42 Best Films from the Gouden Kalf Awards

In 1920s Germany, two sisters, separated shortly after their last parent's death – Lotte sent to live with her Dutch aunt in Holland, Anna to work on her uncle’s farm – experience the impact of World War II on their…

This romantic comedy weaves together several Christmas stories exploring themes of life, love, forgiveness, and kindness. A charming homeless man unexpectedly becomes a TV star as "Santa Claws," while a prince takes on an ordinary job in a department store…

A photographer and explorer, Felice Beato, journeys back to Japan in 1895 to find his former wife, O-Kiku. In a letter to his brother, he expresses his deep longing for her and his feelings of powerlessness in a rapidly changing…

When a local shopkeeper is found dead, three ordinary women in a small town unexpectedly commit a shocking crime, drawing them into a complex investigation. Dr. Elizabeth Kramer, a psychiatrist, is brought in to understand the women's motives and their…

Two brothers are separated when one experiences mental health challenges. Separately, one brother pursues his ambition to become a magician.

Joy, an emotionally scarred 18-year-old who was abandoned at birth, has spent her life moving between foster homes. Now living on the margins of society, she survives on public assistance and supplements her income playing the accordion in the subway.…

Rex and Saskia take a break from their busy lives for a relaxing vacation. Their peaceful trip is interrupted when Saskia disappears during a stop at a service station. Years later, with no news of her, Rex begins receiving unsettling…

"Love is the only thing subject to negotiation" is the feature film debut, showing an admiration for the strict filmmaking style of Straub and Zwartjes. "KYODAI MAKES THE BIG TIME" generated significant discussion in the Netherlands after winning the Golden…

In a quiet European town, the community's survival hinges on its struggling factory. The arrival of American investors sparks a sudden wave of optimism and ambition among the townspeople.

This film is based on a true story of a major corruption scandal in the Netherlands. It exposes the devastating impact of corruption on law enforcement and criminals alike. A young police officer is pressured to get information from a…

A mysterious wanderer infiltrates the privileged world of a wealthy family, subtly unraveling their lives and plunging them into a disturbing psychological turmoil.

This new version of "The Tempest" offers a fresh take on Shakespeare's story. Prospero, an exiled magician portrayed with depth and charisma, sees an opportunity for revenge on those who betrayed him. But his plans are complicated when his daughter…

Abel, a 31-year-old with severe social anxiety, unexpectedly begins a journey of self-discovery and friendship in this quirky comedy. His father, Victor, tries various treatments to help him, then brings Christine, a friend with unusual teaching methods, into their home.…

Two friends from childhood are recruited to carry out a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.

A man in his thirties, content with a relaxed existence, has his world disrupted when he develops feelings for his sister’s teenage babysitter.

A cat who transforms into a young woman teams up with a journalist to defend their town from a factory owner with a sinister scheme.

A quiet gay dentist and a charming bar owner reconnect after ten years. Their chance meeting is complicated when the bar owner reveals he is seriously ill.

When Nicolai unexpectedly reconnects with Nina, a friend from his past, he's drawn back to a derelict hotel. It's the place where he once lived his only love, a love marked by tragedy and intense emotion.

Six people, each from different countries, find their lives intertwined in Amsterdam, the city they've all made their new home.

Hans: Life Before Death is a documentary about the life of Hans van Sweeden (1939-1963), a young composer, poet, and actor, as seen through the eyes of those who knew him well. The film explores his difficult life, which tragically…

Jade, a vibrant young mother, suffers a severe acid attack that leaves her with life-altering facial scars, despite reconstructive surgery. As her relationships fall apart, Jade spirals into despair and considers extreme measures to regain control of her life.

A young girl tries to convince her critical mother that she can train the lovable but mischievous piglet she receives as a birthday present from her eccentric grandfather.

In the harsh, unforgiving Old West, Liz is a resilient woman relentlessly pursued by a vengeful preacher who believes she is guilty of a crime she did not commit.

Kenza lives with her father, Ouira, a practical police officer, and her grandfather, Weljo, who embraces the island's spiritual heritage, on a car wrecking yard in rural Curaçao. The two men are very different, and their contrasting views begin to…

Set in the Dutch countryside during the late 1920s, the story follows a man deeply involved in his community. He has an affair with his friend's wife while she is imprisoned. Their passionate relationship has serious consequences when she leaves…

During a violent medieval period marked by plague and war, a band of seasoned mercenaries sets out to get revenge on a nobleman who refuses to pay them. Their quest for vengeance escalates when they kidnap the nobleman's son's fiancée,…

Fermin, living in hiding in the subway, emerges as his country transitions from dictatorship to democracy, but the new freedom leaves him lost. At the police station, he is completely unknown, having no memory of his own name. Authorities assign…

Frits Egters struggles to find his place in the world. A thoughtful and emotionally aware young man, he's become jaded after experiencing disappointment. Frits believes life holds deeper meaning, but he's unsure how to discover it.

Fifteen-year-old Dolf is accidentally sent back to the Middle Ages via a time machine. He's rescued by a group of children participating in a children's crusade heading to Jerusalem. As the journey progresses, Dolf discovers the greatest threat to the…

Anne watches from her empty apartment window as strangers take the items she's placed on the sidewalk. Removing a ring signifies her departure from her life in Holland. She travels to Ireland, choosing a solitary, nomadic life as she walks…

This film follows writer Inez Dullemen as she navigates the demanding journey of watching her parents age, experience decline, and eventually pass away. The story unfolds through her perspective, depicting the gradual deterioration, the effects of dementia, and the ultimate…

Abel is wrongly accused after a prank by Laura, leading to him being withdrawn from school and working as a lift-boy. This isn't just any lift; a green button transports him, Laura, Jozias Tump, and Maria Klaterhoen to Manhattan. Abel…

Ingrid Jonker navigated the harsh realities of Apartheid, all while grappling for a sense of belonging and love under the shadow of her father's censorship. Though she found affection with figures like Jack Cope and André Brink, she never truly…

In pre-World War II Holland, a young man born out of wedlock to a wealthy but cold bailiff strives to overcome his illegitimate birth and gain his father's respect by becoming a lawyer. The film explores themes of determination, family,…

During World War II in Nazi-occupied Netherlands, a Jewish singer goes undercover at the local Gestapo headquarters, working with the Dutch resistance.

A father and son navigate a harsh existence as modern-day outsiders in the struggling southern Dutch province of Limburg, bound by an intense and overwhelming familial love.

A Dutch television journalist clashes with the police, the courts, and the press as he investigates the disputed 1999 murder in Deventer, determined to reveal the truth.

This costume drama tells the story of a writer and a socialist politician navigating a complicated marriage amidst turbulent times. The film is set in a Frisian-speaking region.

Martijn reconnects with his sister Daantje in Amsterdam as she embraces independent living. After years apart, he decides to film her life, documenting her experiences through a documentary. The film explores trust, vulnerability, and family relationships as seen through Daantje's…

This is a story about a young girl who discovers the game of chess. As she learns to play, she unexpectedly begins a journey to find her father.

During World War II in the Netherlands, banker Walraven van Hall is approached to use his financial connections to aid the Dutch resistance. He and his brother Gijs devise a dangerous plan: to secure large loans and funnel the funds…

Poet Valentijn Boecke reconnects with his former teacher, Mieke, and they begin a brief relationship. Soon after, Mieke reveals she is pregnant. Valentijn, however, ends the relationship and leaves her.