Waldstille selected for New Directors competition San Sebastian
Waldstille is Martijn Maria Smits' second feature and is produced by Stienette Bosklopper from Circe Films. Smits' debut feature C'est déjà l été* (2010) was selected for among others the Edinburgh International Film Festival, New Horizons - Wroclaw International Film Festival, Indielisboa and was nominated for a Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Waldstille tells the story of Ben who is sent to jail after causing a car accident that kills his girlfriend. When he returns to his hometown he has to face his in-laws, who gained custody of his daughter. They plan never to let Ben see his little girl again. But Ben is determined to make up for lost time with Cindy.
During the San Sebastian International Film Festival six other Dutch films and co-productions will also be presented. The minority Dutch co-production Oscuro Animal* by Colombian filmmaker Felipe Guerrero (NL co-producer: Viking Film) is selected for the Zabaltegi/Tabakalera competitive section. And the restrospective programme The Act of Killing: Cinema and Global Violence includes: El Olvido* by Heddy Honigmann (producer: Cobos Films) Paradise Now* by Hany Abu-Assad (producer: Augustus Film), Heli* by Amat Escalante (NL co-producer: Lemming Film), The Look of Silence by Joshua Oppenheimer and Sergei Loznitsa's Maidan* (NL co-producer: Atoms and Void).
The 64th edition of the San Sebastian International Film Festival takes place September 16 - 24: www.sansebastianfestival.com
*films have been supported by the Netherlands Film Fund.