Country: Netherlands

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The Zigzag Kid

Making its first US appearance following rave reviews in Berlin and Toronto, The Zigzag Kid is a stylish, witty, action packed caper a la Pink Panther, featuring Isabella Rossellini as a nightclub chanteuse and a terrific performance by the young lead (newcomer Thomas Simon). Nono is the son of the world’s greatest police inspector and has been trained since birth in the finer arts of sleuthing. So when a train trip to stay with his terribly boring Uncle Shmuel morphs into a rollicking mystery-solving adventure, Nono couldn’t be more thrilled. And when he meets up with the notorious criminal Felix Glick, his father’s arch nemesis, he finally gets the chance to prove that he has what it takes to be a great detective. Wearing disguises and on the run from the police, Felix and Nono head to the French Riviera, where Felix introduces Nono to the seductive Lola Ciperola. Now with only twenty-four hours to go before his Bar Mitzvah, Nono has to complete his high-stakes mission — while also confronting the mystery of his own identity and the truth about the mother he has never known. Based on the coming-of-age novel by Israeli writer David Grossman, The Zigzag Kid is a whimsical, sharply written and wonderfully entertaining film — a sure-fire crowd pleaser that also touches on more serious themes of self-discovery, the strength of family, and acceptance.
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Kauwboy

The Netherlands’ official entry for this year’s Oscars® and winner of the Best First Feature award at the 2012 Berlin Film Festival, Kauwboy is a tender portrait of a boy struggling to come to terms with a family that’s not what it once was. With his country-singer mother absent, Jojo lives alone with his security guard father, a man of few words, who is quick to anger and has seemingly no affection for his 10-year-old son. Left to his own devices, Jojo discovers an abandoned baby crow in the woods near their house — and finds solace in caring for this small creature, who is even more alone and vulnerable than he is. Bringing the crow home, Jojo has to exert great efforts to hide the bird from his dad (under his bed, in the closet, in the fridge…) and the viewer is ever on edge against the inevitable outburst that would attend its discovery. But what really drives the drama is the questionable whereabouts of Jojo’s mother, who seems never to return from tour. Filmed in the rural Dutch countryside and featuring wonderfully natural performances, Kauwboy is a beautifully cinematic, bittersweet film that explores issues of loss and sorrow, while painting a joyfully upbeat picture of acceptance and love.
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Audition

A prisoner facing the firing squad is given the chance to audition for the camp’s orchestra. Inspired by a true story.
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Spellbreaker

Two kids are building a sandcastle, seemingly best of friends. But when a beetle gets trapped underneath a bucket, their peaceful harmony gets disturbed.
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Fata Morgana

There’s nothing like a cool refreshing drink in the middle of the desert. Unless it’s your last one…
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Through You

A young woman struggles through the crowd on her way to the store. As she passes these strangers, some leave a mark — but only one leaves a mark that sticks.
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Small

When 12-year-old Noortje goes to the spa for her first massage, she is surprised to find a male masseur assigned to her. Massages are supposed to be relaxing — but with the unfamiliar feeling of a stranger’s hands on her skin, she has a hard time letting go!
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The Idol

Based on a true story, The Idol chronicles Mohammad Assaf’s remarkable rise from a challenging life in Gaza to worldwide sensation and symbol of hope. Whenever he sings, everyone within earshot stops in awe of Mohammad’s beautiful voice. A lack of money and access to instruments won’t stop the ten-year-old and his sister, Nour (with whom he shares a deep bond, a tiny bedroom, and an obsession with music), from performing wherever they can with their makeshift band. It’s Nour who recognizes the true potential of her brother’s talent, and makes him promise to share his gift with the world. It isn’t until years later, feeling stuck and with few prospects, that he finally sees his voice as a ticket out. Risking serious consequences, Mohammad ventures on a journey to audition for Arab Idol to pursue his dream and fulfill his promise.
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Secrets of War

Netherlands, 1943. Best friends Tuur and Lambert spend their time dreaming up adventures and discovering secret passages in the caves and forests that surround their close-knit village. Homemade wooden pistols serve as props in their playful war games, as they make light of the conflict that is building all around them. When new girl Maartje enters their social circle, the boys’ friendship faces a challenge typical of adolescence — and Lambert begins to feel more and more like the third wheel. But as the ramifications of German occupation encroach upon the children’s daily lives and the secrets of Maartje’s past come to light, Lambert’s jealousy has consequences more devastating than he can imagine. Secrets of War, with its lush backdrops and strong emotional performances from three young leads, expertly balances the universality of shifting young friendships with the moral complexity of war.
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Giovanni and the Water Ballet

Ten-year-old Giovanni wants to be the first boy to compete in the Dutch Synchronized Swimming Championships. With his first “girlfriend” Kim cheering him on from the sidelines, will he fulfill his dream?
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Leaving Home

When Father decides Richard is old enough to leave home, he sends him out into the world. However Richard keeps returning–every time in a more bizarre way.
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Panic!

Marja leaves for her day off and immediately imagines all the things that can go wrong at home while she’s gone. Her biggest fears do not come true, but still, did she forget to turn off the gas? Lock the door? Feed the dog?
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A Single Life

When playing a mysterious vinyl single, Pia is suddenly able to travel through her life.
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Voltaire

Weathervane rooster Voltaire pines for a life atop grand cathedrals, and things get more gothic than he ever imagined in this lightning-strikes-twice story.
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The Day My Father Became a Bush

Ten-year-old Toda lives an idyllic life with her baker father, concocting sweet confections to the delight of their town. But when her father is drafted to join the war between the “Ones” and the “Others,” their tranquil existence is upended. With her father gone and war dangerously encroaching on their town, Toda must make the secret trek to her mother’s home across the border. Along the way, she meets corrupt officials, narrow-minded neighbors, sketchy smugglers, and—luckily—friend and fellow refugee, “Stickie.” Together, they are bolstered by camaraderie and bravery. With strikingly earnest performances from the young actors and without allusions to any specific nationalities, The Day My Father Became a Bush provides a wistfully universal story about the power of resilience and empathy over fear and bigotry. *While sensitively handled, film deals with the anxieties of war.
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Mr. Frog

Sita wants nothing more than a little quality time with her mother, who is often busy tending to the (literally) ruffled feathers of her patients at the local veterinary clinic. Yet it’s her mother’s expertise that instills in Sita a love and understanding of the animal kingdom that she’s eager to share in her upcoming school report on amphibians. Curiously, whenever she utters the word “frog” in the classroom, her teacher goes a bit green at the gills and disappears—a problem considering the unconventional educator is being monitored closely by the strict principal. Based on a story by best-selling author Paul van Loon, this charmingly quirky tale infuses its rustic setting with subtle fantasy to portray a group of students who stand steadfast by their beloved teacher no matter where—or in what form—he hops.
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Passing By

100 years of Amsterdam go by in street-style flash and dash in this memorably animated view of history.
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A KISS

Abdi dreams of asking Leyli, a head taller and a lot more mature, to the summer dance held by their refugee center, but complications soon ensue.
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The Man Who Looked Beyond the Horizon

Bas Jan Adler, a cross between contemporary artist and Buster Keaton, impishly blurred the boundaries of art and life. In his final grand work, he disappeared at sea. Or did he?
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1Minute Nature: My Cat in Me

Food cycles and life cycles hilariously intertwine when one kid relates the journey of his cat in this NYICFF 2017 favorite.
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Jonas and the Sea

At the seaside, Jonas dreams of a life among the fish and constructs bizarre aquatic contraptions to realize the impossible.
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Heads Together

Three very different kids, all friends, find out what it truly means to walk a day in each other’s shoes,…and legs, and torsos in this hilarious International Emmy and 2017 NYICFF Grand Prize- winning film.
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Fox & Hare: Birthday

Fox dreams of giving Hare the most exquisite birthday ever, but will a few pesky neighbors spoil his plans?
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LISTEN

In Holland the Kindertelefoon is a helpline for kids to pour their hearts out anonymously with problems big and small—and, just maybe, make a few prank calls for lighthearted relief.
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Emily

Blooming with artful animation and wistful storytelling, Emily was spotlighted as the Netherlands’ entry for Oscar consideration.
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