The Club of Ugly Children is a cinematic universe for the whole family, inspired by the children’s book by Koos Meinderts. At first glance it’s an action-filled adventure. At the same time it symbolizes the persecution of Jews in World War II, with striking parallels to the present. Sold to 34 countries with an accompanying education package.
The Club of Ugly Children (2019)
Paul is an eleven-year-old boy with big protruding ears. One day he suddenly has to go on a school trip. Paul soon discovers he is being locked up with hundreds of other children because he is “ugly.” The angry president Isimo wants to “clean up” the country. But Paul manages to escape and forms a secret club to fight back.
In addition to a Golden Film for more than 100,000 cinema visitors in the Netherlands, the film was selected for 56 international film festivals, winning 24 awards, most often for Best Film, Best Script, Best Director and the Audience Award.
DIRECTOR Jonathan Elbers SCREENPLAY Tijs van Marle, Eveline Hagenbeek, Jeroen Margry, Reinier Noordzij, Pasja van Dam. INSPIRED BY THE BOOK BY Koos Meinderts CAST Narek Awanesyan, Rosaline Lantink, Laura van Der Meché, Joshua Halman, Marije Zuurveld, Buddy Vedder, Roeland Fernhout, and more.
With the imprisonment of the ugly children fresh in everyone’s minds, the city is split to the core. It’s clear this must never happen again. But whose fault was it? And who should pay? The beautiful and the ugly grow further apart until they decide to build a wall straight through the city, demanding each group live on opposite sides. Paul’s parents are divorcing and each moves to a different side. It doesn’t go well for long: prosperity reigns on his mother and sister’s side, while his father’s side falls into decay. His father barely has food to eat… and the gate between the two parts locks shut. No one can cross anymore. To save his father—or is it a last attempt to bring his parents back together?—Paul decides to dig a tunnel under the wall. A dangerous plan, as a secret civil police strictly patrol both sides to keep them apart.
This sequel is a thrilling spy story for kids. It’s also inspired by true events surrounding the Berlin Wall, with striking parallels to the many fences and walls still dividing our world today.
This project is still in development.
Parallel to the film’s theatrical release, NPO 3 (Zapp) aired the drama series The Coup. A group of children are taken hostage during the recording of The Face—a talent show where the person with the best performance wins, even though the jury cannot hear the contestants. This prequel shows how President Isimo seizes this hostage situation to come to power. At first glance the series is an action-packed, humorous adventure. It’s also inspired by the Reichstag fire, which Hitler used to grab power. The series can be watched on its own or together with the film.
DIRECTOR JONATHAN ELBERS SCREENPLAY TIJS VAN MARLE, EVELINE HAGENBEEK, JEROEN MARGRY, REINIER NOORDZIJ, PASJA VAN DAM. INSPIRED BY THE BOOK BY KOOS MEINDERTS CAST NAREK AWANESYAN, ROSALINE LANTINK, LAURA VAN DER MECHÉ, JOSHUA HALMAN, MARIJE ZUURVELD, BUDDY VEDDER, ROELAND FERNHOUT, AND MORE.
The universe of The Club of Ugly Children already began in 2012, when the short film of the same name premiered at a sold-out Koninklijk Theater Carré. This film academy graduation project served as a teaser to kickstart the cinematic universe. Over time, two mobile games, three tracks by Kevin de Gier, Emma Heesters, Stefania Liberakakis, and Jayh Jawson with accompanying music videos (together over 3 million views), and several web series and vlogs were released. Two lesson plans were also developed for schools to raise awareness among students about appearance, social media, discrimination, World War II, and modern totalitarian regimes. All to deepen and spread the story and message of The Club of Ugly Children.
Beyond the cinematic world, children could also join The Club of Ugly Children in real life. Tens of thousands signed up and got the chance to appear in the film, access exclusive content (contests like “who can make the ugliest face?”), give feedback on the film, create and film materials that ended up in the movie, discuss the film’s themes, and of course attend the premiere.
At first unsettling, (…) a celebration of diversity
An enthusiastic cast (…) a lovingly made film about discrimination and civil disobedience (…) with humor and suspense
This film tackles an important social theme in a way that appeals to both young and old, with visual effects adding an extra layer to the story.
In the TV program The Amsterdam Project, host Beau van Erven Dorens makes a unique offer to five people experiencing homelessness: they receive a debit card loaded with €10,000 and access to a team of support workers they can call day and night. Can these five people get their lives back on track? We follow them for a year.
The Amsterdam Project averaged 1 million viewers per episode and won several major Dutch television awards (including 2 TV Beelden). It inspired Dutch municipalities to change their approach to homelessness for good.
The Amsterdam Project was followed by The Rotterdam Project, The Berlin Project, and Project Axel. Options were also sold in the United States, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, and Spain.
Represented by CAA (Creative Artists Agency). Co-produced with Kale Jakhals.
In the first season in Amsterdam, Gerrie, Lolle, Alan, Marco, and Cheyenne receive a unique chance from host Beau van Erven Dorens to get their lives back on track: a team of support workers and €10,000.
The program was nominated for a Silver Nipkowschijf and won the TV Beelden for Best New Format and Best Reality.
In the second season in Rotterdam, Soufyan (20), Stephany (24) and her newborn son, Patrick (43), Hilde (54), and Yvar (28) are given a unique chance by host Beau van Erven Dorens: a team of support workers and €10,000.
More than 1.2 million viewers watched this program.
PRESENTATOR Beau van Erven Dorens PARTNERS RTL en Kale Jakhals.
In Das Berlin Projekt, five people experiencing homelessness in Germany receive a unique opportunity from host Tim Niedernolte: a team of support workers and €10,000.
In Project Axel, five people experiencing homelessness from Belgium receive a unique chance in Berlin from host Axel Daeseleire: a team of support workers and €10,000.
Impressive, brutally honest, and hopeful
Beau draws 1.2 million viewers
To end the polarization in our country, every Dutch citizen may vote weekly for the person who least deserves a place in our society. The “winner” with the most votes is declared fair game, and whoever succeeds in executing them wins a year of immunity and pays no taxes.
When pathologist Salman Seger is brought on national television to determine the cause of death after one of the executions, he turns out to be a natural. At first, Salman enjoys his new celebrity status, but then a viral video puts his own son at the top of the Kill List…
To end the polarization in our country, every Dutch citizen may vote weekly for the person who least deserves a place in our society. The “winner” with the most votes is declared fair game, and whoever succeeds in executing them wins a year of immunity and pays no taxes.
When pathologist Salman Seger is brought on national television to determine the cause of death after one of the executions, he turns out to be a natural. At first, Salman enjoys his new celebrity status, but then a viral video puts his own son at the top of the Kill List…
DIRECTORS Edson da Conceicao and Timo Ottevanger, SCREENPLAY Paul de Vrijer, CAST Nasrdin Dchar, Victoria Koblenko, Meral Polat, Souhail Attahiri, Ronnie Flex, Peter Pannekoek, Isa Hoes, Abbey Hoes, and more.
In co-production with Shooting Star Filmcompany. The Conductor is based on the true story of Antonia Brico from the Netherlands. In the late 1920s she became the first female conductor in the world to successfully lead major symphony orchestras. Until recently, it was rare for women to reach the top ranks of the world’s leading conductors. This year, the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra appointed a female chief conductor for the first time in Dutch history: Karina Canellakis.
The Conductor was sold to more than 20 countries, screened in 5,000 Chinese cinemas, and achieved Golden Film status in the Netherlands with 150,000 visitors.
In co-production with Shooting Star Filmcompany. The Conductor is based on the true story of Antonia Brico from the Netherlands. In the late 1920s she became the first female conductor in the world to successfully lead major symphony orchestras. Until recently, it was rare for women to reach the top ranks of the world’s leading conductors. This year, the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra appointed a female chief conductor for the first time in Dutch history: Karina Canellakis.
The Conductor was sold to more than 20 countries, screened in 5,000 Chinese cinemas, and achieved Golden Film status in the Netherlands with 150,000 visitors.
WRITER AND DIRECTOR Maria Peters CAST Christianne de Bruijn, Benjamin Wainwright, Scott Turner Schofield, Gijs Scholten van Aschat, Annet Malherbe, Raymond Thiry, Richard Sammel, Seumas F Sargent, Sian Thomas, James Sobol Kelly, Peter Basham, Michael Watson-Gray, and Tim Ahern. IN CO-PRODUCTION WITH Shooting Star PARTNERS AVROTROS, Splendid Film, Menuetto, Filmfonds, CoBO, Abraham Tuschinski Fonds.
Co-production with Hazazah. In this tragicomic road movie, a grumpy old man begrudgingly drives his wife, who has dementia, to Spain to pay a last visit to a dying friend. In an old car with old road maps, the bickering couple drive across a completely changed Europe. Slowly, he thaws and learns to love again.
Release: Coming soon in cinemas.
Guilty Movie is about two friends, Peer (Sol Vinken) and Simon (Alex Hendrickx). As a tribute to their close friendship, the teenage boys make a film about their lives and record all their adventures. This innocent plan takes a gruesome turn when Simon dies in a car accident and the unstable Peer is left alone. A happy ending is no longer in the cards. Peer decides that a horrific attack is the best way to avenge his lonely existence and bring the film worldwide attention…
Guilty Movie was directed by five directors, each handling part of the film. The initiative for the film came from Katja Schuurman, Thijs Römer, Maarten van Huijstee, Femke Halsema, Raymond Spanjar, and Rob Wijnberg via Barnfilms. The film aired on RTL 4.
DIRECTORS Thijs Römer, Michel Sluysmans, Michiel ten Horn, Johan Timmers, and Arne Toonen. SCREENPLAY Thijs Römer and Michel Sluysmans. CAST Sol Vinken, Alex Hendrickx, Jet Gardner, Bas Keijzer, Raymond Thiry, Wil van der Meer, Loek Peters, Trudi Klever, Renée Fokker, and Dennis Rudge. IN CO-PRODUCTION WITH Barnfilms BARNFILMS Katja Schuurman, Femke Halsema, Raymond Spanjar, Maarten van Huijsstee, and Rob Wijnberg.
Sander (Tonko Bossen) hasn’t had it easy lately. He’s in love with Indra (Bente Fokkens), but it doesn’t seem mutual. What Sander doesn’t know is that Indra thinks he already has a girlfriend. Meanwhile, his best friends Chris (Joes Brauers) and Maarten (Timo Wils) start hanging out more with the unhinged Emiel (Tobias Kersloot). Sander tries to get along with Emiel to keep the group together, but it’s hard because Emiel is driving them apart. When Sander gets caught up in senseless violence, he must do everything he can to bring the truth to light—even if it costs him his friendship with Indra.
Kappen deals with the theme of senseless violence and is part of the popular Carry Slee series for teens. An educational package about senseless violence was developed around the film. The film was sold to 19 countries (including China).
DIRECTOR Tessa Schram SCREENPLAY Mirjam Oomkes and Maria Peters CAST Tonko Bossen, Bente Fokkens, Joes Brauers, Rimo Wils, and Tobias Kersloot. IN CO-PRODUCTION WITH Shooting Star PARTNERS KRO-NCRV, DFW, Filmfonds, CoBO, and Abraham Tuschinski Fonds
Co-production with Shooting Star Filmcompany. Casper (Gijs Blom) never knew his father and lives alone with his mother Marit (Birgit Schuurman). He loves to play the piano in his free time and is thrilled when he’s chosen as the pianist for a youth orchestra—especially when he befriends Anouk (Susan Radder), who understands what Casper is going through when he discovers his mother is seriously ill. Marit has cancer. Afraid of what might happen to her, Casper decides to search for his father with his best friend Pim (Massimo Pesik)…
Painkillers is part of the popular Carry Slee series for teens. With 160,000 cinema visitors, the film was awarded the Golden Film. An educational package was developed for secondary schools around the project.
DIRECTOR Tessa Schram SCREENPLAY Mirjam Oomkes and Maria Peters CAST Tonko Bossen, Bente Fokkens, Joes Brauers, Rimo Wils, and Tobias Kersloot. IN CO-PRODUCTION WITH Shooting Star PARTNERS KRO-NCRV, DFW, Filmfonds, CoBO, and Abraham Tuschinski Fonds
Everyone feels lonely sometimes. But what if you always feel lonely—if you’re socially left out? Presenter Rachel Rosier explores what that feels like. She follows five lonely young people who fight their loneliness with virtual reality and other forms of therapy.
This program was broadcast on NPO 3.
PARTNERS EO
An adventurous travel show in which Beau van Erven Dorens endures hardships you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. He walks 105 kilometers through a scorching desert, crawls deep underground through caves and caverns, and climbs the highest mountain outside the Himalayas. He also tries to survive six days in a jungle without food, water, fire, or light, and sails solo across the North Sea. And Beau wouldn’t be Beau without lots of long-distance swimming!
In collaboration with RTL Netherlands. Co-produced with Kale Jakhals.
HOST Beau van Erven Dorens PARTNERS RTL and Kale Jakhals.
Including 49 awards, notably for Best Film, Best Format, Best Script, and audience awards.
Umami’s productions have been sold to 71 countries, including China and the United States—either as tape-on-desk or local remakes.
Paying Dutch cinema visitors and linear TV viewers (avg. per season), excluding VOD, web, and international.
Co-producers in 6 countries we’ve collaborated with across various productions.
There are five tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami. The taste umami has a lot in common with how we work: umami enhances other flavors—just like we amplify the flavor of our talent. It’s no surprise umami is also available as an E-number (E621). Curious how umami tastes? Order a tube here.
Umami is the youngest taste: it was only discovered in 1908, many centuries after the other four. Japanese chemist Kikunae Ikeda discovered it while studying the taste of kombu seaweed. The name comes from the Japanese word for “deliciousness.”
Since our very first videos—with our parents’ camcorder and our friends in the lead roles—we are still, 25 years later, working on today’s productions with the same enthusiasm. What has grown with age is the need to tell stories that remain socially relevant.
That’s why we love working with inspiring creators who radiate joy and creativity and bring urgency to the stories they tell. This is how we create productions of lasting quality.
At first unsettling, (…) a celebration of diversity
Social engagement, genuine empathy, and exactly the right tone (…) You immediately want to know what happens next
The twist puts the protagonists in a situation that clarifies their character, deepens the storytelling, and brings us as viewers very close to them
