Mijke de Jong

• Name — Mijke de Jong • Born — 23 September 1959 • Birthplace — Rotterdam, Netherlands • Occupation — Film director, screenwriter and producer

De Jong was born on 23 September 1959 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. She moved in 1978 to Amsterdam, where she studied at the Netherlands Film Academy. During her time as a student at the Netherlands Film Academy she was part of the Dutch radical activist group “Onkruit”. The group aimed its actions against the army, nuclear weapons and the weapons industry in general; they fought for an open (military) policy. She had to quit participating in order to remain a student at the Film Academy.

The themes in the films that De Jong directs relate to everyday life in society. Her work centres on topics including bullying, family problems, feeling as though you do not belong, and death. She portrays emotions that accompany these struggles. Her filming techniques are seemingly similar to the filming of a documentary. She uses many close-ups of the actors. Mijke de Jong joined a project funded by the Netherlands Film Fund (Nederlands Filmfonds). With this project, filmmakers try to tighten the bonds with other film countries. This policy plan is intended to fill the financial gaps that small film productions have to deal with, to promote the Dutch scene as a place for filming and to create more opportunities for national actors. In 2018, de Jong served on the jury for the Shooting Stars Award.

• Year — Title — Function — Notes • 1989 — In krakende welstand — Director & Screenwriter — De Prijs van de stad Utrecht at the Netherlands Film Festival. • 1993 — Hartverscheurend (Love Hurts) — Director & Screenwriter — At the Netherlands Film Festival, de Jong was awarded the Prijs van de Nederlandse Filmkritiek. • 1994 — Still you — Director • 1994 — The Four A.M. Feed — Director • 1995 — Frans en Duits — Screenwriter • 1995 — Stills — Director & Screenwriter — Short Film • 1996 — Lieve Aisja — Director, Screenwriter & Producer • 1997 — Broos (Frail) — Director & Screenwriter — All five actresses won the Golden Calf for Best Actress • 1997 — De gordel van smaragd — Screenwriter • 1998 — Het labyrint — Director — Thirteen part television series • 1999 — Kussen — Screenwriter • 1999 — Lopen — Director & Screenwriter • 2001 — Uitgesloten — Director • 2004 — Bluebird — Director — Television film. Selected as the Dutch entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 78th Academy Awards • 2005 — Allerzielen — Director — Short Film • 2007 — Tussenstand (Stages) — Director & Screenwriter — Three Golden Calfs (Gouden Kalf) with Stages (Tussenstand), including best director. • 2008 — Katia's Sister (Het zusje van Katia) — Director — Winner of the Golden Calf for Best Script and the Golden Calf for Best Supporting Actress. • 2010 — Joy — Director — Nominated for seven Golden Calves, won three. • 2014 — Brozer (Frailer) — Director & Screenwriter • 2015 — Fiftyfifty — Director • 2016 — Stop Acting Now — Director & Screenwriter — A collaboration with Wunderbaum theatre collective. • 2016 — Layla M. — Director & Screenwriter — Selected as the Dutch entry for the 2018 Academy Award for Best International Feature Film Winner of two Golden Calf awards. • 2019 — God Only Knows — Director & Screenwriter — Winner of one Golden Calf award