DIRECTOR (SILVER HAZE, DIRTY GOD, HEMEL)

7 March

Sacha Polak is an award-winning director and writer. She graduated from the Dutch Film and Television Academy in 2006. Her first two feature films, Hemel (2012) and Zurich (2014), received great critical acclaim from the international press. They were both selected at many international film festivals; Hemel won the Fipresci award (International Federation of Film Critics Award) at the Berlinale Forum and Zurich the International Confederation of Art Cinema Award (C.I.C.E.A award), the jury prize for Best Film of Berlinale’s Forum. Her latest feature Dirty God, about a young mother who is the victim of an acid attack, premiered in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition of Sundance 2019 and was the opening film of the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2019. After finishing Dirty God, Sacha directed a block of episodes for Season 2 of Hanna for Amazon. She is currently shooting 3 episodes of The Doll Factory for Paramount+. Her newest feature film Silver Haze premieres at Berlinale Panorama.

DIRECTOR, CREATIVE TALENT INVESTMENT & DEVELOPMENT FOR NETFLIX INTERNATIONAL ORIGINALS

14 March

Christopher Mack is Director, Creative Talent Investment & Development for Netflix International Originals.

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, and IN THE HOUSE, among others. Chris also spent seven years writing on various one-hour dramas, including ER, THE PRACTICE and THE NEW TWILIGHT ZONE.

Then Chris started as head of the Warner Bros. Workshop, the writing and directing program for professionals looking to start and/or further their careers in television. In addition to these responsibilities, Chris has covered hit shows such as TWO AND A HALF MEN and SMALLVILLE for the Current Programs department. After Warner Bros., Chris became 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.

ACTRESS (UNDERCOVER, FERRY, STROMBOLI)

21 March

Elise is one of the most celebrated actresses in the Netherlands. She played many leading roles in both films and TV series.

She could be seen in the Dutch-Belgian Netflix franchise UNDERCOVER and FERRY. She played the lead in the film MIJN VADER IS EEN VLIEGTUIG, the opening film of the 2021 Netherlands Film Festival, directed by Antoinette Beumer. This role earned her a Dutch Academy Award nomination (Golden Calf) for Best Actress.

Her other projects include BRIDE FLIGHT, JA IK WIL, WAT IS DAN LIEFDE and SOOF 3. Her most recent work includes the psychological thriller FAITHFULLY YOURS, the family film HOTEL SINESTRA and STROMBOLI. In STROMBOLI, she plays the lead opposite Tim McInnerny (Nothing Hill), Anna Chancellor (The Crown) and Christian Hillborg (Young Royals).

In 2019, 2020 and 2021, Elise won the Televizier Star for Best Actor.

28 March

We are delighted to welcome director AARON ROOKUS, film leading star CLAIRE BENDER and other team members behind GOODBYE STRANGER to our session.

Aaron was the first winner of the Shortcutz awards for Best Film and Best Director, and we are very proud to welcome him back to de Kring next week.

GOODBYE STRANGER is screening at the Roze Filmdagen Festival on 25 and 27 March, so watch it before our session.

The film will be in the cinema on 21 April.

Synopsis: An all-too-ambitious playlist curator at a major music streaming company finds himself on a soul-searching summer day's odyssey across his adopted Amsterdam.

4 April

We are happy to have the DOJO Team, including director BORIS PAVAL CONEN, co-writer ASHAR MEDINA, leading actor KY-MANI PINAS, and music composer ALBERTO ARIFI, joining us for a Q&A at our #293 weekly Shortcutz Amsterdam session!

Synopsis: Brandon faces a difficult decision when presented with an opportunity to leave his local youth gang, as it would mean letting down his closest companion Stefano.