This year, three graduates from the WdKA have been nominated for the Student Competition at the Netherlands Film Festival (NFF). Each of these films offers a unique perspective, exploring personal and cultural themes through various forms of storytelling. Let’s take a closer look at these nominations and the talented filmmakers behind them.
Joysi Olijhoek – Where Do Ideas Come From?
Where do ideas actually come from? Filmmaker Joysi Olijhoek explores this question in her captivating short film Where Do Ideas Come From?, which creatively uses a split screen to juxtapose seemingly unrelated archival footage. Through an eclectic mix of visual and audio fragments, she delves into the process of how ideas take shape. Olijhoek describes her film as "a collage of research," using the Kuleshov effect to find connections between images and sounds from over 90 hours of online film archives.
Reflecting on her experience at WdKA, Joysi emphasizes the freedom she felt: “WdKA was like a playground. I had so much room to explore conceptually what I wanted to create, which was very different from the more technical approach at my previous school.” The NFF nomination is a huge milestone for her: “I never expected that such a short film—only five minutes—could go this far. I made it purely for the joy of creating, without expecting this kind of recognition.”
Jordan Daniel – Mas Ku Palabra
In Mas Ku Palabra, Jordan Daniel takes us on a personal journey to Curaçao to explore his cultural roots and the deeper connections that transcend language. Initially planned as a different film with voice-over and footage of Curaçao, the project evolved into a documentary through his research process. “I always thought language was the key to understanding culture,” Jordan explains, “but through this film, I realized that connection goes beyond just language—it’s also family, music, food, and history.”
For Jordan, the NFF nomination is a dream come true. “I’m really happy just to be nominated. I made this project for myself, my family, and my friends, so the professional recognition is an added bonus.”
Lukas Balskus – Chum
Lukas Balskus' film Chum is a deeply personal work based on a childhood memory of a friend who passed away when they were just five years old. Combining elements of fiction and personal experience, Chum tells a touching story about childhood friendship and loss. Lukas reflects, “The film is not only mine; it’s a collaboration with talented people I gathered. Like my friend and classmate Rolandas Banaitis, who did the cinematography. I gave them my vision, and they brought their own creativity to it.”
On his time at WdKA, Lukas shares how much he has grown, both as a filmmaker and as a person: “In the first year, I was much more narrow-minded and didn’t listen to feedback well. But the academy, and life in general, helped me mature and develop my own voice.” He’s excited about what the future holds but remains cautious about setting high expectations: “I never want to aim too high, so I don’t end up disappointed, but I'm grateful for this opportunity.”
What’s next for these filmmakers? All three filmmakers are already working on new projects and looking forward to the next phase of their careers. Joysi hopes to film on film next time, experimenting with shooting her own footage instead of relying on archival materials. Jordan plans to continue exploring Curaçaoan culture and history in future documentary work. Lukas is currently navigating of post-graduation life while developing new ideas for future films.
Their graduation films will be screened at the Netherlands Film Festival on September 21 at Kinepolis Jaarbeurs (see the NFF website for programme and tickets). On September 23, the Student Competition Award Ceremony will take place, and we wish them the best of luck in the competition!
