Communication was the best I’ve experienced with a festival, quick and solution-oriented. It is definitely a top event and first-rate in terms of value.
Emilia Bunea

Mohammad Shihab Uddin
Excellent Festival. Glad to participate this year and got ” Honorable mention” for our film “Tomorrow” I Wish you all the best for the upcoming events.
Mohammad Shihab Uddin

Daniele De Muro
Honoured to have my short film”Horizon” at this beautiful Festival. I hope to submit a new project next year.
Daniele De Muro

Mike Pasarella
It was an honour to be part of The Hague Global Cinema Festival and being among so much talented creative filmmakers. And thanks for the award and acknowledgement of my debut as director and filmmaker. I look forward to the next season by contributing with my work or sharing my view and experience. Thanks again and sending love to the Festival team!
Mike Pasarella

kevin short
Having been selected for this festival twice and never actually been shown, with no real commnication beyond that via Film Freeway on selection, I can’t really say much about this festival, other than wish it luck for the future.
kevin short

Patrick Maijer
It was so nice to participate in a film festival that I could attend in my own country. I really value the way of communication by e-mail and how social media outings were arranged. Announcements, posters, stills, etc. The film and director got the attention they deserved that way. It was oh so nice to be received at the Nutshuis in The Hague by the organisation with coffee, tea and pastry. And wow…my film won 1st prize in the category LGBTQ+, for which I feel very honoured!
Patrick Maijer

Marcelo Lagreze
It was an honour to be part of The Hague Global Cinema Festival. I’m so happy and grateful for the award of my short film “Utopia Of The Outraged” for best documentary. Thanks again and sending my best wishes to the Festival team! Hope to see you soon. Greetings
Marcelo Lagreze

Rogier Van Beeck Calkoen
We are very happy to have screened at The Hague Global Cinema Festival. The festival team was very nice. Great communication. The cinema was very professional and the atmosphere was great. We will be back next year!
Rogier Van Beeck Calkoen

Harm Weistra
It was a pleasure and a privilege to be part of the Global Cinema Festival The Hague. Fantastic atmosphere, a great audience and an organization that facilitates filmmakers in networking and making new friends and connections. Also thanks to the Filmhuis, the cinema in the heart of The Hague and with a heart for films and filmmakers. I will definitely be back a next time.
Harm Weistra

Algis Kemezys
I was so thrilled to have my movie “The Messenger * Hermes Remembers screened at The Hague Global Film Festival. There is something so special to be part of The Hague because “The International Court of Justice” is there. Although I was not able to attend, I found all my communication with the THGCF was satisfying. Esp getting a marvelous certificate at the end of the Festival. From what I have read others say, who did attend, everything was well organized and the cinema where it was held was just excellent. Professionalism ruled in other words. I am hoping to finish my next project so I can be there for real next year!
Algis Kemezys

Mimi Garrard
Thank you for selecting our film. I wish I had been able to attend.
Mimi Garrard

Yangon Media Professionals
Thank you for selecting our film!
Yangon Media Professionals

Alberto Martín-Aragón
Unfortunately I could not attend the screenings. But I can say that The Hague Global Cinema Festival is a festival that decisively helps the filmmaker to make his work visible. Excellent communication and great professionalism. Highly recommended.
Alberto Martín-Aragón

Gideon van Eeden
Great first edition of this very promising event. Shared inspiration with other filmmakers as we learned form each other. Very friendly and intelligent way of setting up a film festival. Looking forward to future editions. Keep up the good work!
Gideon van Eeden

Tuesday Conner
Of all the Festivals I’ve attended, only in it’s first year the Hague Global Cinema Festival was the most hands on, the best organized, overall festival. I am honored to be a part of such an amazing group of people. If their first year was this awesome…I’m excited for year two.
Tuesday Conner

Gabriel Angulo
Excellent Festival! Thank You So Much for the Opportunity!

Mary Lou Belli
This is a wonderful, hands-on fest. It is well organized with a spirit of sharing info. All communications with fest leader were clear and supportive. Our rep for film had an awesome time. THANKS so much for all the hard work that went into making such a great fest,
Mary Lou Belli

Eric Simon
The festival jury selected a very diverse set of films to be screened in a wonderful setting. The Hague is a pleasant city with excellent public transportation, and the festival organizers created a friendly atmosphere for filmmakers to meet and share experiences. We can only hope that, in its second year, the festival will be able to expand and find a second theater so that more films can be shown.
Eric Simon

Andre Gaumond
I was pleased when I saw that I was selected to the Hague Festival for my web series SWAP. But I don’t know why festival select film that they don’t show. They should limit their selection to the film that will be presented. This is really not right. If they like the film they should extend their festival for the time to show everything they have selected. Or just don’t select them.
Andre Gaumond

Zlila Helman
Thank you for being included in your festival with my short documentary” German & Israelis in the labyrinth of reconciliation”.Thus you provided a creative space for me and other filmmakers across the continents to exchange their visions and illuminate human experience through our stories.
Zlila Helman

Thomas Loopstra
Great festival and there is a good vibe set up by the festival hosts. Also thumbs up for the organistation, these are all factors that make this a festival one to participate or visit!
Thomas Loopstra

Joe Stucky
Thank you for an amazing festival!
Joe Stucky

Jonathan Blank
The Hague Global Cinema Festival is a festival run by a team that really cares about films and puts their heart and soul into making it happen.
The Hague is an incredible city in an incredibly country and a fantastic venue for a film festival.
Jonathan Blank

Al Kryszak
The Hague Global Cinema Festival was a great event, very well-communicated & organized. I was happy to be included with these unflinching & powerfully inspired films.
Al Kryszak

Joe Zhao
Thank you for being part of your festival. We are very happy about being selected in the festival. Good luck with your next festival!
Joe Zhao

Michael Paul Girard
The communication was great and they put on a wonderful festival. Even though I was unable to attend in person due to the pandemic , they had part of their festival on-line to accommodate those who couldn’t be there. They really love independent cinema and it shows. I will definitely submit my next film to this festival.
Michael Paul Girard

Ralph Hammann
It was a great honor to be included in this excellent festival which is honest and discriminating in its choices. The festival is a tribute to the great place in which it is held. I will continue to submit to The Hague. To merely be selected here is the equivalent to win in some of the better known festivals. They truly love and champion independent films. This is one of the highlights of our acceptances!
Ralph Hammann

Marven Likness
Thank you. I am truly honoured for having two of my scripts One in a Trillion – Escape and Feature represented in this lovely festival. These scripts and more are available for viewing today on ScriptRevolution.com. I am also listed on iMDB. May you have many successful years with your wonderful festival.
Marven Likness
Marven Likness

Lucinda luvaas
Many thanks to The Hague Global Cinema Festival for screening: Road 721. Everyone has been so caring, obviously very enthusiastic about films and filmmakers. It’s been one of the best experiences I’ve had with a film festival. The Interviews with filmmakers was such a good idea. You all went the extra mile to make this online festival really worthwhile. Thank you so very much again! It was a great experience working with you all. Lucinda Luvaas
Lucinda luvaas

The Blue Marble
Thank you for selecting The Blue Marble for the 2020 The Hague Global Cinema Festival. We were honored to participate. I want to extend congratulations to the festival and all involved for your professionalism and enthusiasm especially in the midst of a world-wide pandemic. Continued success and hope we will meet in person some day.
The Blue Marble

A. L. Lee
I really wanted to attend Hauge Global Cinema Festival but couldn’t because of Covid-19. I found the organizers of the festival were quick to respond to questions and well organized. Thank you for selecting my film, “Artemis & the Astronaut” and for the Honorable Mention award.
A. L. Lee

Duende Media
Networking was hurt by COVID
Duende Media

Robert Hughan
Well organized film festival and despite the Covid-19 has made it a success. Communication with filmmakers is open, honest and clear.
Stay safe Robert Hughan en Arthur Scheijde.
Robert Hughan
Finalist films 2022 – Season 4

Making an edcom
A short documentary about the making of an educational comedy (“edcom”) discussing a Nobel-prize-winning economic theory. Filmed at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management with professor Ivo Welch and comedian Sammy Obeid.
Steven Suarez | Director |
David Stolin | Producer |
Daniel Dasent, Paul Elia, Sammy Obeid, David Stolin, Ivo Welch | Key Cast |

“Finance for skeptics”
This is a three-part web series of short humorous educational comedies (“edcoms”) on finance topics. Their goal is both to entertain and to inspire learning. The three edcoms star the comedian Sammy Obeid (host of “100 Humans” on Netflix) and UCLA Distinguished Professor of Finance Ivo Welch.
Episode 1, “Pro Forma and the Profit Prophet” is uploaded, and is also available from https://youtu.be/ynlAcc99b4c
Episode 2, “Incomparables”, is available from https://youtu.be/WWHrPU2EZ2o
Episode 3, “CAPM Crunched”, is available from https://youtu.be/J6X26yFfsF4
Paul Elia | Director |
Richard Anderson | Writer |
Dhaya Lakshminarayanan | Writer |
Sammy Obeid | Writer |
Joseph Paul Penner | Writer |
Ivo Welch | Writer |
David Stolin | Producer |
Sammy Obeid, Ivo Welch, Rachel Ramos, Daniel Dasent | Key Cast |

The House in the Middle of the Sea
After the Germans flooded large parts of The Netherlands towards the end of WWII in a last attempt to stop the Allied advance, the Brouwer family find themselves trapped in their attic surrounded by water.
With their rations dwindling, the question of whether to stay in the house, or risk going to the Nazi-occupied dry land begins to divide the family.
Marcel Ruizendaal | Director |
Marcel Ruizendaal | Writer |
Isabel Campos Neves | Producer |
Anne Marie Marte, Carlo Voogt, Eva Machek, Madelief Schram | Key Cast |
Fran Christie | Sound Designer |
Jonathan Gamble | Director of Photography |
Vivian Feng | Editor |
Micaela Carballo | Composer |
Max Hayes | Sound Recordist |
Katerina Schmidova | 1st Assistant Director |
Kai-Yan Lai | 1st Assistant Director |
Kai-Yan Lai | 1st Assistant Camera |
Honório Miguel Jesus | Gaffer |
Natalie Tlustosova | Assistant Art Director |
Phoebe Kilvington | Hair and Make-Up Consultant |
Fran Christie | Production Designer |
John Cox | VFX Supervisor |
Max Leech | VFX Artist |
Carolina López Del-Nero | Cellist |
Pieter Bakkum, Jeroen Weesie, Rien Beerens | Set Builders |
Dionne Ruizendaal | Lifeguard |
Leo Ruizendaal | Fire Marshall |
Katalin Jassó | Catering |
Henk Bakker, Helen Burke, Maria Ogg, Marina Moucho, Dionne Ruizendaal, Alex van der Laan, Tim Burke, Atze Hartog | Executive Producer |

Worn Out
Moe (Worn Out in English) is a film about surviving in a chaotic household with an alcoholic mother and an emotionally distant father. Or rather, parents that don’t behave like parents. From an early age, Robin has to grow up and effectively take responsibilities a child should not have to take. His emotions are visualized by a red dooming light, which stands for the stress, anger, fear, and exhaustion that lives in his house and himself. A space that should be safe never was. In contrast, he has friends that are free and have the ability to explore their identity and sexuality, while Robin is held back by his house situation. We see him grow up in three stages till adulthood, where he tries to find stability. He comes out of his shell the first time at a gay bar, but that doesn’t mean that the chaos at home has changed…
The film is spoken in Dutch.
Matt Mazereeuw | Director |
D. Y. de Jonge | Writer |
Ita de Hes | Producer |
Tom Skidmore | Producer |
Matt Mazereeuw | Producer |
Devin Hillenius, Yolanda van Gemert, Diederik Schampers, Jost Timmerman, Noa Claassen, Riley Burleson, | Key Cast |
Robert Hofman | Director of Photography |
Dickenson Eekman | Chief of Sound |
Our Team
Scott Blum
Scott has a passion for enjoying films of all sorts in particular those with “a message that makes him ponder and think”. His involvement in the International Film Festival The Hague, formerly The Hague Global Cinema Festival is as a film-goer and he is mightily impressed by the innovation and the sheer quality of all of the films that are submitted.
Scott has lived and worked overseas, he has travelled extensively, and now resides in the UK where he is enjoying life.
Keyuri Shah
She is a known Bollywood actress based in Mumbai with around 2 dozen films to her credit. She started as a theater artiste and has done many short films, commercials, fashion modelling for many brands and print shoots. She has acted as a lead actress in a number of regional language feature films in India.
James Fitzmaurice
James Fitzmauric is an emeritus professor of English at Northern Arizona University and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield. He has won numerous screenwriting awards at film festivals, and had two scripts produced. He continues to write and edit in the world of academe, as with his co-edited collection for Amsterdam University Press – Authorizing Early Modern European Women (2022).
Rogier van Beeck Calkoen
Rogier van Beeck Calkoen (writer, director) has trained in Prague, Italy and Los Angeles. He directed the award winning short “24/7 Fitness Club: set in nighttime Prague, the incredible World War II story “The Storykeeper”, shortlisted for the Hot Springs Documentary Award, and the documentary of the Czech Puppet master, Pavel Trülar. Last year he produced and directed in Málaga “Andersen and the Jinn”, leading the short film from an emerging script idea through post-production to festivals and distribution. Andersen and the Jinn won several awards at Film Festivals all over the world. Currently working on his new feature film called The Life Coach.