2024 Golden Calves Nominations Announced: A Celebration of Netherlands Film Excellence

The nominations for the 2024 Golden Calves, the most prestigious film awards in the Netherlands, have been officially revealed. These awards, presented annually during the Netherlands Film Festival, recognize the finest achievements in Dutch cinema across various categories, including acting, directing, writing, and technical expertise. The nominations, listed below in alphabetical order, showcase a mix of established artists and emerging talents who have made significant contributions to Dutch filmmaking in the past year.

Best Short Documentary

• City of Poets – Directed by Sara Rajaei, produced by near/by film.
• The Story of Ne Kuko – Directed by Festus Toll, produced by DOXY.
• Child of Time (Kind van de Tijd) – Directed by Huibert van Wijk, produced by Rinkel Film.

Best Short Film

• ASTRO – Directed and written by Tim Ewalts, produced by Room for Film.
• Moustache – Directed and written by Idriss Nabil, produced by Topkapi Films.
• Wander to Wonder – Directed by Nina Gantz, written by Nina Gantz, Simon Cartwright, Daan Bakker, and Stienette Bosklopper, produced by Circe Films.

Best Lead Role in a Short Film

• Sigrid ten Napel – Trauma Porn Club.
• Laura Bakker – Marleen.
• Evalinde Lammers – NL-Alert.

Best Lead Role in a Drama Series

• Genelva Mourik-Lo-Kioeng-Shioe – De toeslagenaffaire.
• Pierre Bokma – De Joodse Raad.
• Abke Haring – Een van ons.

Best Supporting Role in a Drama Series

• Bilal El Aoumari – Laura H.
• Malou Gorter – De Joodse Raad.
• Stephanie van Eer – De Fckulteit*.

Best Screenplay for a Drama Series

• Willem Bosch – Een van ons.
• Roos Ouwehand and Paul Jan Nelissen – De Joodse Raad.
• Matthijs Bockting and Pieter van den Berg – Laura H.

Best Director of a Drama Series

• Saskia Diesing, Joosje Duk, and Iván López Núñez – Máxima.
• Michiel van Erp – Een van ons.
• Paula van der Oest, Matthijs van Heijningen, and Alain de Levita – De Joodse Raad.

Best Drama Series

• De Joodse Raad – Directed by Paula van der Oest, Matthijs van Heijningen, and Alain de Levita, produced by Levitate Film.
• Máxima – Directed by Saskia Diesing, Joosje Duk, and Iván López Núñez, produced by Millstreet Films.
• Een van ons – Directed by Michiel van Erp, produced by Pupkin.

Best Sound Design

• Gijs den Hartogh – Hardcore Never Dies.
• Kamila Wójcik – The Border Crossed Us.
• Mattijn Willems and Bertus Pelser – Bijt.

Best Music

• Gino Taihuttu and Jiri Taihuttu – Hardcore Never Dies.
• Tjeerd Nijhof – Bijt.
• Rens Machielse, Willem Schneider, Luuk Hoogstraten, Zita Leemans, and Laura Hermanides – Witte Flits.

Best Cinematography

• Jackó van ‘t Hof – The Kyiv Files.
• Lennart Verstegen – Hardcore Never Dies.
• Lennert Hillege – De bezette stad.

Best Editing

• Xander Nijsten – De bezette stad.
• Lot Rossmark – The Border Crossed Us.
• Emiel Nuninga – Hardcore Never Dies.

Best Production Design

• Ben Zuydwijk – Hardcore Never Dies.
• Kurt Loyens – De Terugreis.
• Myrte Beltman – Torch Song.

Best Costume Design

• Tessa Teixeira de Mattos – Jippie No More!
• Minke Lunter and John van Vlerken – Hardcore Never Dies.
• Margriet Procee – Het Boek van alle Dingen.

Best Feature-Length Documentary

• In Between These Mountains – Directed by Olivier S. Garcia, produced by mint film office.
• De bezette stad – Directed by Steve McQueen, produced by Family Affair Films.
• Indië verloren… – Directed by In-Soo Radstake, produced by Holland Harbour Entertainment BV.
• The Border Crossed Us – Directed by Loretta van der Horst, produced by Tangerine Tree.
• Liefjes – Directed by Anneke de Lind van Wijngaarden and Natalie Bruijns, produced by Witfilm.

Best Lead Role in a Feature Film

• Joes Brauers – Hardcore Never Dies.
• Jim Deddes – Hardcore Never Dies.
• Emmanuel Ohene Boafo – Paria.
• Frieda Barnhard – Melk.
• Leny Breederveld – De Terugreis.

Best Supporting Role in a Feature Film

• Sinem Kavus – Casting Call.
• Laura Bakker – Dit is geen kerstfilm.
• Isabelle Kafando – Crypto Boy.
• Rosa Stil – Hardcore Never Dies.
• Minne Koole – Neem me mee.

Best Screenplay for a Feature Film

• Stefanie Kolk and Nena van Driel – Melk.
• Lotte Tabbers and Isis Mihrimah Cabolet – Dit is geen kerstfilm.
• Gaby Cochavi, Roos van der Werff, and Inge Sonderen – Project Herbert.

Best Director of a Feature Film

• Michael Middelkoop – Dit is geen kerstfilm.
• Stefanie Kolk – Melk.
• Stijn Bouma – De Jacht op Meral Ö.

Best Feature Film

• Jippie No More! – Produced by Iris Otten and Sander van Meurs, Juliet at Pupkin, screenplay by Fiona van Heemstra, directed by Margien Rogaar.
• Hardcore Never Dies – Produced by Sander Verdonk, Thomas den Drijver, and Jim Taihuttu, New Amsterdam Film Company, screenplay by Jim Taihuttu and Amira Duynhouwer, directed by Jim Taihuttu.
• De Terugreis – Produced by Maarten Kuit and Jeroen van den Idsert, Hazazah Pictures, screenplay by Marijn de Wit and Jelle de Jonge, directed by Jelle de Jonge.
• Melk – Produced by Erik Glijnis and Leontine Petit, Lemming Film, screenplay by Stefanie Kolk and Nena van Driel, directed by Stefanie Kolk.
• De Jacht op Meral Ö. – Produced by Koji Nelissen and Derk-Jan Warrink, Keplerfilm, screenplay by Roelof Jan Minneboo and Stijn Bouma, directed by Stijn Bouma.

Best Digital Culture Production

The nominees for Best Digital Culture Production were announced on September 23 during the Storyspace Sessions. The three nominees are:

• Anouschka – Directed by Tamara Shogaolu, produced by Ado Ato Pictures and Stichting Ado Ato Interactive.
• Dans Dans Revolutie – Directed by Lisa Weeda, produced by BrotherTill and Theater Bellevue.
• Emoticons Don’t Have Wrinkles – Directed by Luna Maurer, produced by Luna Maurer.

Golden Calf for Film Culture

This year, the esteemed Golden Calf for Film Culture will be awarded to filmmaker and actor Felix de Rooy. De Rooy is being recognized for his significant contributions to Dutch art and culture, with a special focus on his advocacy for diverse perspectives in his multidisciplinary work. His explorations of colonial history, multicultural viewpoints, and queer identities continue to shape the Dutch artistic landscape.

Audience Awards

For the first time, the Audience Award will be split into two categories: the Best Feature Film and the Best Documentary, both chosen by the public. Based on the number of visitors between September 1, 2023, and August 31, 2024, the winners have already been announced. The producers of Bon Bini: Bangkok Nights (Maarten Swart, Kaap Holland Film) and Human Forever (Jonathan de Jong, SUPER7EVEN Productions) will receive these awards.

Netherlands Film Critics Award

The Netherlands Film Critics Award has been awarded to director Jeroen Houben for his film Torch Song. This recognition comes from the Dutch Circle of Film Journalists (KNF), highlighting the film’s exceptional storytelling and artistic value.

Nabil Alani – Netherlands Film Festival 2024