17/12/2009

Four Dutch co-productions received backing from the Eurimages fund yesterday in Paris, for a total of almost €1.5m. All four films are made with Dutch-language producers from neighbouring Belgium.

The biggest amount went to writer-director Vincent Bal’s The Zigzag Kid, a Netherlands-Belgium co-production based on the eponymous novel by Israeli author David Grossman. The film tells the story of a child who sets out with his criminal grandfather to uncover a family secret.

The production received €550,000 from Eurimages. Dutch producers are Isabella Films and Bos Bros.

Dutch director Mischa Kamp received €400,000 for his project Tony Tien, which besides a Dutch and Belgian co-producer also involves a German partner. The film, written by veteran screenwriter Mieke de Jong, recounts the story of a construction worker who becomes a cabinet minister, and is told from the point of view of his ten-year-old son.

The project, which also received Telescoop funding (see news) will be produced in the Netherlands by Lemming Film.

Two Dutch minority co-productions also received funding: Allez Eddy from Flemish director Gert Embrechts received €320,000 (Dutch co-producer: Bos Bros); and Zuurstof (“Oxygen”) from writer-director Hans van Nuffel received €200,000 (Dutch co-producer: Lemming Film).

The new director of the Dutch Film Fund, Doreen Boonekamp was extremely pleased with the results, which mark a step in the right direction, as Dutch productions have often been overlooked in the past.

Said Boonekamp: “I am glad to see that Dutch films are more clearly succeeding in attracting Eurimages aid. And it is even more important that Dutch producers can now establish crucial international contacts and gain international experience that will also be of value for their future projects.”