07/04/2020 - The Amstelveen-born helmer’s new film, an adaptation of her book of the same name, stars Elise Schaap, Pierre Bokma, Maarten Heijmans and Stefan Rokebrand in the lead roles

Antoinette Beumer’s new film, a drama entitled My Father Is an Airplane, is currently in post-production. This is the director’s seventh feature, following her most recent productions Rendez-Vous [+see also:
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film profile] (2015), Soof [+see also:
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film profile] (2013) and Jackie [+see also:
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film profile] (2012). Her best-known works are The Happy Housewife [+see also:
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film profile] (2010), starring Carice van Houten as a woman who has trouble adjusting to the birth of her son, and Loft (2010), a remake of the 2008 Belgian film of the same name, Loft [+see also:
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The script, penned by Maaik Krijgsman (The Good Terrorist), is based on Beumer’s debut novel of the same name, which was published by Lebowski in 2018. The book garnered many great reviews and won the prestigious Hebban Debut Award. According to the synopsis, when her mother unexpectedly dies, the life of Eva (Elise Schaap) turns out to be built on secrets and lies. The fear of losing her mind and her father becomes more and more of a threat, and Eva embarks on a quest back into her past to face her demons. Alongside Schaap, Pierre Bokma (as Eva’s father), Maarten Heijmans (young Eva’s father) and Stefan Rokebrand (Eva’s husband) play the other lead roles. Moreover, the cast is enriched by the presence of actors Ariane Schluter, Hannah Hoekstra, Axel Daeseleire, Lisa Smit, Marie-Louise Stheijns, Marcel Hensema, Thor Braun and Gurkan Kücüksentürk.

Filming on the project, which took place in the Netherlands, mostly in and around Amsterdam, began in early January and wrapped on 1 March. The film’s cinematography was entrusted to DoP Danny Elsen (Torpedo [+see also:
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film profile], Open Seas) is serving as the editor.

My Father Is an Airplane is being produced by Arnold Heslenfeld, Laurette Schillings and Frans van Gestel for Amsterdam-based outfit Topkapi Films. Marion Welmers is the executive producer. Beumer’s new film is scheduled to hit Dutch cinemas later this autumn. Its nationwide distribution is being handled by September Film.