Nora plans to throw soup on a 19th-century painting to raise awareness for the climate crisis, but a imaginary talk with its long-dead artist makes her question why.
AWARE is a talent program for bold new filmmakers who don’t tick the usual boxes. No fancy degree or industry contacts? No problem. We back underrepresented makers with sharp ideas and strong voices. Over six months, participants develop a film plan, get hands-on training, and make it real: two short films of max 7 minutes, made from scratch. Along the way, they build a portfolio, a network, and learn a lot about the industry. We don’t ask for polished résumés—just vision, drive, and a story that needs to be told. AWARE exists to shake up the system and open doors that usually stay closed.
The AWARE 2025–2026 program is currently in progress. Applications for the 2026–2027 edition will open in the fall of 2026. You can find more information below (in Dutch).
Nora plans to throw soup on a 19th-century painting to raise awareness for the climate crisis, but a imaginary talk with its long-dead artist makes her question why.
On her Female Friendly Farm, Nicole is redefining sustainable dairy, until her bold new experiment spirals into an unexpectedly absurd twist.
Nine-year-old Tatiana happily translates from Dutch to Spanish for her mother until one day it leads to a devilish dilemma.
While organizing a surprise party for her mother, Celeste hopes to reunite her estranged family and reveal a painful secret, but buried tensions explode before the truth can.
When overworked Salma skips her son’s football practice for work, she’s confronted by his unexpected arrival and the emotional cost of always putting others first.
When genderqueer Jae tries to impress their distant mother by sharing the life they’ve built, the emotional distance proves harder to bridge than expected.
Amina is a strong woman who hides her vulnerability. During a weekend with Keke, who openly shares her emotions, she is pushed to step out of her comfort zone.
When Farid’s mother dies, he and his father Dariush must cope together. They’ve never been close, and playing his mother’s favourite song sparks an emotional outburst.