Ilse van Velzen is an award-winning Dutch director and screenwriter best known for her work in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. She has directed seven feature films, four documentaries, and several short films, and her work has been screened and awarded at international film festivals.
Born in The Hague, Netherlands in 1972, van Velzen grew up with a strong passion for film and storytelling. She studied film at the Netherlands Film Academy and graduated in 1995. She then pursued a Master’s degree in Communication from the University of Amsterdam.
Van Velzen began her directorial career in 2003 with the feature film Blind Date, which was released in theaters across the Netherlands. The film was met with critical acclaim and went on to win several awards, including the VPRO Tiger Award for Best Dutch Film at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
In 2006, van Velzen directed her second feature film, The Pool. Starring Dutch actress Carice van Houten, the film was a critical and commercial success, and it won several awards, including the Best Feature Film Award at the Netherlands Film Festival.
In 2010, van Velzen directed her third feature film, Love Is All, which starred Dutch actor Pierre Bokma. The film was nominated for several awards, including the Golden Calf for Best Feature Film at the Netherlands Film Festival.
In 2013, van Velzen directed her fourth feature film, The Longest Night, which starred Dutch actor Gijs Naber. The film was a box-office hit and won several awards, including the Golden Calf for Best Feature Film at the Netherlands Film Festival.
In addition to her feature films, van Velzen has also directed several documentaries and short films. Her documentaries have been screened at international film festivals, and her short films have won awards at festivals in Europe and the United States.
Van Velzen’s work has been praised for its strong storytelling, its subtle yet powerful emotions, and its strong visual style. She is a highly respected director in the Netherlands and has won several awards for her work.
