Mijke de Jong

Last updated
Mijke de Jong
Mijke de Jong - Along the Way - IFFR 2022 (1).jpg
Born (1959-09-23) 23 September 1959 (age 64)
Rotterdam, Netherlands
NationalityDutch
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter and producer

Mijke de Jong (born 23 September 1959) is a Dutch film director, screenwriter and producer. She is known for creating films such as Bluebird (2004), Frailer (2014), Layla M. (2016) and God Only Knows (2019). Layla M. was selected as the 2018 Dutch entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.

Contents

Early life

De Jong was born on 23 September 1959 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. [1] She moved in 1978 to Amsterdam, where she studied at the Netherlands Film Academy. [2] During her time as a student at the Netherlands Film Academy she was part of the Dutch radical activist group “Onkruit”. The group aimed its actions against the army, nuclear weapons and the weapons industry in general; they fought for an open (military) policy. She had to quit participating in order to remain a student at the Film Academy. [2]

Career

The themes in the films that De Jong directs relate to everyday life in society. Her work centres on topics including bullying, family problems, feeling as though you do not belong, and death. She portrays emotions that accompany these struggles. Her filming techniques are seemingly similar to the filming of a documentary. She uses many close-ups of the actors. [1]

Mijke de Jong joined a project funded by the Netherlands Film Fund (Nederlands Filmfonds). [3] With this project, filmmakers try to tighten the bonds with other film countries. This policy plan is intended to fill the financial gaps that small film productions have to deal with, to promote the Dutch scene as a place for filming and to create more opportunities for national actors. [3] In 2018, de Jong served on the jury for the Shooting Stars Award. [4]

Selected films

Layla M. (2016) is about a young Moroccan woman (played by Nora El Koussour) who was born and raised in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Against the wishes of her parents, she finds herself engaging more and more in radical Islamic activities and eventually flees to Jordan. [5] The film was selected as the Dutch entry for the 2018 Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. [6]

Stages (Dutch: Tussenstand) (2007) represents the story of Isaac (Stijn Koomen), a child of divorced parents (Elsie de Brauw and Marcel Musters). Isaac is a very reserved person who does not speak much. His parents are concerned about his behaviour and decide to have a talk about him over dinner. This however leads to heated discussions about personal issues, resulting in disagreeing about everything the other has to say. [7]

Bluebird (2004) is a film made for television about bullying. Thirteen year old Merel (Elske Rotteveel) is a smart girl living in Rotterdam who is devoted to taking care of her disabled younger brother. This gives her classmates a reason to make fun of her. [8]

Broos (1997) is about five sisters (played by Marnie Blok, Lieneke le Roux, Maartje Nevejan, Leonoor Pauw and Adelheid Roosen) who come together to think of a present for the anniversary of their parents. Before being turned into a movie, this story had already being released in theatre in 1995. [9]

Love Hurts (Dutch: Hartverscheurend) (1993) tells the story of Loe (Marieke Heebink) and Bob (Mark Rietman), who are in a relationship but differ in many ways. The story takes place in Amsterdam during the 1990s and the film contains themes of conflict, love, race, change and commitment. It was written by Jan Eilander and Mijke de Jong. [10]

Filmography

YearTitleFunctionNotes
2022 Modern Love Amsterdam Director2 episodes
2019 God Only Knows Director & ScreenwriterWinner of one Golden Calf award [11]
2016 Layla M. Director & ScreenwriterSelected as the Dutch entry for the 2018 Academy Award for Best International Feature Film [6]
Winner of two Golden Calf awards. [12] [13]
2016Stop Acting NowDirector & ScreenwriterA collaboration with Wunderbaum theatre collective. [14]
2015FiftyfiftyDirector [15]
2014 Brozer (Frailer)Director & Screenwriter [15]
2010 Joy DirectorNominated for seven Golden Calves, won three. [16]
2008 Katia's Sister (Het zusje van Katia)DirectorWinner of the Golden Calf for Best Script and the Golden Calf for Best Supporting Actress. [17]
2007Tussenstand (Stages)Director & ScreenwriterThree Golden Calfs (Gouden Kalf) with Stages (Tussenstand), including best director. [18]
2005AllerzielenDirectorShort Film [15]
2004 Bluebird DirectorTelevision film. Selected as the Dutch entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 78th Academy Awards [19]
2001UitgeslotenDirector [15]
1999LopenDirector & Screenwriter [15]
1999KussenScreenwriter [15]
1998Het labyrintDirectorThirteen part television series [20]
1997 De gordel van smaragd Screenwriter [15]
1997 Broos (Frail)Director & ScreenwriterAll five actresses won the Golden Calf for Best Actress [12]
1996Lieve AisjaDirector, Screenwriter & Producer [15]
1995StillsDirector & ScreenwriterShort Film [15]
1995Frans en DuitsScreenwriter [15]
1994The Four A.M. FeedDirector [15]
1994Still youDirector [15]
1993 Hartverscheurend (Love Hurts)Director & ScreenwriterAt the Netherlands Film Festival, de Jong was awarded the Prijs van de Nederlandse Filmkritiek. [21]
1989 In krakende welstand Director & ScreenwriterDe Prijs van de stad Utrecht at the Netherlands Film Festival. [1]

Awards

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinema of the Netherlands</span> Filmmaking industry in Netherlands

Cinema of the Netherlands refers to the film industry based in the Netherlands. Because the Dutch film industry is relatively small, and there is little or no international market for Dutch films, almost all films rely on state funding. This funding can be achieved through several sources, for instance through the Netherlands Film Fund or the public broadcast networks. In recent years the Dutch Government has established several tax shelters for private investments in Dutch films.

<i>Bluebird</i> (2004 film) 2004 film

Bluebird is a 2004 Dutch television film directed by Mijke de Jong. It is the first in a trilogy of films made by de Jong about young women becoming adults. The film was selected by the Netherlands as its official Foreign Language Film submission for the 78th Academy Awards, but was disqualified by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences because it had been shown on television.

Music Center the Netherlands (MCN) is an organization that promotes and archives Dutch professional music. It aims to strengthens the position of Dutch music and music culture in the Netherlands and abroad. It organizes events and informative meetings, workshops, courses; publishes promotional CDs; and attends international music fairs and conventions. It is financially supported by the Dutch government.

Squatter's Delight or In Krakende Welstand is a 1990 Dutch drama film directed by Mijke de Jong. It was written by de Jong and Jan Eilander. The film was de Jong's first and she won the prize of the city of Utrecht at the Netherlands Film Days.

Love Hurts is a 1993 Dutch drama film directed by Mijke de Jong. At the 1993 Netherlands Film Festival, de Jong won the Prijs van de Nederlandse Filmkritiek for the film.

Broos (Frail) is a 1997 Dutch film directed by Mijke de Jong. It is based on a play, in which five sisters meet up to record a message for their parents' 40th wedding anniversary. The film was shot on location in 14 days with backing from the Netherlands Film Fund.

The Cinekid Festival is the largest international film, television and new media festival for children aged 4 to 14 held at the Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It started as a small children's film festival and has now grown into a large organisation that develops activities for children in the areas of film, television and new media throughout the year. These activities are presented alongside the festival, whereas the festival itself screens films from all over the world and a selection of the best television programs for children. It also organises several new media activities. Each year the festival is attended by over 50,000 children, parents and (international) guests.

Hetty Naaijkens-Retel Helmrich raised in the Netherlands, is the director of Scarabeefilms (Netherlands). She has produced several award-winning documentaries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ShortCutz Amsterdam</span> Annual film festival held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

ShortCutz Amsterdam is an annual film festival promoting short films in Amsterdam, Netherlands held the whole year through.

<i>Layla M.</i> 2016 film

Layla M. is a 2016 Dutch drama film directed by Mijke de Jong. It stars Nora El Koussour as Layla, a young Dutch woman of Moroccan background who rebels against her family and schooling to become an Islamic fundamentalist. As in other films by de Jong, the focus is on a strong-willed young woman growing up. In Layla M., de Jong and her collaborator Jan Eilander wanted to examine the radicalisation of European youngsters. The writers were inspired by a real life account; they wrote the script during the Arab Spring and the trial of Geert Wilders.

<i>Joy</i> (2010 film) 2010 Dutch film

Joy is a 2010 Dutch drama film directed by Mijke de Jong. The film premiered on 14 February 2010 at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film follows an orphaned young woman searching for her biological mother. It was the third in a trilogy of films in which de Jong followed a young female character as she became an adult.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elsie de Brauw</span> Dutch actress

Elsie de Brauw is a Dutch actress.

<i>God Only Knows</i> (2019 film) 2019 Dutch film

God Only Knows is a 2019 Dutch language arthouse film written and directed by Mijke de Jong. The film stars Marcel Musters as a mentally ill man, with Monic Hendrickx and Elsie de Brauw as his two sisters. Musters won a Golden Calf for Best Actor for his role.

<i>Katias Sister</i> Dutch film

Katia's Sister is a 2008 film directed by Mijke de Jong. It was adapted by Jan Eilander and Jolien Laarman from a 2001 novel written by Andrés Barba. The film premiered at the Netherlands Film Festival and won two Golden Calf awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcel Musters</span> Dutch actor

Marcel Musters is a Dutch actor.

<i>The Marriage Escape</i> 2020 Dutch film directed by Johan Nijenhuis

The Marriage Escape is a 2020 Dutch comedy-drama film directed by Johan Nijenhuis. The film is an adaptation of the 2016 Czech film Tiger Theory, and it is the first cinema film predominantly spoken in the Tweants variety of Low Saxon, although the title is in Dutch.

<i>Life as It Should Be</i> 2020 Dutch film directed by Ruud Schuurman

Life as It Should Be is a 2020 Dutch film directed by Ruud Schuurman. The film is based on the book of the same name by Dutch model, writer and host Daphne Deckers.

<i>Pirates Down the Street</i> 2020 Dutch film directed by Pim van Hoeve

Pirates Down the Street is a 2020 Dutch film directed by Pim van Hoeve. The film is based on the children's book of the same name written by Reggie Naus.

<i>Casanovas</i> 2020 Dutch film directed by Jamel Aattache

Casanova's is a 2020 Dutch film directed by Jamel Aattache. The film won the Golden Film award after having sold 100,000 tickets. It was the sixth highest-grossing Dutch film of 2020. It was also the seventh best visited Dutch film of 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Kortum, Evelien. "Op scherp: Mijke de Jong". VPRO (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  2. 1 2 Ede Botje, Harm and Sander Donkers. “Filmmaakster Mijke de Jong, nog altijd trots Archived 2016-11-17 at the Wayback Machine ”. Vrij Nederland. August 23, 2008.
  3. 1 2 Willems, Gertjan (2016). Over grenzen kijken. Het internationaliseringsbeleid van het Nederlands Filmfonds en de samenwerking met Vlaanderen. Ons Erfdeel, vol. 59 (nr. 3), pp. 131.
  4. "EFP Announces the Jury for the 21st Edition of EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS in 2018". European Film Promotion. 22 December 2017. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  5. Tobias, Scott, Toronto Film Review: Layla M. Archived 2017-11-26 at the Wayback Machine , Variety (September 9, 2016).
  6. 1 2 Keslassy, Elsa (5 September 2017). "Mijke de Jong's 'Layla M.' Is Dutch Entry in Foreign-Language Oscar Race". Variety. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  7. Verstraten, Peter, Humour and Irony in Dutch Post-War Fiction Film. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press (2016) 131/132.
  8. Foundas, Scott (2004-10-05). "Review: 'Bluebird'". Variety. Archived from the original on 2016-12-30. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
  9. Elley, Derek, “Frail (Broos)”, Variety, March 30 – April 5 (1998) 67.
  10. Rooney, David, “Hartverscheurend (Love Hurts)”, Variety, February 21 – February 24 (1994) 49.
  11. "Beste Acteur ⋆ Nederlands Film Festival". Nederlands Film Festival (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  12. 1 2 "Beste Actrice ⋆ Nederlands Film Festival". Nederlands Film Festival (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  13. "Beste Mannelijke Bijrol ⋆ Nederlands Film Festival". Nederlands Film Festival (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  14. Levine, Sydney (7 December 2017). "Oscar® Entry from The Netherlands, 'Layla M', an Interview with Writer-Director Mijke de Jong". Medium. Sydney's Buzz. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Mijke de Jong - vpro cinema". VPRO (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  16. "Joy ⋆ Nederlands Film Festival". Nederlands Film Festival (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  17. "Gelijkspel bij uitreiking Gouden Kalveren". Parool (in Dutch). 4 October 2008. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  18. De wereld draait door. ‘Mijke de Jong Archived 2016-11-16 at the Wayback Machine ’. Vara.
  19. "The blue bird will not fly". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  20. "Mijke de Jong: Acteurs moeten vrijheid hebben". Filmkrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  21. "Prijs van de Nederlandse Filmkritiek ⋆ Nederlands Film Festival". Nederlands Film Festival (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  22. "Beste Regie ⋆ Nederlands Film Festival". Nederlands Film Festival (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  23. 1 2 "Prijs van de Nederlandse Filmkritiek ⋆ Nederlands Film Festival". Nederlands Film Festival (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  24. "Katia's Sister (Het Zusje Van Katia)". Walker Art Center. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  25. "Love hurts". SNG Film. Retrieved 12 April 2020.