Lau, née Laurens Zautsen, is a visual artist, performing artist and filmmaker, based in Utrecht. Born in Limburg, Lau went on to attain a Bachelor's degree in Audiovisual Media from the HKU University of the Arts Utrecht. Their graduation film Phoenix won the Film Fund Wildcard award at the Dutch Film Festival. Lau is currently a Master student at the Piet Zwart Institute in Rotterdam, Lens-Based Media program. Their work explores colourful worlds, peoples and emotions. This often comes with a touch of theatrics and a dash of humour but remains rooted in social realism.

Pitch project | When You Change The Sky

Two drag performers are an inseparable couple, both personally and on stage. But when one's
instability and addiction starts to become increasingly difficult, the other is faced with a difficult choice.

Dahiana Candelo is a writer and theater maker. In 2020 she graduated from the Theater academy Maastricht. She moved from Colombia to the Netherlands at the age of 8. Her origin is an important source in her work. Last year she completed the 'New Makers trajectory' of the Bijlmerpark theater with a one hour theatrical performance; REFLEJO. In this, the fluidity of identity becomes the art and life of painter Frida Kahlo.

Pitch project | TIO

When tio (uncle in Spanish) suddenly gets in touch, father and son are again faced with a traumatic event where they out of guilt and shame dare not talk about it.

Aleksandra Szymanska, film director and screenwriter. Born and raised in Upper Silesia Poland. She lives in Cologne, Germany, since 2002. She graduated from the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School at the Silesian University in Katowice and continued her education at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles. Before she started making films, she worked in different positions for various TV companies in Germany and Poland. Her first short film Lilith was made in 2012. She is also member of the Association of Women Artists and Patrons of the Arts GEDOK.

Pitch project | Before the Law

A gatekeeper stands before the law. A woman from the country comes to this gatekeeper and asks to enter. The gate is open, but the gatekeeper refuses her request. For years the woman tries to change the man's mind - but it is in vain. At the end of her life, she learns that the entrance was meant only for her - and will be closed now.

Douglas Robson is a filmmaker from Roermond, The Netherlands. As the name might suggest, he has English roots. Yet he feels 100% Dutch. For many years, Douglas has been engaged in it full-time making corporate films. He now is creating great projects for various companies throughout the Netherlands. Whenever possible, he seizes the opportunity to devote himself to free productions. The documentary genre is one of his specialties.

Pitch project | Shrapnel

Sada, a former RAF flight nurse with severe PTSD goes on a path to recovery after she rescues Shrapnel, an abused but ever so gentle dog. Together they will learn to trust in love and life again.

Amber Rozema is the director and writer of the screenplay. While studying Directing at the Institute of Performative Arts in Maastricht (Toneelacademie Maastricht), Amber began to develop a big affection for film. With a background in visual arts, she is always searching for ways to tell stories using images.

Pitch project | Shark Tears

When a curious little girl who has just learned how to read and write discovers a goodbye letter that was written by her passed away mother, her grieving father doesn’t know how to find the words for what happened to the mother.

Karel Konings comes from Belgian Limburg and he made his directorial debut with Charlie Z, Charlie Z won the Audience Award at the Euregion Film Festival and at the VERS Film Awards and Limburg Film Festival among others. In 2022, he made a short film called Jagers. The film screened at the Nederlands Film Festival 2022 and is now being distributed by Agence du Court Métrage. Later that year he also made Vogelkooi, which is going into distribution as of now. After having had a taste of acting, directing and writing, Karel is determined to combine these crafts into making films that will fascinate their audiences for generations to come.

Pitch project | The Elephant

When Thomas' son is born with a severe physical deformation, he is willing to do the unthinkable to ease the pain.