Nl Film & TV and Avrotros’ Dutch contribution to this year’s digital Series Mania establishes in its first 30 seconds that it is far more than a typical war thriller.
Narrated with elegant editing that is both stylized and controlled, the series’ directors, Iván López Núñez and Hanro Smitsman, focus their attention on the peripheries that surround violence, and its haunting consequences.
The ten-hour show follows upstanding former Dutch Special Forces commander John de Koning (Werner Kolf) who still struggles with the traumas of a secret mission in Northern Nigeria which ended in the deaths of civilians and terrorists – only to save the life of a man who turned out to be a cruel pedophile.
After the man reappears in the Netherlands, now a sinister, threatening Nigerian Minister, the life of John and his platoon come under fire when John is put in charge of the Minister’s security.
Distributed...
Narrated with elegant editing that is both stylized and controlled, the series’ directors, Iván López Núñez and Hanro Smitsman, focus their attention on the peripheries that surround violence, and its haunting consequences.
The ten-hour show follows upstanding former Dutch Special Forces commander John de Koning (Werner Kolf) who still struggles with the traumas of a secret mission in Northern Nigeria which ended in the deaths of civilians and terrorists – only to save the life of a man who turned out to be a cruel pedophile.
After the man reappears in the Netherlands, now a sinister, threatening Nigerian Minister, the life of John and his platoon come under fire when John is put in charge of the Minister’s security.
Distributed...
- 4/7/2020
- by Emiliano Granada
- Variety Film + TV
Lagardere Studios Distribution has boarded “The Machinery,” an action-packed thriller series headlined by Kristoffer Joner (“The Revenant”), which was teased by Viaplay during a presentation at Goteborg’s TV Drama Vision conference on Thursday.
Set at the border between Sweden and Norway, the show follows Olle Hultén, an ordinary dad who wakes up on a ferry at the border of Strömstad and Sandefjord after a late night in possession of a bag full of cash, a gun and a robbery mask. Hunted by the police, he sets off on a journey to prove his innocence.
The show will premiere on Viaplay, the streaming service operated by Nent Group. Headed by industry veteran Emmanuelle Bouilhaguet, Lagardere Studios Distribution is set to represent “The Machinery” in international markets.
Joner stars in the show opposite Julia Schacht (“Melk”), Emilia Roosmann (“Fartblinda”), Hanna Alström (“Kingsman”), Anastasios Soulis (“Gåsmamman”), Emil Almén (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo...
Set at the border between Sweden and Norway, the show follows Olle Hultén, an ordinary dad who wakes up on a ferry at the border of Strömstad and Sandefjord after a late night in possession of a bag full of cash, a gun and a robbery mask. Hunted by the police, he sets off on a journey to prove his innocence.
The show will premiere on Viaplay, the streaming service operated by Nent Group. Headed by industry veteran Emmanuelle Bouilhaguet, Lagardere Studios Distribution is set to represent “The Machinery” in international markets.
Joner stars in the show opposite Julia Schacht (“Melk”), Emilia Roosmann (“Fartblinda”), Hanna Alström (“Kingsman”), Anastasios Soulis (“Gåsmamman”), Emil Almén (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo...
- 1/30/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Lagardere Studios Distribution has boarded “Commandos,” a Dutch high-voltage war drama series directed by Ivan Lopez Nunez and Hanro Smitsman.
Based on an idea by Oscar Van Woensel and Boudewijn Rosenmuller, the series follows John, an old Commando who led Dutch Special Forces on a covert mission to Northern Nigeria where they had to rescue an important hostage kidnapped by Boko Haram. The mission turned into a nightmare and many people, including civilians, were killed.
Three years later, John, who is still haunted by the tragedy, is in charge of protecting a Nigerian Minister visiting the Netherlands as a guest of honor. As he gets confronted with the murderer who tried to eliminate his former comrades in Nigeria, John has to fight, potentially compromising himself, his family and friends.
“Commandos” was written by Oscar Van Woensel, Mischa Alexander, Jochum Ten Have, Michiel Van Jaarsveld, Willem Bosch, Vincent Van Helm, Bastiaan Kroeger and Pollo de Pimentel.
Based on an idea by Oscar Van Woensel and Boudewijn Rosenmuller, the series follows John, an old Commando who led Dutch Special Forces on a covert mission to Northern Nigeria where they had to rescue an important hostage kidnapped by Boko Haram. The mission turned into a nightmare and many people, including civilians, were killed.
Three years later, John, who is still haunted by the tragedy, is in charge of protecting a Nigerian Minister visiting the Netherlands as a guest of honor. As he gets confronted with the murderer who tried to eliminate his former comrades in Nigeria, John has to fight, potentially compromising himself, his family and friends.
“Commandos” was written by Oscar Van Woensel, Mischa Alexander, Jochum Ten Have, Michiel Van Jaarsveld, Willem Bosch, Vincent Van Helm, Bastiaan Kroeger and Pollo de Pimentel.
- 10/14/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Revolver Amsterdam is working up a 10-part adaptation of “Takeover,” the thriller from Jussi Adler-Olsen, the Nordic crime writer behind the “Department Q” series. Adler-Olsen has sold over 20 million books globally. Several of his “Department Q” books have been successfully adapted for the big screen in the author’s native Denmark.
Dutch director Hanro Smitsman, whose previous credits include Berlin Golden Bear-winning short film “Raak,” is attached and will helm the series. The producers are at Afm with the package to meet with potential partners.
“Takeover” follows a cynical businessman who specializes in bringing down major businesses. He finds himself in hot water when the Syrian intelligence service assigns him to bring down a great a large corporation.
The TV series will be produced by Raymond van der Kaaij and Germen Boelens of Revolver Amsterdam. Jointly, their producer credits include Sundance audience award-winner “I Dream in Another Language,” and “Love & Friendship” by Whit Stillman.
Dutch director Hanro Smitsman, whose previous credits include Berlin Golden Bear-winning short film “Raak,” is attached and will helm the series. The producers are at Afm with the package to meet with potential partners.
“Takeover” follows a cynical businessman who specializes in bringing down major businesses. He finds himself in hot water when the Syrian intelligence service assigns him to bring down a great a large corporation.
The TV series will be produced by Raymond van der Kaaij and Germen Boelens of Revolver Amsterdam. Jointly, their producer credits include Sundance audience award-winner “I Dream in Another Language,” and “Love & Friendship” by Whit Stillman.
- 11/2/2018
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Netherlands-based sales agent Dutch Features has acquired worldwide rights to Rtl’s upcoming crime series “Mocro Maffia” in the run-up to Mipcom.
“Mocro Maffia” is a fiction series based on the popular book of the same name by journalists Wouter Laumans and Marijn Schrijver. The plot is inspired by the recent gang war between rival organized crime gangs operating in the Amsterdam underworld.
Directed by Bobby Boermans (“App”) and Giancarlo Sanchez (“Horizon”), the series boasts an ensemble cast headlined by renowned Moroccan-Dutch actors Achmed Akkabi and Walid Benmbarek (“Brothers”) and Dutch actor Daan Schuurmans (“Neighbors”).
“After the breakthrough success of the Scandinavian thriller series in recent years, we are currently witnessing a growing international demand for the so-called ‘Dutch Noir’ drama series,” said Pim van Collem, CEO of Dutch Features. “We are thrilled to introduce the gripping and uncompromising story of the ‘Mocro Maffia’ – a young generation of hard-nosed gangsters...
“Mocro Maffia” is a fiction series based on the popular book of the same name by journalists Wouter Laumans and Marijn Schrijver. The plot is inspired by the recent gang war between rival organized crime gangs operating in the Amsterdam underworld.
Directed by Bobby Boermans (“App”) and Giancarlo Sanchez (“Horizon”), the series boasts an ensemble cast headlined by renowned Moroccan-Dutch actors Achmed Akkabi and Walid Benmbarek (“Brothers”) and Dutch actor Daan Schuurmans (“Neighbors”).
“After the breakthrough success of the Scandinavian thriller series in recent years, we are currently witnessing a growing international demand for the so-called ‘Dutch Noir’ drama series,” said Pim van Collem, CEO of Dutch Features. “We are thrilled to introduce the gripping and uncompromising story of the ‘Mocro Maffia’ – a young generation of hard-nosed gangsters...
- 9/27/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Carey Fitzgerald’s London-based High Point Media Group has advanced into UK distribution with the launch of High Point Home Entertainment.The new DVD label specialising in World Cinema and feature-length documentaries, will kick off with the first release on 13 June of Hanro Smitsman’s acclaimed debut feature, Skin, starring Emmy nominated Robert de Hoog (War Horse, Dusk) as a troubled youth drawn into the emerging Skinhead movement of the late 1970s. Later this year will see the release of Kay Mellor’s romance, A Passionate Woman, starring Billie Piper ...
- 6/8/2011
- BusinessofCinema
Madrid -- Fifteen films from 17 countries including the United States, Romania, China, Chile and Denmark will contend for the €90,000 ($120,000) Zabaltegi-New Directors Award at next month's San Sebastian International Film Festival, organizers announced on Monday.
Representing the U.S. will be debutante director Shawn Ku's "Beautiful Boy" starring Maria Bello and Michael Sheen as the parents of a youth who carries out a mass shooting at a university.
Two films from host country Spain are also in the lineup: "Blog", by Elena Trape, about a group of upper middle-class girls with a secret plan, and "Stars to Wish Upon", by Mikel Rueda, which tells the story of a mother who loses her child in the Spanish Civil War.
Other western European productions include France's "Elsewhere" by Frederic Pelle; the Belgian-German co-production "Marieke, Marieke", by Sophie Schoukens; "Dusk", by Dutch director Hanro Smitsman, and from Denmark, Mikkel Munch-Fals' "Nothing's All Bad.
Representing the U.S. will be debutante director Shawn Ku's "Beautiful Boy" starring Maria Bello and Michael Sheen as the parents of a youth who carries out a mass shooting at a university.
Two films from host country Spain are also in the lineup: "Blog", by Elena Trape, about a group of upper middle-class girls with a secret plan, and "Stars to Wish Upon", by Mikel Rueda, which tells the story of a mother who loses her child in the Spanish Civil War.
Other western European productions include France's "Elsewhere" by Frederic Pelle; the Belgian-German co-production "Marieke, Marieke", by Sophie Schoukens; "Dusk", by Dutch director Hanro Smitsman, and from Denmark, Mikkel Munch-Fals' "Nothing's All Bad.
- 8/9/2010
- by By Benjamin Jones
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Though not exactly a true crime film Hanro Smitsman's Schemer should strike a chord with anyone familiar with the case of young Maja Bradaric's murder. A sixteen year old girl killed by her high school friends, Bradaric's story has already been given the documentary treatment with Menna Laura Meijer's Sweety and now Smitsman is using the case as the basis for his fictional Schemer.
The haunting search to discover why fifteen-year old Jessie was murdered by her closest friends.
After a group of teenagers discover one of their friends lying dead on a river bank on one of the hottest days of summer, a story of jealousy, insecurity and peer pressure gradually unfolds. Group leader Caesar is able to magnify - out of all proportion - the small grievances that each of Jessie's friends bear towards her and transforms them into a general and pervasive hatred that leads ultimately to her horrible,...
The haunting search to discover why fifteen-year old Jessie was murdered by her closest friends.
After a group of teenagers discover one of their friends lying dead on a river bank on one of the hottest days of summer, a story of jealousy, insecurity and peer pressure gradually unfolds. Group leader Caesar is able to magnify - out of all proportion - the small grievances that each of Jessie's friends bear towards her and transforms them into a general and pervasive hatred that leads ultimately to her horrible,...
- 6/21/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Simon Ellis' "Soft", a film about a father who encounters a group of teenage thugs, was presented the Best of Festival Award at the 2007 Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films & Short Film Market, which concluded Wednesday.
The winners, chosen from 322 short films that screened in competition, were announced Tuesday at the awards presentation at the Camelot Theatre in Palm Springs.
Jury awards also went to Dee Rees' "Pariah", winner of the Future Filmmaker Award, and Moon Molson's "Pop Foul", winner of the Panavision Grand Jury Award.
The Audience Awards winners were Stewart Schill's "I Hate Musicals", favorite live-action short; Cynthia Wade's "Freeheld", favorite documentary short; and Zeth Willie's "The Needful Head", favorite animation short.
The jury category award winners are:
Best live action under 15 minutes: Hanro Smitsman's "Contact/Raak," first place; and Erez Tadmor and Guy Nattiv's "Offside", second place.
Best live action over 15 minutes: Daniel Barber's "The Tonto Woman", first; John Arlotto's "Deface", second.
Best animation: Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski's "Madame Tutli-Putli", first; Miguel Anaya's "Love at First Sight", second.
Best documentary: Wade's "Freeheld", first; Tim Sternberg's "Salim Baba", second.
The winners, chosen from 322 short films that screened in competition, were announced Tuesday at the awards presentation at the Camelot Theatre in Palm Springs.
Jury awards also went to Dee Rees' "Pariah", winner of the Future Filmmaker Award, and Moon Molson's "Pop Foul", winner of the Panavision Grand Jury Award.
The Audience Awards winners were Stewart Schill's "I Hate Musicals", favorite live-action short; Cynthia Wade's "Freeheld", favorite documentary short; and Zeth Willie's "The Needful Head", favorite animation short.
The jury category award winners are:
Best live action under 15 minutes: Hanro Smitsman's "Contact/Raak," first place; and Erez Tadmor and Guy Nattiv's "Offside", second place.
Best live action over 15 minutes: Daniel Barber's "The Tonto Woman", first; John Arlotto's "Deface", second.
Best animation: Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski's "Madame Tutli-Putli", first; Miguel Anaya's "Love at First Sight", second.
Best documentary: Wade's "Freeheld", first; Tim Sternberg's "Salim Baba", second.
- 8/30/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Dutch director Hanro Smitsman has won this year's Golden Bear for a short film for his ingenious humoristic tryptich movie "Raak". The jury, comprised of producer Peace Anyiam-Fiberesima (Nigeria), critic and producer Riina Sildos (Estonia) and director Ning Ying (China), said they chose the title for being "a brilliant film" on its approach to the subjects of love, anger and desperation. "We honor the ability of the director to show in a compact manner three angles of the same story," they said. The runner-up Silver Bear award was shared by France's Manuel Schapira for the comedy "Decroche" and the urban love story "Mei" from Arvin Chen, a USA-Taiwan coproduction. The Prix UIP went to "Rotten Apple" by Ralitza Petrova of the U.K., the story of a young boys' quest for a normal family life. The awards were presented Tuesday evening at a ceremony in Berlin's Kino International theatre.
Hong Kong will open with "Cyborg"
Hong Kong International Film Festival curator Jacob Wong said Tuesday that this year's event will kick off with "I'm A Cyborg, But That's OK". Director Park Chan-wook and leading talent Rain (Jung Ji-hoon) and Lim Soo-jung will attend the official opening gala March 19 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, with the festival running March 20-April 11 this year.
Hong Kong will open with "Cyborg"
Hong Kong International Film Festival curator Jacob Wong said Tuesday that this year's event will kick off with "I'm A Cyborg, But That's OK". Director Park Chan-wook and leading talent Rain (Jung Ji-hoon) and Lim Soo-jung will attend the official opening gala March 19 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, with the festival running March 20-April 11 this year.
- 2/14/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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