Ultrashort 2025 - ‘Wad is, is nu’

I’m thrilled to announce that my proposal for an Ultrashort (2-minute) animation ‘Wad is, is nu’ is selected by the Dutch Filmfund.

Ultrashort is the competition for short animated films that offers filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their work — with an ultra-short runtime of up to two minutes — to a wide audience. This marks the sixth year that the Film Fund has collaborated with cinema operator Vue and the film theaters affiliated with the Dutch Film Theater Consultation (NFO). Together with these partners, the range and reach of Dutch animation talent have been expanded and renewed. Starting in the fall of 2025, the five Ultrashort animated films will be shown as pre-show features before major films in Vue cinemas, NFO theaters, and on Picl.

The film is about my favorite place in the Netherlands, the Waddenzee, which is also one of the most important areas for migratory birds on the East Atlantic Flyway. Millions of birds depend on its tidal flats, salt marshes, and sandbanks to rest and feed during their long journeys. What I find magical about this area is its ever-changing landscape. Every six hours, the tides completely transform the scenery.

The Wadden Sea faces serious threats, particularly from rising sea levels and drilling platforms. If the water rises too much, the sandbanks will disappear, and the birds will have nowhere to go. My love for this area together with my concerns inspired me for the story of my film ‘Wad is, is nu’.

The film is about a bird restaurant on a sandbar in the Wadden Sea that thrives to the rhythm of the tides, until a single footstep throws everything out of balance.

I’m beyond excited to make this film together with Valk Productions and 5AM Studios.