Banijay Benelux today announces a new management team at Topkapi Films, with Sebastian Korteweg joining the high-end scripted production company on 1st September.
Korteweg will become part of the management team alongside Laurette Schillings, Frans van Gestel and Arnold Heslenfeld. He will assume business responsibilities, with a specific remit to connect the storymakers who craft compelling content with the business teams who are geared towards ensuring the company’s series and films effectively reach the right audience. Korteweg will eventually succeed Heslenfeld who is retiring in 2024.
Laurette Schillings, Partner and Producer at Topkapi Films says: “Sebastian’s experience and knowledge is very complementary to Topkapi. His experience is second to none, having honed skills at high-profile institutions. His background demonstrates he has a similar mindset to us here, and we are extremely pleased with his arrival. We would also like to thank Arnold for his dedicated years at Topkapi and wish him all the best for a well-deserved retirement. “
Sebastian Korteweg says: “In this new role as Producer at Topkapi, I’ll be able to fulfil my long-held aspiration to work on ground-breaking drama series and films for a diverse and international audience. I’m very much looking forward to working together with an enormously talented and experienced team of professionals.”
Korteweg has held numerous senior positions in the film industry. In recent years he was Content Acquisition Manager at Pathé and a programmer of Royal Theatre Tuschinski. He is also a committee member at Cinekid and a guest lecturer at the Netherlands Film Academy. Korteweg began his career at Eyeworks Film & TV Drama, and in his career he has held responsibility for the planning and co-production of films at RTL and Videoland, as well as sold film rights at Penguin Random House in Barcelona.
Topkapi Films will be bringing their premium content to this year’s Venice Film Festival, with their latest film Holly, produced by Prime Time and Mirage in coproduction with Dardenne brothers’ Les Film du Fleuve, Tarantula, Topkapi and Agat Films, making its international debut. Meanwhile, at the forthcoming Netherlands Film Festival, two series, Santos and Mocked Up, will premiere this September. Also coming up is the launch of their latest feature film on Netflix, Happy Ending.