Still: Eel's Journey - Hans Dortmans

Three films in the Dutch line-up are in the international competition and Eel's Journey** is one of them. With the eel facing extinction, the search for the mystery of its reproduction takes on a new urgency in this film, directed by Hans Dortmans and produced by DOXY Films.

The second Dutch contender in the international competition is The Propagandist** (prod. Docmakers) by Luuk Bouwman. 'What drove filmmaker Jan Teunissen (1898-1975) to become head of the Dutch Nazi Party's Film Department during World War II?' Is the main question behind the intriguing work. It was part of IDFA last year where it won the IDFA Award for Best Dutch Film. We spoke to Bouwman in the run up to IDFA, you can read the interview here.

Last international competition contestant at Docville is Dutch co-production (Basalt Film) Flophouse America*. Monica Strømdahl's first documentary is world premiering at CPH:DOX this month. The film follows Mikal as he navigates a childhood marked by poverty, substance abuse, and instability.

The North Sea** by Mark Verkerk is joining the ScienceVille for kids section. Verkerk is known for his nature documentaries about the Dutch nature and his work has already been screened at Docville several times. In his new film he takes the viewer on a journey (as the title states) under the waves of the North Sea.

In the same section is The Invisible Ones** by Martijn Blekendaal. His film, where Blekendaal sets out to create a superhero for children for whom remaining invisible has proved to be a necessity throughout their young lives, received a special mention in the IDFA Competition for Youth Documentary (9-12) last year. SEE NL spoke to the Dutch director before IDFA. The Invisible Ones is produced by Cerutti Film.

VR doc Shelter* by Sjors Swierstra & Ivana Khitsinska is part of the war & conflict section. It recently got selected for SXSW. We interviewed Swierstra about the work that offers an intimate look at the war in Ukraine.

Find out more about Docville here.

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*Film is supported by the Netherlands Film Fund
**Film is supported by the Production Incentive