Dutch TV shingles crank up films

Variety, 27 February

IdtV, Holland's second-biggest TV production company, established a film arm in 1999 under the auspices of producer Anton Smit and current managing director Hanneke Niens, but it has recently taken some major steps to increase its film slate.

IdtV is the Continental subsidiary and prime mover behind the British outfit All3 Media's programming push into Europe. In November it announced a move into Germany and is now making some serious advances toward Belgium.

It is in late-stage negotiations to put the finishing touches on the launch of its newest outfit New Holland Pictures in Australia. That move is likely to make the biggest impact in terms of IdtV's expansion, especially in English-language film productions.

Shareholders in the new company will be IdtV Film, Smit, Dutch production company Fu Works and Brisbane-based outfit 4 Mats.

Among productions already earmarked to come out of the new Oz outfit are "The Afghan Bride," a remake of Karim Traidia's Dutch-lingo hit "The Polish Bride."

"We have six or seven co-production English-language films on the front burner -- they are just waiting for the joint venture to be signed off on," says IdtV CEO Frank de Jonge.

The film arm has racked up a number of credits, including Oscar-nommed "Twin Sisters," Golden Calf winner "Family," Dutch box office hit "Godforsaken" and "Cloaca," a 2003 pic that has since been adapted to English and was also directed by Kevin Spacey at London's Old Vic Theater.

Set to premiere in 2005 are "Alive" and "Cloaka" lenser Willem Van de Sande Bakhuyzen's "A Thousand Kisses," and in early 2006, Ben Sombogaart's "Bride Flight."