Finalist films 2025
Award winners 2025
guests of honour
Andrew van Esch
Den Haag Council Member
Andrew serves on the city council on behalf of D66, a party he has been involved with and supported since his student days. In addition to his work as an entrepreneur, he is now an active and highly motivated council member. He serves as the permanent chair of the Spatial Planning Committee and has also been a member of the Amare Inquiry Committee. Above all, he is responsible for the portfolios of Social Affairs and Employment, Economy, Culture, International Affairs, Media, and the renovation of the Binnenhof. It is a substantial yet deeply engaging portfolio that allows him to apply his expertise while drawing on a broad network of professionals in and around the city for knowledge, creativity, and collaboration.
Official Selection Films 2025
Note: E-Certificates will be sent by e-mail to the submitters after the event
Official Selection Films 2025
Note: E-Certificates will be sent by e-mail to the submitters after the event
Screening Program
Masterclass
8 November 2025 Room No-1 Het Koorenhuis
Masterclass-1
Time: 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Presenter: Patricia Hetherington
Topic: Film Budgeting and Microbudget Finance
Patricia Hetherington
Originally from New Zealand and based in London, Patricia Hetherington is a narrative short-form content producer. She has produced over 40 short films and continues to work in the industry as an assistant director and production manager. She is an educator who runs the skills development project Action On The Side and has taught film and media at college and university levels. She works with film festivals and sits on juries for short film competitions.
Masterclass-2
Time: 03:30 to 4:30 PM
Presenter: Felix Martinez
Title: From Page to Screen: Screenwriting That Works
Synopsis: From Page to Screen: Screenwriting that Works will feature a thought provoking discussion on the most common perils of screenwriting, and the issues writers face in getting their screenplays produced. So as to make sure we are all on the same page, we will briefly discuss the general narrative structure rules of screenwriting. The masterclass delves into discussing the function of the protagonist in screenplays, the importance of loglines and outlines and finding the right balance in pitching. The talk goes over the most common mistakes that I have found throughout the years in screenplays. I will be sharing my insight on why bad scripting makes it to the screen (and how good scripting doesn’t), and we will conclude with a discussion on symbols in writing before addressing specific questions.
Félix Martínez
After working in a few production companies in Hollywood and obtaining his Bachelor of Fine Arts in screenwriting from the New York Film Academy, Felix quickly found work as a Script Doctor in his home country of Argentina. Felix has been working as a Script Doctor for various known personalities and production companies from Buenos Aires since 2019. He is currently also a juror for the New York International Screenplay Awards, the Seattle Film Festival and the New York Screenwriting Awards.
9 November 2025 Room No-1 Het Koorenhuis
Masterclass-3
Time: 11:30 to 12:30 PM
Presenters: Barbara McVeigh and José Neto
Topic: Power of Film/Storytelling in Elevating Culture and Community
Barbara McVeigh
Barbara McVeigh is a Filmmaker, Writer, and Impact Producer from Northern California. Her work focuses on untold or forgotten narratives related to politics, conservation, and the arts to inspire. Her recent film, The Man Behind the White Guitar, about the life and music of Brazilian guitarist José Neto, has won international awards. She is the Founder of the California Carter Initiative, bringing attention to the work of U.S. President Jimmy Carter related to peace and conservation. Barbara will be joining the International Film Festival The Hague (IFFH) following a presentation about the power of the arts to strengthen democracy at the World Forum for Democracy in France, sponsored by the Council of Europe under the patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron.
José Neto
Brazilian born José Neto moved to New York in 1978 to join Harry Belafonte as guitarist and later Musical Director—roles he held for thirty years touring around the world, including South Africa. Neto has also collaborated with legends like Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Herbie Mann, Jim Capaldi, Paquito D’Rivera, Tania Maria, Carlos Santana, and the Allman Brothers, those whose music helped to uplift and continues to impact culture. He’s the founder of The Netoband and co-founder of the jazz-fusion group Fourth World with Airto Moreira and Flora Purim. He starred in the internationally award-winning documentary The Man Behind The White Guitar, which won international awards. www.themanbehindthewhiteguitar.com
Masterclass-4
Time: 3:30 to 4:30 PM
Presenter: Sandy SIquier
Title: Bringing Performances to Life: Directing Actors for Film
Synopsis: “Bringing Performances to Life: Directing Actors for Film” explores the crucial role of script analysis in directing actors. By approaching the script as a dynamic entity rather than a rigid blueprint, directors and actors can unlock their creativity and take the story to unexpected directions. This Master Class emphasizes the significance of collaboration in fostering an environment where intuition can thrive and creative choices can be made. Ultimately, it provides a framework for a healthy, caring, and respectful relationship between director and actor, the bedrock for exceptional screen performances.
Sandy SIquier
Actor, screenwriter, director, and mother with 20+ years of experience. Her work has been showcased internationally in galleries, museums, and festivals like Berlin, Milan, Shanghai, and Vancouver. She holds a Master’s in Latin American Literature (summa cum laude) from Syracuse University and a Bachelor’s in Mass Communication from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. She has taught literature, screenwriting, and directing, and worked as a copywriter for brands including Unilever and American Express. Currently, she is working on the post-production of Umbilical Cord, publishing Apron Tales, and developing the feature film The Cyclops.
Moderator
Sonu Shiva
Sonu Shiva is a Professor of English at Govt. Dungar College, Bikaner, India, with over 25 years of distinguished experience in teaching and research. A known film critic, lyricist, and song composer, she has delivered lectures across Europe and Southeast Asia, contributing actively to international academic and cultural dialogues. Her research, published in reputed international journals, focuses on cinematic works such as Kamal Amrohi’s Pakeezah, Muzaffar Ali’s Umrao Jaan, and film adaptations by Deepa Mehta (Earth, Water, Fire) and Vishal Bhardwaj (Haider, Maqbool, Omkara).
Dedicated to mentorship and social impact, she has successfully supervised eleven Ph.D. scholars and is currently guiding eight doctoral students working on issues like dissociative self , marital rape, midlife crisis, children under oppressive regimes, adolescence conflicts and science fiction in literature as well as digital spaces. Her core areas of interest include film studies, gender studies, diasporic and world literature, making her a prominent voice in interdisciplinary literary and cultural research in India and abroad.
Block 1 | Doors open at 09.20 | Time 9.30 - 11.00
Broken Courage
Directors : David Peck, Nathanael Draper,
Cambodia (Canada), (74 min)
Broken Courage follows Suon Rottana, a former Khmer
Rouge rebel and landmine survivor, on his journey of
memory, trauma, and reconciliation as he transforms
his pain into healing through storytelling at Cambodia’s
war museums.
(World Premiere)
The Peril of the Wild West
Director : Fabian Smeenk
Netherlands, (3 min)
A biographical film portraying the life of Belle Starr, the
notorious 19th-century American outlaw.
Screening will be followed by Q&A with filmmakers
Block 2 | Doors open at 11.20 | Time 11.30 - 13.00
~flowing
Directors : Iris P.M. Neuberg, Shereen Deen,
Austria, (6 min)
~ flowing tells the story of a migrant girl crew in
Vienna, blending song and video to capture their
unseen struggles and unstoppable strength in the face
of obstacles.
The Last Doctor Standing
Directors : Ibrahim Saber, Abdulqader Sabbah,
Qatar, (45 min)
Portrays Dr. Abu Safiya’s unwavering courage, enabling
450,000 Palestinians to resist displacement despite
immense personal loss and his eventual detention.
A Perfect Night
Director : Angelo Raaijmakers,
Netherlands, (19 min)
To celebrate his promotion to senior police officer,
Nordin and his girlfriend Luna try to bake ‘a perfect
cake, for a perfect night’. What starts as a fun and
affectionate activity slowly changes into a toxic cycle
of emotional and physical abuse, in which the two
struggle with their boundaries and self-control.
Shakespeare for All Ages
Director : Hannes Rall,
Germany, (3 min)
A smart, entertaining and coherent Shakespeare
homage in about 3 minutes.
Screening will be followed by Q&A with filmmakers
Block 3 | Doors open at 13.20 | Time 13.30 - 15.00
(Dutch Premiere)
The Return of the Fireflies
Director : Daan Roosegaarde,
Indonesia, (1 min)
Set in Bali’s restless nights, this film follows the return
of fireflies, weaving a luminous tale of culture, memory,
and humanity’s duty to protect fragile nature.
Policed Mind
Director : Laury Hooghuis,
Netherlands, (10 min)
The Woman in White roams a deserted police station,
haunted by the Guard who steals thoughts.
Penguins of the Point
Director : Derek Robitaille,
Canada, (17 min)
Explores the lives of Falkland Islands penguins,
revealing their daily struggles and the growing threats
of climate change, overfishing, and avian influenza.
The Rise and Fall of Zara Zilverstein
Directors : Brian Kazez, Argentina,
France, USA, Spain, (20 min)
Tells the story of Zara, a store clerk, who is thrust into
sudden fame after a mishap with a famous actor, only
to find that her rapid rise quickly becomes a curse.
(Dutch Premiere)
Domestic Animals
Directors : Sandy Siquier, Alex Mendez Giner,
USA, (19 min)
Confronting the hidden epidemic of domestic violence,
Domestic Animals portrays cycles of abuse with
unflinching honesty, while a watching cat symbolizes
our collective inaction.
Only One Glove
Director : Fotis Zampetakis,
Greece, Spain, (4 min)
A story of missing gloves that unfolds into a reflection
on loss, absence, resilience, and the search for our
other half or for ourselves
Screening will be followed by Q&A with filmmakers
Block 4 | Doors open at 15.20 | Time 15.30 - 17.00
The Way We Roll
Director : Brenda Malley,
Canada, (4 min)
Two renegades speed down a Texas backroad, but
their reckless escape ends with the inescapable reach
of the law
(Dutch Premiere)
The Unseen
Directors : Milou Rientjes, Niek Pennings,
Netherlands, (73 min)
Following three African migrants in Southern Italy,
capturing their struggles with exploitation, exclusion,
and uncertain futures while clinging to their dreams.
Screening will be followed by Q&A with filmmakers
Block 5 | Doors open at 17.20 | Time 17.30 - 19.30
The Architect
Director : Michael Emami,
Sweden, (129 min)
A renowned Swedish architect reflects on his life with a
newfound friend while awaiting a possible cancer
diagnosis.
(Dutch Premiere)
The Brain that Cried Wolf
Director : Michael Sasaki,
USA, (15 min)
A slapstick comedy about Ronald Osaki, a queer Asian
actor in Hollywood navigating industry prejudice while
battling panic disorder, thanatophobia, and hypochondria.
(World Premiere)
Teeth
Directors : Dany Szam, Carlijn Van Vliet,
Netherlands, (4 min)
Revealing how women often endure hidden domestic
abuse in silence, trapped by fear, dependence, and
concern for their children.
Screening will be followed by Q&A with filmmakers
Block 6 | Doors open at 09.20 | Time 9.30 - 11.00
Europe – Human Habitats
Director : Christian Baumeister,
Germany, (50 min)
Europe’s cities, from Paris to Portugal, reveal a hidden
wild side where rats, storks, snakes, ibex, and bats
thrive alongside people in surprising ways.
Yellowstone 88
Directors : Jerry van de Beek, Betsy De Fries,
USA, (5 min)
A narrated animation about the massive 1988 wildfire
that devastated the park, the harsh winter that
followed, and the renewal of life in its aftermath.
Yaroshenko
Director : Lieuwe de Jong,
Netherlands, (4 min)
Yaroshenko of Ukraine endured the loss of his
daughter in battle and a home he can no longer return
to tragedies that feel too heavy for one lifetime.
Only When You Bury Me In This Earth
Director : Nima Shahmalekpur,
UK, (17 min)
An Afghan refugee awaiting word from his brother,
finds solace in flying kites until a crash with a
neighbour’s drone forces him to confront his
migration’s purpose and how to rebuild his life.
Screening will be followed by Q&A with filmmakers
Block 7 | Doors open at 11.10 | Time 11.20 - 12.50
Just Let Me Dance
Director : Lou Zidi,
France, (22 min)
Following sisters Ange and Julia as they return to their
Corsican village to tell their spirited mother, Mado, who
has early-onset Alzheimer’s, about moving to a nursing
home only to find she intends to choose her own future.
Jeff
Director : Julia Hebner,
USA, (25 min)
A phone sex operator who loses her grip on reality as
she becomes entangled in a hypnotic bond with a
caller confessing disturbing secrets.
Ricochet
Director : Max Van Nol,
Netherlands, (15 min)
An ex-convict is torn between returning to crime to
save his ailing wife or staying true to the honesty he
fought hard to rebuild.
Apnea
Director : Fabio Patrassi,
Italy, (12 min)
Following Teo, a 25-year-old in Milan who confides in
an AI while struggling to come out, exploring identity,
freedom, and whether AI can aid such a human
struggle.
Screening will be followed by Q&A with filmmakers
Block 8 | Doors open at 13.00 | Time 13.10 - 14.55
In Half
Director : Jorge Morais Valle,
Spain, (24 min)
Visually striking journey into loneliness, fear, and human
connection.
Confrontation
Directors : Marie Abbenanti, Sandy Pujol Latour,
France, (29 min)
Following 17-year-old Maxime, a survivor of
rape/incest, as she faces her godfather at a police
station in a tense struggle for truth and self-liberation,
based on a true story.
(Dutch Premiere)
Squashed
Director : Hazal Beril Çam,
Turkey, (16 min)
Using the image of a giant seagull abducting a woman
to portray how violence, like femicide, becomes
disturbingly ordinary amid Istanbul’s chaos and
society’s numbed response.
The Spinning Wheel
Director : Davy Stoces,
USA, (6 min)
A strange bug-like creature spins a human’s negative
thoughts into golden thread–until its spinning wheel
breaks.
Spacetime
Director : Jeroen Hoekstra,
Netherlands, (12 min)
Exploring the Einstein Telescope and the future of
gravitational wave detection
Screening will be followed by Q&A with filmmakers
Block 9 | Doors open at 15.05 | Time 15.15 - 17.00
(World Premiere)
The Missing Part
Director : Marv Hathim,
Netherlands, (12 min)
When his friend vanishes during a weekend getaway,
Frank’s search for answers unravels a chilling truth far
beyond anything he imagined.
A Wild Life
Director : Marie-Andrée Lemaire,
UK, (20 min)
Following Chester, whose suicide plan is upended by a
boy scout’s plea for help, leading to an unexpected
journey.
The Beneath
Director : Lisette Vlassak,
Netherlands, (7 min)
Young model Lone, pushed to the brink by her agent
and industry, finds refuge in her garden until a strange
underground creature threatens it, leading to a
revelation about the true source of her struggles.
Marter
Director : Christian Alsan,
Germany, (19 min)
Set in 1622 but painfully relevant today, Marter
explores how truth is twisted by power and how a
woman’s silence can echo louder than any confession
In Her Skin
Director : Kazım Mutlu,
Turkey, (10 min)
Şule gifts her husband a VR experience to rekindle their
passion, but after an unexpectedly intense encounter,
she becomes obsessed with finding the woman behind
the illusion.
(European Premiere)
Lockdown
Director : Melanie van Betten Jeffcoat,
USA, (17 min)
Inspired by the filmmaker’s own high school shooting
experience, follows a mother who must fight for
survival after picking up her daughter from school.
(European Premiere)
Whose Children are These?
Director : Christine E. Whitten,
USA, (7 min)
Music video inspired by the original song “Whose
Children Are These?
Screening will be followed by Q&A with filmmakers
Block 10 | Doors open at 17.10 | Time 17.20 - 19.00
(World Premiere)
Soft Floating in the Fields of Spheres
Director : Peter Korday,
France, (61 min)
Interweaving past, present, and imagined futures, this
film traces Rebecca’s spiritual journey through love, loss,
and forgiveness, questioning whether time itself is only
an illusion.
Red
Director : Wout van Aanholt,
Netherland, (37 min)
Tired of the wolf’s harassment, Little Red Riding Hood
turns to a mysterious artifact called Trinity, only to find
its solution brings new dangers.
Screening will be followed by Q&A with filmmakers
Ticket Partner - koortickets
How to get your tickets: Tickets are available through our ticket partner Koortickets. Select the date and block you wish to attend and find a full overview on the ticket page. Want more flexibility? Grab one of our limited Day Passes and enjoy a free drink with your pass.
