netherlands
TOPKAPI FILMS



Company Profile
Topkapi is an Amsterdam-based production company dedicated to new ways of storytelling since 1994. We create award-winning feature films and television drama for the international and Dutch market.
From fresh voices to established names, we’re proud to be working with amazing talent from around the world on stories in any shape or form.
Topkapi Films is run by producers Frans van Gestel, Arnold Heslenfeld and Laurette Schillings.
Titles succesfully produced and coproduced are CLOSE, CHILDHOOD DREAMS, THE TERRIBLE EIGHTIES, INSTINCT, GIRL, TAILGATE, ANOTHER ROUND, LAYLA M., A NOBLE INTENTION, LAND AND SHADE, BELGICA, ALL OF A SUDDEN, OUT OF LOVE and THE BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN.

Company Highlights
CLOSE 2022
Genre: Drama
Director: Lukas Dhont
Screenplay: Lukas Dhont & Angelo Tijssens
Cast: Eden Dambrine, Gustav De Waele, Émilie Dequenne
The intense friendship between two thirteen-year old boys Leo and Remi suddenly gets disrupted. Struggling to understand what has happened, Leo approaches Sophie, Remi’s mother. Close is a film about friendship and responsibility.
Cannes Film Festival 2022 – Winner Grand Prize of the Festival / Nominee Palme d’Or / Nominee Queer Palm
Academy Awards 2023 – Nominee International Feature Film
Golden Globes 2023 – Nominee Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language
European Film Awards 2022 – Nominee European Film / Nominee European Director / Nominee European Actor / Nominee European Screenwriter
César Awards 2023 – Nominee Best Foreign Film
Critics Choice Awards 2023 – Nominee Best Foreign Language Film
ANOTHER ROUND 2020
Genre: Drama
Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Screenplay: Thomas Vinterberg & Tobias Lindholm
Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Lars Ranthe, Magnus Millang
To escape everyday life, four friends start an experiment to uphold a constant level of intoxication. Enough to live life to the fullest. Until it all derails…
Academy Awards 2021 – Winner International Feature Film / Nominee Best Achieving in Directing
BAFTA Awards 2021 – Winner Best Film Not in the English Language / Nominee Best Leading Actor / Nominee Best Screenplay / Nominee Best Director
European Film Awards 2020 – Winner European Film / Winner European Director / Winner European Actor / Winner European Screenwriter
César Awards 2021 – Winner Best Foreign Film
Golden Globes 2021 – Nominee Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language
Critics Choice Awards 2021 – Nominee Best Foreign Language Film
INSTINCT 2019
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Director: Halina Reijn
Screenplay: Halina Reijn, Esther Gerritsen
Cast: Carice van Houten, Marwan Kenzari
Nicoline, an experienced psychologist, starts a new job at a penal institution. She meets Idris, a sex offender who committed a series of grave crimes. After five years of treatment, he is about to go on his first unaccompanied probation. His team of practitioners are enthusiastic about his development but newcomer Nicoline does not trust him and tries to push his probation. Idris tries his hardest to convince Nicoline of his good intentions, but slowly but surely, he transforms into the manipulative man she saw in him from the beginning. A power play emerges between the two and Nicoline, in spite of her knowledge and experience, lets herself be trapped completely.
Dutch Oscar entry 2019; Toronto International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival
Locarno International Film Festival (Winner Variety Piazza Grande Award, Special Mention),
Chicago International Film Festival, TOFIFEST International Film Festival, Misnk International Film Festival Kolkata International Film Festival, International Film Festival of India Goa, AFI European Union Film Showcase, Les Arcs Film Festival(Winner Cineuropa Award,
Young Jury Prize), Palm Springs International Film Festival, Goteborg International Film Festival Aswan International Women Film Festival, Philadelphia Film Society, Miami Film Festival,
Europe on Screen Film Festival, Days of European Film, FilmFest Munchen
Taipei Film Festival New Zealand International Film Festival.
TAILGATE 2019
Genre: Horror - Thriller
Director: Lodewijk Crijns
Screenplay: Lodewijk Crijns
Cast: Jeroen Spitzenberger, Anniek Pheifer, Roosmarijn van der Hoek, Liz Vergeer, Willem de Wolf
A family’s road trip ends in a mad run for their lives. When you tailgate, brace for impact.
Hans looks like a control freak, but is actually a very vulnerable guy. Under the pressure of his domineering mum to get home on time, he drives his family of four on the highway in a reckless way. His arrogance rubs another driver in a white van the wrong way and this man will stop at nothing to revenge.
International Sales : UK, France, Germany, Russia, Taiwan, Australia, Japan, China and South-Korea
GIRL 2018
Genre: Drama
Director: Lukas Dhont
Screenplay: Angelo Tijssens, Lukas Dhont
Cast: Victor Polster, Arieh Worthalter, Oliver Bodart, Tijmen Govaerts
Girl tells the story of 15-year-old Lara who wants to become a ballerina, with a classical training for female dancers. Lara is accepted in a ballet school and her dream seems closer than ever. But there is one problem: Lara was born into the body of a boy. A body that she will push to its limits in order for her to succeed.
Golden Globes 2019 (Nominee Best Motion Picture - Foreign Language);
Cannes 2018 (Winner Un Certain Regard FIPRESCI Prize, Winner Golden Camera,
Winner Queer Palm, Winner Un Certain Regard Best Actor, Nominee Un Certain Regard Award);
European Film Awards (Winner European Discovery, Nominee European Actor, Nominee European Film);
San Sebastián International Film Festival (Winner Audience Award Best European Film, Winner Sebastiane Award Best Film);
Adelaide FF (Nominee International Feature Award); Melbourne IFF (Nominee People’s Choice Award);
LAOFCS (Nominee LAOFCS Award); Cork IFF (Nominee Audience Award);
Odessa IFF (Winner Golden Duke; Nominee Golden Duke); Goya Awards (Nominee Best European Film);
Les Arcs European FF (Winner TitraFilm Prize); Seville European FF (Nominee Ocaña Award);
Stockholm FF (Winner Best Actor; Nominee Bronze Horse); New Mexico Film Critics (Winner NMFC Award);
Palm Springs IFF (Winner FIPRESCI Prize); Philadelphia FF (Nominee Archie Award);
CPH PIX (Nominee Talent Grand Prix); Thessaloniki FF (Nominee Mermaid Award);
Jerusalem FF (Nominee FIPRESCI Prize); London FF (Winner Sutherland Award);
Palic FF (Winner Golden Tower); Seville European FF (Nominee Ocaña Award)
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