Kaap Holland Studios is an independent, Amsterdam-based production studio founded by producer Maarten Swart, that produces films and (high-end) series. We aim to create ambitious, urgent and daring projects for wide audiences. In order to do what we love best, we work together with experienced and emerging talents, producers and showrunners. Kaap Holland Studios consists of the production companies and labels Kaap Holland Film, Kaap Holland Series, Dead Duck Productions, Huntu Productions, Marine Biologie, Saturnino & Kongo Productions and Wonderboys Media and works closely together with renowned production companies Big Blue, Circe Films and Eleven Film. Our work includes (co)productions: Jackie (Antoinette Beumer, TIFF 2012), Het Diner (Menno Meyes, TIFF 2013), Dunkirk (Christopher Nolan, including 3 Academy Awards® wins and 8 nominations 2018), Le Fidêle (Michaël Roskam, TIFF 2017, Venice 2017), The Goldfinch (John Crowley, TIFF 2019), Burning Days (Emin Alper, Cannes – Un Certain Regard 2022), Krazy House (Steffen & Flip, Sundance 2024), Baby (Marcelo Caetano, Cannes - Semaine de la Critique 2024) and Wander to Wonder (Nina Gantz, Academy Award® Nomination 2025, BAFTA Winner 2025).

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CURRENT PROJECTS

Downtown

Director: Michiel van Erp. Screenwriter: Frank Houtappels. Country: NL. Status: in pre-production.

Downtown follows the story of Bas (20), Lennart (23), and Ronnie (26), three twentysomething gay men who find themselves at the center of Amsterdam’s nightlife in the 1980s. It is a time where anything seems possible, especially if you’re young. But amidst this newfound freedom, the emergence of a deadly disease looms. The AIDS epidemic slowly but surely makes its entrance into the queer community, forever changing the lives and friendship of these three men. Then, 32 years later, the Covid pandemic bears striking similarities to those anxious days, stirring up emotions Bas, Lennart, and Ronnie (now 52, 55, and 58) had buried deeply within themselves. Reunited for the first time after all these years, they are confronted with the past, their choices, and each other.

Downtown tells the story of a generation of men, who saw their youthful ideals go up in smoke, and the scars they still carry within them. Inspired by the personal experiences of the writer and the director, who were deeply involved in the vibrant club scene and experienced the devastating consequences of AIDS firsthand, the film is a celebration of life and a love letter to a generation that laid the groundwork for the sexual freedom the queer community knows today.

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Max Havelaar

Director: Shariff Korver. Screenwriter: Bo Tarenskeen, Shariff Korver. Country: NL, Indonesia. Status: in development.

Max Havelaar, a failing civil servant addicted to gambling and women, gets one last chance to redeem himself as the colonial administrator of a poor backwater province in 1860’s Indonesia. When he uncovers that the colonial government conspires with corrupt local rulers against the poor farmers, Max finds his fighting spirit and his creative voice as he puts his own and his family’s fate on the line to become an advocate for the growing Indonesian resistance.

Like the most famous Dutch novel of the same name, Max Havelaar is a scathing criticism of colonial rule and a compelling whistleblower thriller, but also a hilarious farce about white saviour myths and bumbling colonial administrators.

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A Beautiful Imperfection

Director: Michiel van Erp. Executive Producer: Erwin Olaf. Screenwriter: Arthur Japin, Ursula Rani Sarma. Country: NL/BE/IT. Co-producer(s): Eyeworks Film & TV Drama (BE), Kino Produzioni (IT). Status: Post-production. 

Based on true facts, A Beautiful Imperfection tells the empowering story of Lucia, Giacomo Casanova’s first and greatest love, who leaves Italy for Amsterdam, after her face has been disfigured by smallpox. 16 years later, when she has reinvented herself as a veiled courtesan known by the name of Galathée, they meet again. Without revealing her true identity and face, Lucia and Giacomo become lovers once again. Does Lucia dare to unveil herself and turn her weakness into her strength so she can be truly free in the face of her great love? Based on the book by Arthur Japin.

Cast: Dar Zuzovksy, Jonah Hauer-King, Sam Hazeldine, Ruth Becquart, Maarten Heijmans

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Krazy House

Director & Screenwriter: Steffen Haars & Flip van der Kuil. Country: NL/US. Status: Release 2024, Worldpremiere at Sundance Film Festival 2024

A dark comedy about religious home-maker Bernie and his sitcom family, set in the 90’s. When Russian workmen in their house turn out to be wanted criminals, they force Bernie and his family to tear down the house in search for an old hidden loot. Bernie has to man up to free himself and save his enslaved family while slowly going crazy.

Cast: Nick Frost, Alicia Silverstone, Kevin Connolly, Gaite Jansen, Walt Klink, Jan Bijvoet, Chris Peters, Matti Stooker

From the team behind the critically acclaimed comedies New Kids Turbo, Bro’s Before Ho’s and Ron Goossens: Low-Budget Stuntman.