IFFR's most loyal volunteer

On 7 December it is National Volunteer Day (Vrijwilligersdag) in the Netherlands and to celebrate we’re highlighting one of our most loyal volunteers: Louk Haffmans. Louk has visited every IFFR edition since 1972, and has been volunteering at the IFFR car service since his retirement in 2007. 49 years in, Louk shares some of his favourite IFFR anecdotes. 

With us from the start
“The reason why I really enjoy being part of IFFR has to do with the festival’s accessibility and atmosphere. The people you encounter are real enthusiasts, cinema fans and film fanatics, who want to immerse themselves in what is to come. Today 300,000 people visit this wonderful film festival, in the early years it was not so busy. In 1972, 17 people attended the opening film in Calypso (Postchi/The Postman by Iranian director Dariush Mehrjui) – including myself!” 

An IFFR driver with heart
“It all started at the main entrance of ‘de Doelen’, when I met a driver, Nico, who picked up a suitcase from a guest, and we started talking. He made me so enthusiastic that I immediately signed up as a volunteer the next day. I thought that being a chauffeur would be fun, and it was! Over the years I’ve driven many guests back-and-forth from airports to hotels, but I also did a lot of different things, such as going to Belgium to pick up a giant balloon. It turned out to be so large that it didn’t fit in the screening room. What struck me, in all those years, is that most of the festival guests are really devoted to IFFR. They think it’s the world’s best film festival, because the audience is massively present. It makes the festival stand out for them.”

All night long
“During one of the very first IFFR editions we watched several films back-to-back from 8:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.! We watched films straight through the whole night and ended up at the Hilton Hotel for a fantastic breakfast.”

Out for drinks with Hubert Bals
“I am lucky to have met Hubert Bals, the founder and first festival director. He devoted his soul to film and his heart to his fellow man. He did not like attention but wanted to bring film close to the people. He travelled all over the world to find films that came from distant, less-known areas. I remember the first edition after a film screening, Huub came in and asked us what we thought of it. One visitor joked: “It sucked, Huub!’ To which he responded: ‘Beer, anyone?’ So, we all went to the bar to drink a beer with him, 55 people.” 

Secret, pop-up oyster bar
“A long time ago, after the festival’s last screening, an SRV car (a supermarket on wheels) arrived at the Schouwburgplein. The owner, Walter, had converted it into an oyster bar. Crew, cast and audience then scampered out of the hall and into the oyster bar, where they ate, drank champagne,talked and made music well into the night, all thanks to Walter. This all took place in secret, of course, because the police didn’t approve. But we definitely saw one officer come in to enjoy a delicious oyster and a soda with us! You can still find Walter and his fresh oysters during the festival. He is no longer in the SRV car but travels with a small box on wheels. You can usually find him during the late hours at the Schouwburgplein (if he’s not been sent away).”

From driving directors to audience assistant
“My very last ride as part of the car service was to Amsterdam in 2017. I went to pick up two guests from the hotel and to my surprise I saw festival director Bero Beyer and then manager director Janneke Staarink waiting for me in the lobby, with a huge amount of luggage! In recent years, I have changed to a quieter job. I am not that young anymore and I started to dread getting up at 4:00 a.m. and then drive to Schiphol in the snow. I am now an audience assistant in the Oude Luxor, and I enjoy it very much. I hope to stay involved, at least until the 50th edition!”

Thanks Louk, for all your hard work, commitment and smiles over the years!