Shorts
In Development

With Pitou Nicolaes, Fay IJsseldijk, Phedra Vandenbergh, Annemarie Feltmann, Ko Zandvliet, Guido Pollemans en Rogier Schippers
Cinematography / Sam du Pon
Editor / Nina Graafland
Sound / Gedeon Depauw
Music / Pitou Nicolaes
Production Design / Iris Schuttevaar
Costume / Gera Brouwer
Make-up & Hair / Rianne Bakker
Gaffer / Berend Holtkamp
VFX / Gert-Jan Verdeyen
Grading / Peter Bernaers
First AD / Sander Donker
Line Producer / Steffie Meijers
Producers / Janneke Doolaard, Sylvia Baan
Supported by the Netherlands Film Fund, Flandres Audiovisual Fund and Cultuurfonds 's-Hertogenbosch
Barlebas
Written & directed by Malu Janssen
Produced by DOXY / FIXY - the Netherlands
Co-produced by Storyhouse - Belgium
20 min.
Main role & music by PITOU NICOLAES
Barlebas depicts the last days in the life of the headstrong woman Heylken (28). She is accused of witchcraft, just as she was about to leave her village for good. But while Heylken never gets to leave, she inspires young girl Griet (12) with her free spirit and powerful voice.
An experimental musical period drama, set around 1595, centered on the persecution of witches in the Dutch South.
Review by Talking Shorts:
Festival selections:
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Imagine Film Festival, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Premiere: 27 october 2024
WON: Mélies d'Argent for Best European Short
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Leuven International Short Film Festival, Leuven, Belgium, dec '24 - European Competition (Academy Award qualifying)
WON: Audience Award for Best European Short
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WENCH film festival, Mumbai, India, feb '25, Shorts competition
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International Film Festival Assen, The Netherlands, mar '25
WON: KersVers Award for best film -
Landshut Short Film Festival, Germany, mar '25, Deadline Competition
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Movies That Matter Film Festival, The Hague, The Netherlands, mar '25, Shorts competition
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L'Europe autour de L'Europe, Paris, France, apr '25, Short Film competition
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Porto Femme International Film Festival, Porto, Portugal, apr '25, international shorts competition
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Bref International Short Film Festival, Aosta, Italy, apr '25, Fight For Your Rights! competition
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Festival Internacional de Cine de Huesca, Spain, jun '25, International competition (Academy Award qualifying)
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The Norwegian Short Film Festival, Grimstad, Norway, jun '25, International competition (Academy Award qualifying)
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Nederlands-Vlaams Kortfilmfestival Tegenstroom, Terneuzen, The Netherlands, jun '25, in competition





