FOUNDER

ERIK DE BRUYN studied Sociology in Utrecht and Film Arts/ Masscommunication at the University of Amsterdam. His first, selfwritten feature film WILD MUSSELS was opening film at the Dutch Film Festival in 2000. The film was nominated for Best Script and Best Actor, it received the Dutch Film Critics Award of Best Film 2000, the Stimulation Award from the Amsterdam Arts Foundation and the YouthAward for Best Film. It won several other prizes such as the Russian Film Critic Award ‘ Best European Feature’, at the Internationals Film Festival in Moscow. NADINE, the second feature film was released in 2007, The film, starring Monic Hendrickx, Halina Reijn, Sanneke Bos, Fedja van Huet, was Opening Film at the International Mannheim Heidelberg Filmfestival. 2008 he directed an episode for the VPRO Doc Series IN EUROPA, followed by an episode for the BNNVARA crimeseries DEADLINE and in 2010 the 6 episode AVRO costumedrama about the 19th century Kings of Holland: THE THRONE. The third feature film, a comedy THE PRESIDENT was released in september 2011. It was awarded as Best Comedy Feature in Italy. His fourth feature J. KESSELS – a.k.a Road Duster- (2015) also won international awards ( f.e. Grand Award, Int. Motor Film Festival London) and so did his two Telefilms: THE HEART OF HADIAH TROMP (2017) and HOPE (2016), of which the first won eight International Awards. For television Erik also directed an episode for the TV series VAN GOD LOS ( episode “Kat in het Nauw”), 2 documentaries for the series Dutch Masters of the 21st Century: Portraits of artists PAUL KOOIKER and ERINGAVANKALSBEEK. And a musical documentary portrait of dutch/greek modern composer CALLIOPE TZOUPAKI. He made two music documentaries: GUITARBOYS (2013) and RACOON: BLUE DAYS, SONG DAYS (2014). In the same years he also directed three episodes for the popular tv series SMERIS and later CELBLOK H. 2019 he finished the work on the Dutch- Flemish coproduction mystery-thriller series GRENSLANDERS/FLOODLAND, on which he was not only director, but also co-writer, co-composer and showrunner. This series is now sold to Spain, Portugal, England, Ireland, Germany & Benelux and was seen on Amazon USA. End of 2019 he directed an item for National Geographic USA about the 2nd WorldWar. In 2021 he directed ZWANENSPRONG, a tv film based on a theatre-play. 2022 was there for writing&directing an episode (5) for the NTR History Doc Series: RAMPJAAR 1672.
Erik de Bruyn also has made several short films: SPRING SONG (2005) Nominated for the NPS Award. THE WITNESS ( Nominated as BEST SHORT Golden Calf 2006 and winner of the Best Short Film Award of the Italian Republic, IFF Montecatini). ZWART ZEEGOUD, a short doc. He also directed international commercials for amongst others Heineken, Smiths, Campina, Unilever, Dutch Taxes, KPN, Campina, Nastro Azurro, Costa Cruises and recently the new Jumbo Easter and Summer ’21.(For portfolio see ‘WORK’ section on the site www.erikdebruyn.nl

In addition to his direction work he is a scriptwriter and sometimes actor. He wrote several of his own movies, some scripts for others and for television. With editor JP Luijsterburg he forms the composing duo EDBJPL. See https://www.edbjpl.com. When not working he is a songwriter/singer for his band PEG WHALES (listen on Spotify).