The first participants of TalentScope Documentary have been announced!
Filmmakers Luuk Bouwman and Marina Meijer will take part in the talent program over the next 12 months, which is a collaboration between IDFA and the Netherlands Film Fund.
Experienced documentary directors can apply to TalentScope Documentary, a scheme by the Netherlands Film Fund aimed at supporting the continued development of Dutch documentary talent. The program offers a curated, personalized trajectory designed to deepen and strengthen each director’s unique authorship. Together with a curator appointed by IDFA, participants will lay the groundwork for a new documentary project—one that stands out for its boldness, originality, and relevance.
The first cohort includes Marina Meijer, who won a Gouden Kalf in 2020 for her short documentary Carrousel, and Luuk Bouwman, who received awards at IDFA two years in a row for The Propagandist and Gerlach.
Left: Marina Meijer, Right: Luuk Bouwman
The program begins with an intensive one-on-one session with the curator. During this session, the tailor-made program is shaped based on the filmmaker’s research questions, leading to a work plan for the coming year. As part of the program, Marina and Luuk will visit an international documentary festival and follow a custom-curated program during IDFA. In the spring of 2026, they will conclude the program with a curated film event and/or a public presentation at Het Documentaire Paviljoen.
The Sea is Black
Marina Meijer was selected for TalentScope Documentary with her film The Sea is Black. “For years, I’ve carried with me the idea for an essayistic film centered on the Black Sea and the hidden past of my Russian grandmother,” she says about the documentary. “My previous films have always been firmly rooted in the present—I've never before made a film in which the past plays such a crucial role. So, I not only encountered closed political borders, but also confronted the boundaries of myself as a filmmaker.”
“That’s why I’m incredibly grateful for my selection for TalentScope Documentary,” Marina continues. “This coming year, I’ll have the time to dive into the metaphorical Black Sea and explore new dimensions of my craft as a filmmaker. I’m very much looking forward to collaborating with IDFA curator Arrate Fernandez, who—with her international perspective and expertise—can guide me toward inspiring paths and people.”
Messeret
During TalentScope Documentary, Luuk Bouwman will be working on Messeret, produced by Docmakers.
