Gerlach

2023 • 77m

GERLACH is a loving and humorous portrait of arable farmer Gerlach, who has been farming in the shadow of Amsterdam Airport for sixty years. Around him, he has seen everything change. His simple wooden house is now wedged in between a Shell petrol station, a McDonalds outlet and various distribution centers. With great dedication he cares for his beets and grains, while property developers eye his land and climate change disrupts his harvest. Despite everything that comes his way, Gerlach stands tall with his down-to-earth humor, helped by his loving brothers and friends. His little house is the raindrop in which the world is reflected, existentialist and absurdist.

for the press

Credits

director Aliona van der Horst and Luuk Bouwman
cinematography Luuk Bouwman
drone recordings Rik Meier
sound Aliona van der Horst
editing Luuk Bouwman
music Annette Kruisbrink, Bram Meindersma, Harry de Wit, Emanuele Pellegrini
sound design Mark Glynne
grading Laurent Fluttert
producer Ilja Roomans

A production by Docmakers in co-production with KRO-NCRV, supported NPO Fund and the Netherlands Film Fund.

premiere 10 November 2023 at 6:45 pm at Pathé Tuschinski

In cinemas from 14 December 2023

tv broadcast
Thursday 30 May 2024 at 10:20 PM on NPO2

festivals
IDFA 2023
Crossing Europe 2024
Biografilm 2024
Documentarist Istanbul Documentary Days 2024
Shanghai International Film Festival 2024
European Film Festival Palic 2024
Netherlands Film Festival (selected for the Golden Calf Competition)

prizes
Best Dutch Film Award at IDFA 2023

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Gerlach wint de Gouden Distel op het Provinziale - filmfest Eberswalde en krijgt een Honorable Mention op Cineeco.

Gerlach wins the Golden Thistle at the Provinziale - filmfest Eberswalde and gets an Honorable Mention at Cineeco.
05-11-2024

Gerlach won the Golden Thistle for the film with the most impact at the festival Provinziale… >> read more Gerlach won the Golden Thistle for the film with the most impact at the festival Provinziale in Eberswalde, Germany, on 19 October, the film was also the opening film. The film also received an honorable mention at Cineeco in Portugal in the international feature film competition.

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Gerlach valt in de prijzen bij het NFF Forum van de Regisseurs

Gerlach has won an award at the NFF
28-10-2024

The winning film of the tenth edition of the NFF film competition Forum of Directors is the… >> read more The winning film of the tenth edition of the NFF film competition Forum of Directors is the documentary Gerlach. The jury chose the winning film that fits the programme signature; individuality. The anniversary edition of the Directors' Forum featured a selection of feature, documentary and short films curated by film journalist/programmer Hugo Emmerzael and filmmaker/screenwriter Beri Shalmashi.

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‘Gerlach’ geselecteerd voor de Gouden Kalf Competitie en Forum van de Regisseurs

'Gerlach' selected for the Golden Calf Competition and Forum of Directors.
19-07-2024

'Gerlach' from directors Aliona van der Horst en Luuk Bouwman is selected for the Golden Calf… >> read more 'Gerlach' from directors Aliona van der Horst en Luuk Bouwman is selected for the Golden Calf Competition of the Netherlands Film Festival 2024. The film is also selected for the Forum of Directors.

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20.000 visitors for 'Gerlach'
23-01-2024

20.0000 visitors for 'Gerlach'! On January 23, the 20,0000th visitor was joyfully received… >> read more 20.0000 visitors for 'Gerlach'! On January 23, the 20,0000th visitor was joyfully received at Cinema Amstelveen with flowers and a bag of potatoes from Gerlach.

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Kristallen Film 'Gerlach'
29-12-2023

'Gerlach', a film by Aliona van der Horst en Luuk Bouwman, has achieved the Kristallen status.… >> read more 'Gerlach', a film by Aliona van der Horst en Luuk Bouwman, has achieved the Kristallen status. Photo: Luuk Bouwman, Gerlach van Beinum, Aliona van der Horst.

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‘Gerlach’ wint IDFA Best Dutch Film Award

'Gerlach' wins IDFA Best Dutch FIlm Award
17-11-2023

Jury Report: "We are in a world where the discussion of land and land rights, we are made to… >> read more Jury Report: "We are in a world where the discussion of land and land rights, we are made to believe, is often only an issue concerning the global south and struggles of indigeneity, land grabbing, expropriation, and exploitation. When we consider our circles of influence and circles of concern, wherever we are on the earth, we have here a film that brings the land struggle home to the Netherlands, showing us that as much as you may have empathy for worlds other than yours, there are also struggles on one's own doorstep that are urgent. This film is testament to the patience and endurance of filmmakers allowing themselves to be taken by the craft, to compassionately observe seasons passing, to attest to a moment where capitalism and climate change have drastically altered agriculture with no possible return. The film remains human and affectionate as the lens finds tenderness in aging bodies, without nostalgia but with certainty; and as the protagonist's stoicity always, somehow, finds meaning in moments of crisis." Gerlach reminds one of the beauty of both biodiversity, life, and the beauty of the humble potato.

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All Against All in the cinemas
23-09-2020

All Against All, the documentary by our co-maker Luuk Bouwman, will be released in the cinemas… >> read more All Against All, the documentary by our co-maker Luuk Bouwman, will be released in the cinemas at the first of October. The film premiered at IDFA last year and is part of the Golden Calf Competition at the Dutch Film Festival in Utrecht. Luuk is now making a documentary about farmer Gerlach together with Aliona van der Horst at Docmakers.

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Aliona can vote for the Oscars
08-07-2019

This year, four Dutch people have been invited to join the Academy, the institute behind the… >> read more This year, four Dutch people have been invited to join the Academy, the institute behind the Oscars. And our Docmaker Aliona van der Horst is one of them. As a new Academy member she is now allowed to vote for the Oscars. Congratulations Aliona!