Jury Best Dutch Children’s Film Competition

The Netherlands is internationally renowned as a major producer of family films. Over the years, the number, quality, and diversity of Dutch children’sfilms have steadily increased, in part owning to the children’s film initiatives of the Netherlands Film Fund. For the Best Dutch Children’s Film Competition, Cinekid selects the best Dutch feature films made since the last festival, which are aimed at Children under 14 or suitable for the entire family. The winner of the Best Dutch Family Film Jury Award will receive a Cinekid Lion statue. The children visiting the festival award their own Cinekid Lion Audience Award to the highest-rated film in the competition.

Esther Duysker

After graduating from the University of the Arts Utrecht, Esther has focused on writing for theatre and film. Her graduation short Day (2011) was shortlisted for a Golden Calf at the Netherlands Film Festival. In 2015, Esther’s theatre collective Sir Duke joined forces with musical theatre group Orkater and their show The Blackout of ‘77 was a hit at the cutting-edge Oerol Festival. Her adaption of Shakespeare’s Othello, commissioned by the National Theatre and directed by Daria Bukvic, was praised by critics. In 2020, her first feature Buladó won a Golden Calf for Best Film at the Netherlands Film Festival. Currently Esther is writing Ogri, the sequel to her children’s book Trobi, with illustrator Brian Elstak.

Annemarie van de Mond

After graduating from the Maastricht Academy of Dramatic Arts in Maastricht, Annemarie worked as a director’s assistant and script supervisor on many Dutch movies and series. In addition, she worked on various international productions with directors including Wes Anderson and Joel Schumacher. From 1999 onwards, she started directing herself and directed episodes of drama series such as Smeris, Meisje van Plezier and Flikken Rotterdam. The short film Beet and the films made for TV productions such as HannaHannaH, Taartman and Just Friends were awarded numerous international awards. Her first feature film Jackie and Oopjen was awarded the Cinekid Lion for Best Dutch Children’s Film 2020.

Hedda Bruessing

Hedda has been working in the film and television industry since 1996. From 2007 to 2019, she worked for the public service broadcaster NTR as executive producer for the youth department, head of production and head of media business. In this role she was responsible for setting up all international co-productions and business development. Hedda worked on successful kids’ shows such as the Emmy nominated science series Full Proof, and Animal Detectives. In November 2019, she joined public service broadcaster BNNVARA as head of media business. Hedda has been a jury member for the International Emmy Kids, the Kidscreen Awards and the Rockie Awards Kids.

Danielle Raaphorst

Danielle launched her own company Incredible Film in 2009 to expand her work as an independent producer. Since then, she has produced successful films such as Madly in Love, Escape and Angel. Prior to this, she worked as a producer and acquisitions manager at a Benelux film distribution company. She also spent over 12 years working as a global sales agent for both Dutch and Flemish production companies. Nowadays, Incredible Film is a familiar name in the business, selling content to distributors all over the world, from feel-good to family adventures to psychological thrillers and epic stories.

Leendert de Ridder

Leendert graduated in 2012 from the Academy for Theatre and Dance in Amsterdam. After graduating, Leendert appeared in plays for Kompagnie Kistemaker, Theatergroep Kwatta, Toneelgroep Oostpool and De Theateralliante. He also had parts in The Apple Core, Villa Achterwerk, The Mystery Of… and Ghost Rockers. Since 2016, Leendert has played the role of Mister Twister in two feature films and in both seasons of Mister Twister The Series. Leendert also presented the Mister Twister Quiz and Outdoors Bound. This year, he will return to theatres in Romeo & Juliet by Goedemorgen Theaterproducties and Metamorphoses by Theatergroep Kwatta.