Focus on the Netherlands
This year’s country in focus is the Netherlands. Familiar face at the festival and brand-new Oscar winner Victoria Warmerdam is featured as Artist in Focus and Douwe Dijkstra makes his big comeback to the festival, including a masterclass and an open-air installation. The Dutch festival Go Short will also present two remarkable programmes full of promising Dutch talent. Go Short Docs explores love that remained online unintentionally, the untold stories of a family album, and the impact of geopolitical injustice on ordinary people. Go Short Youth is a mix of animation and live-action fiction, about growing up and being young, about love in a juvenile detention centre, and procrastination that leads to desserts.
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Go Short Docs
With documentary pioneers like Joris Ivens, Bert Haanstra, and Johan van der Keuken, the Netherlands has built a rich tradition of short documentary filmmaking. To this day, the short form remains a space where filmmakers push boundaries and experiment with its form. In this programme, Go Short presents five recent films from talented directors, giving a look into the contemporary landscape of short documentaries in the Netherlands.
Guests: Amanda van Hesteren Guests: Mathieu Janssen>> Buy tickets
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Go ShortGo Short Youth
Dutch cinema excels in coming-of-age stories that deal with complex and mature characters, tackling serious themes and urgent social issues. The Dutch films in this genre, that consistently receive international acclaim at film festivals, also have a strong presence of talented female filmmakers. With topics like period poverty, disabilty and exploring (queer) sexuality, these films tell impactful stories for both young and old.
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Curtas Vila do CondeArtist in Focus: Victoria Warmerdam
Since March 2, 2025, Victoria Warmerdam no longer needs an introduction with the Oscar viewing population. Her film I’m Not a Robot was the first Dutch short film to win the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film in more than 50 years. Warmerdam consistently combines dry humour with existential themes. Her characters often feel alienated and embody an intriguing mix of sadness and humour. On 6 December she will give a master talk at the festival, accompanied by her Oscar.
Guests: Trent -, Victoria Warmerdam>> Buy tickets
Artist in Focus: Douwe Dijkstra
For more than a decade, Douwe Dijkstra has been producing the most original, everyday yet innovative short films. Armed with a green screen or inspired by the breakfast table, he interweaves social relevance with his daily life. Quite literally, in fact: in his debut Démontable, his kitchen was transformed into a war scene, and for Buurman Abdi, he collaborated with... his neighbour Abdi. The latter film won him awards at more than 20 festivals, and his other work has also enjoyed impressive festival success. This year, Dijkstra will not only be judging at the festival, he will also be sharing his experience during a masterclass.
