NOMINEES BEST FILM 12th SHORTCuTZ AMSTERDAM ANNUAL AWARDS

Meet the Nominees for Mr. Zee Best Film 2025! These films also run for the Shortcutz Amsterdam International Audience Award in around 28 cities worldwide.

But that's not all! The nominees for other categories—Best Director, Best Documentary, Best Animation, Best Experimental Film, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Acting, and Best Soundtrack—will be revealed in the coming weeks. Every film in our official selection can be nominated for these categories.

Join us for the 12th Shortcutz Amsterdam Annual Awards on January 19th, 2025, at Eye Filmmuseum. This ceremony celebrates the best in Dutch short films, with winners announced across all categories.

JURY TEAM
The nominees were handpicked by an exceptional jury team of industry leaders, including:

  • Jan Harlan, Producer (The Shining)

  • Christopher Mack, Director of Creative Talent Investment & Development, Netflix International Originals

  • Elise Schaap, Actress (Undercover)

  • Roel Reiné, Director (Marvel's Inhumans)

  • Willeke van Ammelrooy, Actress (Antonia's Line)

  • Eddy Terstall, Director (Simon)

  • René Wolf, Senior Programmer and Head of Acquisitions, Eye Filmmuseum

  • Laser 3.14, Renowned Street Artist

PRIZES
This year’s winners will receive incredible awards to support their filmmaking journeys:

  • Mr. Zee Best Film: €15,000 in services (€7,500 each) from FILMMORE and CAM-A-LOT

  • Mr. Zee Best Director: €5,000 cash prize, courtesy of VEVAM

  • Mr. Zee Best Screenplay: €2,000 cash prize, sponsored by Netflix

  • Mr. Zee Best Cinematography: Equipment rental worth €2,500 from CAM-A-LOT

LET ME IN

Director (s) | Genre | Duration: Aramis Garcia Gonzalez | Live-Action | 10’00’’

Synopsis (in English): After a big argument with his mother and stepfather, 24-year-old Emre storms off angrily. A year later, he knocks on the door again. He wants to come back home as if nothing had happened. However, his mother doesn't just let him in, and a difficult conversation unfolds through the intercom. Emre tries everything to be let inside. But offering a sincere apology is something he can't manage.

Director(s): Aramis Garcia Gonzalez

Cast: Ferhat Kaplan

Producer(s) Madhiha Duynhouwer

Screenplay Perla Vita Beerens

Cinematography Fernando Barrientos

Editing Eva van Weeghel

Production Design: Finn Van der Reijden

Music/Film Score: Meral Polat

Sound: Franco van der Linde

Behind The Reflection

Director(s) | Genre | Duration: Jelle Tigchelaar | Documentary | 16’39’’

Synopsis (in English): In 'Behind the Reflection' people of different ages and backgrounds spend half an hour looking at themselves in the mirror. We see what they see as we look through the back of the mirror. They share observations about themselves and their experiences of discomfort, sadness, confrontation, and happiness.

Director(s): Jelle Tigchelaar

Cast: Hans Schoorlemmer

Producer(s): Jelle Tigchelaar

Screenplay: Jelle Tigchelaar

Cinematography: Jelle Tigchelaar

Editing: Jelle Tigchelaar

Production Design: Hans Tigchelaar

Music/Film Score: -

Sound: Jelle Tigchelaar

Il Fait Beau (The Weather Is Nice)

Director(s) | Genre | Duration: Leonardo Cariglino | Live-Action | 19’00’’

Synopsis (in English): The young French expat Jean lives isolated and alienated from human contact, but a dear voice message from his mother urges him to go out. He then discovers Sara behind the shelves of the FEBO snack bar, and a love story begins.

Director(s): Leonardo Cariglino

Cast: Michael Muller, Sara Luna Zoric, Liliana de Vries, Jord Knotter

Producer(s): Coen van Berkel

Screenplay: Leonardo Cariglino

Cinematography: Nanko Goeting

Editing: Samantha Groesbeek, Leonardo Cariglino

Production Design: Merel Veel

Music/Film Score: Antonis Pratsinakis

Sound: Franco van der Linde, Nick Smith

LUNATIC

Director(s) | Genre | Duration: Robin Noorda | Experimental | 16’00’’

Synopsis (in English): The film tackles urgent earthly issues, as seen by a lonely astronaut called Antonio, who was left behind on the moon after his coming out.

Director(s): Robin Noorda

Cast: Antonio AI

Producer(s): Marc Thelosen

Screenplay: Robin Noorda

Cinematography: Robin Noorda

Editing: Robin Noorda

Production Design: Robin Noorda

Music/Film Score: Alfred Marseille

Sound: Jos van Galen

MAGMA

Director(s) | Genre | Duration: Luca Meisters | Live-Action | 14’56’’

Synopsis (in English): The world of the introverted but fiery Esra (9) has been turned upside down. Her father has become disabled after a recent motorcycle accident, and as a result, they had to move to a new place. Struggling with his limitations, Esra’s father isn’t the man she once knew. At her new school, she tells a lie that results in a lot of positive attention, but she cannot oversee the consequences. The pain, anger, and shame that boil inside of her will inevitably find their way to the surface.

Director(s): Luca Meisters

Cast: Leah Fischer, Mustafa Duygulu, Nadia Amin, Joya Kloppenborg, Erwin Boschmans, Judith van den Berg

Producer(s): IJswater Films

Screenplay: Nena van Driel

Cinematography: Roy van Egmond

Editing: Tessel Flora de Vries

Production Design: Ziggy Zwart & Jakobien Veling

Music/Film Score: Annelotte Coster

Sound: Coen Bruins

TIDE

Director(s) | Genre | Duration: Roxanne Stam | Live-Action | 20’00’’

Synopsis (in English): On a rare day out with her father, Nola (8) yearns for quality time, but Kurt (45) seems more focused on flirting than fathering. Their trip to the seaside begins with Nola's excitement and a heartfelt gift—a handmade bracelet—but quickly turns sour as Kurt's wandering attention and carefree attitude clash with his daughter's need for connection.

Director(s): Roxanne Stam

Cast: Dayani Verstraten, Bert Haelvoet

Producer(s): Rachel van Bommel, Ivo Siebum

Screenplay: Roxanne Stam, Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem

Cinematography: Zeeger Verschuren

Editing: Nikki Gorissen

Production Design: Marieken van Huijstee, Merel Hendrickx

Music/Film Score: Nikolaï Clavier

Sound: Dickenson Eekman