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Nour Alkheder | Documentary | 15’00’’
The first time Nay heard K-pop music was when she was seven years old and still living with her family in Syria. Now she is 14, has fled the war, and lives alone with her mother and brother in the Netherlands. Doing K-pop dances and making Tik Toks is her hobby. If you have a small room, the dining table is put aside for that. But K-pop is more than a hobby: Nay gets support from the songs when she is sad, and her biggest dream is to become a dancer. In her own fantasy, she auditions for a K-pop jury, where she can finally show her skills. But can she also show her new environment who the real Nay is?

Igor Riabchuk | Documentary | 15’00’’
Ivan loves music and nature photography: he takes the most beautiful pictures of his new home town, Hindeloopen. He has only just moved there; he fled the war in Ukraine. Photography became his way to capture the new world in a safe way and to feel more and more at home in this way. His great fear is to make contact with other children because he is afraid that they will not understand him. Does Ivan dare to take pictures of his classmates, even though he finds it exciting?

Faten Bushehri | Documentary | 15’00’’
Karim, a 13-year-old boy from Syria, has just moved to the Netherlands and is having a hard time adjusting to his new life in Makkum. He often thinks about his home in Syria, where his best friend Laith lives. In order to feel closer to his old life, he is learning to play the Oud, an instrument he loves. His mother is trying to help him feel more at home by encouraging him to practice Dutch and make new friends. Will Karim be able to combine his memories of home with his new life in the Netherlands?

Batoul Karbijha | Documentary | 15’00’’
Zenat finds herself at the crossroads of two worlds. She was born in Afghanistan, where her heart, family and culture lie. But she now lives in the Netherlands, where her future lies. That means learning a new language and making new friends. But Zenat has a very big dream: she wants to become a writer. She tries to capture her desire to belong in her new environment without losing her original culture in a book. Written entirely in Dutch.

Yve Baya | Documentary | 15’00’’
Jay-Way is a hip hop artist with Ghanaian roots. He wants to make a song with children who are new to the Netherlands about what inspires them. Together they work on a song, they even go from Sneek to Amsterdam to record the song in a professional studio! Ivan on guitar, Karim raps, Nay sings and Zenat plays piano.

Sharine Rijsenburg | Documentary | 18’29’’
Bubbling music is one of the most spirited manifestations of Caribbean-Dutch cultural heritage. The propulsive and highly danceable music symbolises freedom, power and ownership of the diaspora. This vibrant documentary celebrates bubbling’s storied history, tracing the historic and cultural roots of the club music, while exploring the contemporary scene that keeps pushing the envelope. By explicitly forefronting the female voices of bubbling, director Sharine Rijsenburg composes a joyful and feminist symphony of a musical scene that perfectly embodies a festive way of living.

Yfke van Berckelaer | Live-Action | 04’51’’
Izzy is constantly stuck in the same cycle: mocked, dismissed, ignored, forgotten. But a touch of red glitter? Now that's a game-changer!

Sanne Schoemaker | Documentary | 13’45’’
On the canals of Groningen, seventy-year-old Rita has been organizing klaverjas competitions for years. Her door is open to everyone, as long as you don't cancel at the last minute and can lose like a winner.

Jan Rekelhof | Live-Action | 10’00’’
Florian tries to impress his in-laws during a Christmas dinner, which turns into a disaster.

Fokke Baarssen | Live-Action | 12’00’’
When Marieke, a tough and determined woman, reluctantly visits her childhood home where her aggressive father is dying, she is confronted with their dark past, which is not yet finished with her.

Naomi Noir | Animation | 09’06’’
Mary can't catch a break. Fusing motherhood with being a full-time carer for her disabled son has her up to her ears in red tape, barely keeping afloat. A surreal situation is looming.

Lidewij Hartog | Documentary | 13’12’’
What if everything you thought you knew was just the beginning?
Develop is a short documentary about Ydwer van der Heide. During a surfing accident, Ydwer became paralyzed from the waist down. But if water is such a vital part of your life and identity, how do you give new meaning to this relationship? This film documents an intimate personal journey, through relationships, the body and photography.

Maria Shaposhnikova | Live-Action | 13’38’’
Eye Wall is a drama unfolds against the backdrop of a massive hurricane Khanum in 2023.
Ae Cha, a young woman tries to survive in a slum with her baby daughter and demented mother, but the waters rise too fast...













WEEKLY SESSIONZ 2025
Your weekly shortcut to the future of Dutch cinema.
Join us for our free weekly sessions, the most exciting way to experience what the next generation of Dutch filmmakers is creating—right now.
Every Tuesday night, we screen two short films followed by a Q&A with the makers, and we welcome a special guest from the film industry for an open, relaxed conversation with our audience.
📅 When
We’re live every Tuesday during:
March (starting March 25), April, May, June, September, October, and November.
📍 Where
All sessions take place at Sociëteit De Kring, right on Leidseplein.
How to find it:
– Head to Restaurant Palladium on Leidseplein.
– Facing the restaurant, look to your left for a wooden door with a small round sign marked “de”.
– Enter and take the stairs to the 1st floor—you’ll find us there!
You can also find us by searching "Shortcutz Amsterdam" on Google Maps.
🌍 Language
All sessions are in English, and all films are subtitled in English.
🎟️ Tickets
The sessions are free, but you’ll need to reserve your spot in advance using the button below.
If your preferred session is sold out, no worries—join the waiting list, and we’ll notify you by email if a spot opens up.
UPCOMING Weekly Sessionz
CLICK ON THE EVENT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SESSION PROGRAMME
Special guests april
The Special Guest programme will be announced on March 28th! 🔥
OFFICIAL SELECTION 2025
These are the first short films to join our Official Selection 2025. More titles will be added in May. Check out the HOW IT WORKS page for more about the submission periods and rules.
Nour Alkheder | Documentary | 15’00’’
The first time Nay heard K-pop music was when she was seven years old and still living with her family in Syria. Now she is 14, has fled the war, and lives alone with her mother and brother in the Netherlands. Doing K-pop dances and making Tik Toks is her hobby. If you have a small room, the dining table is put aside for that. But K-pop is more than a hobby: Nay gets support from the songs when she is sad, and her biggest dream is to become a dancer. In her own fantasy, she auditions for a K-pop jury, where she can finally show her skills. But can she also show her new environment who the real Nay is?
Igor Riabchuk | Documentary | 15’00’’
Ivan loves music and nature photography: he takes the most beautiful pictures of his new home town, Hindeloopen. He has only just moved there; he fled the war in Ukraine. Photography became his way to capture the new world in a safe way and to feel more and more at home in this way. His great fear is to make contact with other children because he is afraid that they will not understand him. Does Ivan dare to take pictures of his classmates, even though he finds it exciting?
Faten Bushehri | Documentary | 15’00’’
Karim, a 13-year-old boy from Syria, has just moved to the Netherlands and is having a hard time adjusting to his new life in Makkum. He often thinks about his home in Syria, where his best friend Laith lives. In order to feel closer to his old life, he is learning to play the Oud, an instrument he loves. His mother is trying to help him feel more at home by encouraging him to practice Dutch and make new friends. Will Karim be able to combine his memories of home with his new life in the Netherlands?
Batoul Karbijha | Documentary | 15’00’’
Zenat finds herself at the crossroads of two worlds. She was born in Afghanistan, where her heart, family and culture lie. But she now lives in the Netherlands, where her future lies. That means learning a new language and making new friends. But Zenat has a very big dream: she wants to become a writer. She tries to capture her desire to belong in her new environment without losing her original culture in a book. Written entirely in Dutch.
Yve Baya | Documentary | 15’00’’
Jay-Way is a hip hop artist with Ghanaian roots. He wants to make a song with children who are new to the Netherlands about what inspires them. Together they work on a song, they even go from Sneek to Amsterdam to record the song in a professional studio! Ivan on guitar, Karim raps, Nay sings and Zenat plays piano.
Sharine Rijsenburg | Documentary | 18’29’’
Bubbling music is one of the most spirited manifestations of Caribbean-Dutch cultural heritage. The propulsive and highly danceable music symbolises freedom, power and ownership of the diaspora. This vibrant documentary celebrates bubbling’s storied history, tracing the historic and cultural roots of the club music, while exploring the contemporary scene that keeps pushing the envelope. By explicitly forefronting the female voices of bubbling, director Sharine Rijsenburg composes a joyful and feminist symphony of a musical scene that perfectly embodies a festive way of living.
Sanne Schoemaker | Documentary | 13’45’’
On the canals of Groningen, seventy-year-old Rita has been organizing klaverjas competitions for years. Her door is open to everyone, as long as you don't cancel at the last minute and can lose like a winner.
Jan Rekelhof | Live-Action | 10’00’’
Florian tries to impress his in-laws during a Christmas dinner, which turns into a disaster.
Naomi Noir | Animation | 09’06’’
Mary can't catch a break. Fusing motherhood with being a full-time carer for her disabled son has her up to her ears in red tape, barely keeping afloat. A surreal situation is looming.
Lidewij Hartog | Documentary | 13’12’’
What if everything you thought you knew was just the beginning?
Develop is a short documentary about Ydwer van der Heide. During a surfing accident, Ydwer became paralyzed from the waist down. But if water is such a vital part of your life and identity, how do you give new meaning to this relationship? This film documents an intimate personal journey, through relationships, the body and photography.