Christopher Mack, Director Creative Talent for Netflix International Originals
Christopher Mack is Director, Creative Talent Investment & Development for Netflix International Originals.
He was previously Senior Vice President of Scripted Content for Stage 13, overseeing all of the brand’s original scripted series and development slates across multiple genres, including Emmy nominated Netflix series’ Special and It’s Bruno. Before Stage 13, Chris headed the Warner Bros. Workshop, the writing and directing program for professionals looking to start and/or further their careers in television. Over a period of 10 years in this role, Chris curated a roster of close to 100 writers and 50 directors representing the breakthrough emerging voices working on high-profile television shows today. In addition to these responsibilities, Chris has covered hit shows such as “Two and a Half Men” and “Smallville” for the Current Programs department.
Prior to joining Warner Bros., Chris spent seven years writing on various one-hour dramas including “ER,” “The Practice” and “The New Twilight Zone.” After graduating from Loyola Law School, Chris got his start in television at NBC Studios as an associate and he quickly rose to become an executive. During his time at the newly created NBC Studios, he oversaw a varied list of shows including: “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, “In The House,” among others.
Eddy Terstall, director and writer
Eddy Terstall debuted his first film Transit in 1992. He started Political Science and Sociology studies at the University of Amsterdam, but didn’t finish. He follows politics closely and considered joining the political world at one point.
His 2004 film Simon won four Golden Calves and is said to be the first instalment from a series of three films focusing on freedoms: death, sexuality and rule of law. The other two were Sextet (2007) and Vox Populi (2008).
Terstall’s first collaboration with Erik Wünsch resulted in Meet me in Venice, World Cinema Award at Woodstock Film Festival for Best Foreign Film and Best Actress in a Leading Role (Roberta Petzoldt) and the second in Eddy’s upcoming film: Alberta, set to be released this year.
photo by Boudewijn van den Breemer
HANY ABU-ASSAD, director
Hany Abu-Assad was born in Nazareth, Palestine in 1961. After having studied and worked as an airplane engineer in The Netherlands for several years, Abu-Assad entered the world of cinema as a producer and produced the feature film Curfew, directed by Rashid Masharawi, in 1994.
In 1998 he directed his first film, The Fourteenth Chick, from a script by writer Arnon Grunberg, followed by his documentary Nazareth 2000, his second feature film Rana's Wedding and his second documentary Ford Transit.
In 2006 his film Paradise Now about two Palestinian men preparing for a suicide attack in Tel Aviv was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The film won the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language film in 2006.
In 2011 Abu-Assad finished working on The Courier, a Hollywood movie starring Jeffery Dean Morgan, Til Schweiger, and Mickey Rourke.
In 2013 he finished working on OMAR, a tragic love story set in occupied Palestine. OMAR won the Jury Prize in the competition of Certain Regard at Cannes Film Festival of 2013 and has been nominated for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (OSCARS) for Best Foreign Language Film 2014 and won the Best Film at the Dubai Film Festival.
In 2015 Abu-Assad completed his 6th feature film "The Idol" a drama inspired by the incredible journey of the artist Mohammad Assaf, a singer from Gaza who won the Arab Idol show in 2013.
His latest film was “The Mountain Between Us,” a survival love story about two strangers who fight to survive after their plane crashes on a remote, snow-covered mountain. The film came out worldwide in 2017 and stars Kate Winslet and Idris Elba, with 20th Century Fox as the studio, and Peter Chernin Entertainment as producers.
Jan Harlan, producer and director
Jan Harlan joined Stanley Kubrick in 1969 for a film on Napoleon, which was unfortunately abandoned. He later was executive producer for all Kubrick films such as The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Eyes Wide Shut, Barry Lyndon and worked on other unrealised projects with Stanley Kubrick. After Kubrick’s death in 1999 he worked with Steven Spielberg on “A.I. Artificial Intelligence” and made documentaries on Stanley Kubrick and the actor Malcolm McDowell for Warner Bros.
Laser 3.14, post-punk street poet
"I hope to see some good inspirational works by filmmakers. I think there are a lot of talented people working out there so this is a chance to see a lot of work. Ever since I was a kid I have loved movies (especially 70’s cinema) and have read as much as possible about the subject.
I don't vividly follow Dutch cinema but there are a couple of really good films out there such as , Soldier of Orange, Spetters, The Assault, Abel, Karakter and De Tweeling. I think the Dutch film industry should also focus on a couple of more unconventional gutsy films. It has been playing it a bit too safe for my taste (But so has the American Film Industry)."
He started out as a graffiti artist in the early 80’s and worked as an illustrator and comic book artist throughout the 90’s when he progressed to street poetry.
If you would like to find out more please visit > www.laser314.com
Marina Blok,
Head of Drama for NTR
Marina Blok has been Head of Drama of the Public Broadcaster NTR since 2000. Marina is responsible for drama series such as 'Annie MG', 'A’dam – E.V.A'. and 'Hollands Hoop'.
Marina is also the co-producer of films including the international award-winning movies: Alex van Warmerdam's Borgman, Mijke de Jong's Layla M., Paula van der Oest's Tonio and Jim Taihuttu's Wolf.
An important focal point of the drama department is the development of young fiction talent, eighteen short films (10-50 minutes) are produced annually in two programs: KORT! and One Night Stand.
If you would like to find out more please visit > ntr.nl
RENÉ WOLF,
HEAD OF ACQUISITIONS & SENIOR PROGRAMMER AT EYE
“Great feature films or fresh and important developments in some national film industries have often been preceded by daring, surprising and creative shorts. I hope to be surprised, touched, fascinated by the shorts presented in Shortcutz Amsterdam and I am hoping, in particular, for creative shorts which are remarkable both in form and in content.”
René Wolf (1963) studied political science and communication in Nijmegen. He worked in Filmhuis Arnhem as a volunteer (1985-1988) before starting to work at the film museum. Since 1988 he has worked in several positions at the film museum, now EYE, mainly in publicity, programming and distribution.
If you would like to find out more please visit > www.eyefilm.nl
Roel Reine, director
Roel Reine was born in The Netherlands, and with his first theatrical feature 'The Delivery' he won The Golden Calf (the Dutch equivalent to an Academy Award) for Best Director. In 2005 Roel Reine moved to Los Angeles and has now directed an impressive slate of 16 feature films for studios such as Universal, 20th Century Fox, Sony and Lionsgate, as well with independent international producers. Roel is also the Director of Photography on all of his movies.Roel Reine is known by fans, critics and Hollywood studios as one of the best modern action directors around today. Some of his latest movies include, The Man with the Iron Fists 2, (with RZA), SealTeam Eight (shot in Africa for 20th Century Fox), Dead in Tombstone (with Mickey Rourke for Universal a VOD hit), and two very popular Death Race prequels, with Sean Bean and Ving Rhames.
His latest movie Admiral, a.k.a. Michiel de Ruyter, an epic historical Dutch language movie, had a very successful theatrical release and is still breaking records. One out of every 20 Dutch citizens went to the cinema to see the movie. The movie tells the story of a 17th Century Admiral, Michiel de Ruyter, who protects the Dutch population from a civil war between two political factions while defeating English armada in massive sea-battles.
If you would like to find out more please visit > www.roelreine.com
SIGRID TEN NAPEL, ACTRESS
SigrId has been in theatre school since she was six years old, and soon people discovered her talent. She was nominated for a Golden Calf (aka Dutch Oscar) for ‘Best Actress’ for her role in the movie ‘Zomer’.
Also, she plays in popular series like ‘Overspel’ and ‘Penoza’.
Besides her success in the Netherlands, Sigrid’s busy participating international series. It’s a matter of time before the whole world sees her shining in international movies and series.
If you would like to find out more please visit > NAMAM Artist Management
TYGO GERNANDT, ACTOR
Tygo Gernandt is known for his impressive and diverse roles in films such as Van God Los (his legendary role was crowned with a Gouden Kalf for Best Actor), Het Schnitzelparadijs (for which he won a shared Gouden Kalf for Best Supporting Actor), First Mission, Black Death, Hartenstraat, Boy 7 and Bloedlink (Rembrandt Award Best Actor).
This year a new season of Dokter Tinus will be broadcasted, in which Tygo plays the role of agent Ken, and two international films will be released, Math Sucks and Rise Of The Footsoldier Ii.
If you would like to find out more please visit > www.tygogernandt.nl
Vincent van Ommen, actor
Vincent van Ommen is a film, television and voice actor. He was raised bilingual and has worked in both English and Dutch-language TV series and films.
He has acted in many international films including, Life is an Art (2010), Amsterdam Heavy (2011), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), and the TV-series You Look Stunning Too (2013) in which he has played the role of Richard.
Video games he voiced for include Planet Explorers and Until I Have You.
Van Ommen studied acting in England at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
In The Netherlands he studied with director Ruud van Hemert and at De Trap, a private school for acting in Amsterdam.
He also trained in film & stage combat with Tony Wolf, the Lord of the Rings fighting styles designer.
If you would like to find out more please visit > www.vincentvanommen.com
Willeke van Ammelrooy, actress
Willeke has been seen for decades as one of the biggest movie stars in the Netherlands. She has starred in more than 70 movies, including some 'classics' such as: 'De Lift', 'Ciske de Rat', 'Wan Pipel'. Her feature debut was in Mira (1971) by the hand of Oscar-winner Fons Rademakers, this movie was nominated for a Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival. She played Antonia in the Oscar-winning feminist film 'Antonia's Line', this role also granted her the golden calf for best actress. In 2000 she won a golden calf again for her role in 'Lijmen het been'. In 2006 she played Sandra Bullock's mother in The Lake House starring also Keanu Reeves.
In 2012 she won the Golden Calf Culture Prize (aka the Dutch Honorary Oscar) for her contribution to Dutch cinema.
Willeke also stepped in directing, and she directed several short films, commercials and the feature film 'THE Butterfly lifts the CAT'.
If you would like to find out more please visit > www.willekevanammelrooy.nl