Banijay Benelux today announces its award-winning scripted label, NL Film, has signed a first-look deal with sunny pictures, a newly-established production company.
Led by influential forces Paula van der Oest and Mark van Eeuwen, sunny pictures crafts bold, original, and high-quality films and television for both local and international audiences. Through this collaboration, NL Film and sunny pictures will join forces to elevate their creative and production capabilities, and by combining strengths they will deliver powerful, impactful projects, while expanding their respective slates.
Oscar-nominated Van der Oest, an acclaimed filmmaker with 25 years’ experience, is known for her expertly crafted direction and storytelling, and has a focus on attracting and mentoring new talent and experienced creators, driving projects with fresh creativity. Meanwhile, Van Eeuwen, producer of Stromboli and De Joodse Raad, oversees production and international financing. The two producers previously collaborated at Levitate Film, and together they form a powerhouse duo with the expertise and knowledge to bring high-quality projects to the local and international stage.
Dennis Cornelisse, Managing Director of NL Film, says: “We are committed to ambitiously growing NL Film, and this partnership with exceptional talent like Paula and Mark, further builds our creative position. Working with Sunny Pictures, with Paula’s reputation as one of the Netherlands’ most acclaimed directors and screenwriters, and Mark’s extensive experience with large-scale financing, represents a major step in strengthening our rich portfolio of films and series.”
Paula van der Oest and Mark van Eeuwen, founders and producers of sunny pictures, say: “We have a strong connection with the NL Film team; its passion and energy for creating outstanding drama and film perfectly aligns with our own. In uniting forces, we can bring a more ambitious slate to the market, knowing we have first-class production partners and a distribution engine to boot.”
Recent and forthcoming credits for NL Film include Escape from Albatros, which launched on NPO3 earlier this week; Full Moon, a feature-film for Prime Video, and Bij Heldere Hemel, a forthcoming drama for EO, shedding light on an infamous fireworks disaster. The company also created travelling scripted format Penoza, which returning to Poland after an eight-year hiatus, underscoring the company’s ability to create content resonating with audiences worldwide.
NL Film is part of Banijay Entertainment’s broader line-up of over 60 scripted labels globally, with an impressive oeuvre of short and feature-length films, youth drama and television series.