Oscar-winning filmmaker Mike van Diem opens Pulling Focus: NL 2026 on Sunday 1 February – an industry day at IFFR 2026 celebrating Dutch cinema’s international reach.
Van Diem’s career spans from his Student Academy Award-winning graduation film Alaska (1989) to his Oscar-winning feature Character (IFFR 1998). His latest work Voor de Meisjes – a €6.5m Dutch-Austrian-Belgian co-production – won three Golden Calves and became 2025’s most-visited Dutch film.
This free session is open to the general public with reservation. The afternoon features NL Wave project presentations and launches the Dutch Talent Market, connecting international producers with below-the-line professionals.
The afternoon concludes with the Big Talk: A Queer Family Affair at 17.00 with John Lithgow and the Dutch cast of Jimpa, exploring cross-cultural collaboration and chosen family – audiences and badge-holders must pre-book.
