From first steps to next chapters: a lot comes together at NFF. This year, the festival once again presents a strong mix of new work and familiar names, showing that there are many different paths to the big screen.
In both The Selection and the Debut Competition, composers and projects appear that we have also encountered at BMIM over the past few years: some composers previously won a MIMA, others took part in Script & Score or Third Character, appeared at BMIM Conference, or were followed or supported by BMIM in other ways. A good moment to dive into the selection and bring together some of those films and makers. Go check them out!
The Selection
The Golden Calf Competition feels familiar in several places this year. Behind a number of selected titles are composers whose work we have followed with great pleasure over the past few years, for example through the MIMAs, our talent programmes and international initiatives. You’ll find an overview from across all categories below.
Stand Up – Mink Steekelenburg
Mink Steekelenburg won the BMIM New Talent Award in 2022 for his music for Good Bad Girl. This year, he composed the music for Stand Up, selected in the Feature Film category.
Met Oprechte Deelneming – Nikolaï Clavier
Nikolaï Clavier is also a former BMIM New Talent winner: in 2021, he received the award for Blauwe Maandag. Last summer, he travelled to Montreal as one of the BMIM composers selected for Frontières. During NFF, his new work can be heard in Met Oprechte Deelneming.
Donkey Days – Ella van der Woude
Ella van der Woude has by now become a familiar face at BMIM and the MIMAs. Among other things, she won the MIMA for Film and appeared on stage at this year’s BMIM Conference for a deep dive into her work for Charlie Kaufman. She once again provided the music for Donkey Days.
Joe Speedboot – Anne Teikari & Job de Jong
Anne Teikari won the MIMA New Talent Award in 2024. Her collaboration with Job de Jong on Joe Speedboot was also featured at BMIM Conference 2026 earlier this year.
A Family – Annelotte Coster
Annelotte Coster was nominated for the BMIM New Talent Award in 2020. This year, her music can be heard in the feature film A Family.
Boomers – Joris Oonk
Joris Oonk appeared at the MIMAs several times over the past few years, including with nominations for De Droom van de Jeugd, Silver Haze and Jackson & Malone. He composed the music for Boomers.
Sugar – Jac van Exter
Composer Jac van Exter won this year’s MIMA for Podcast with Enkele Reis Istanbul. At NFF, his feature film work also takes centre stage with Sugar.
Hein 2 – Fons Merkies & Laurens Goedhart
Merkies and Goedhart were nominated at the 2025 MIMAs for their music for the first season of Hein. This year, the series returns to the Golden Calf Competition with its second season.
De Eetclub – Tessa Rose Jackson & Darius Timmer
Tessa Rose Jackson and Darius Timmer previously won the MIMA for Series together with De Sneeuwman: Geheimen van een kindermoordenaar. For De Eetclub, they have once again joined forces.
Dag & Nacht 3 – Merlijn Snitker
At the 2026 MIMAs, Merlijn Snitker won the award for Title Design with the title sequence for The Kollective. During NFF, his work can be heard again in the third season of Dag & Nacht.
Pro Deo – Matthijs Kieboom
Matthijs Kieboom was a speaker at BMIM Conference 2026 earlier this year and is the composer of Pro Deo.
Mocros / Tonnano – Hernan C. Fioravanti
Composer Hernan C. Fioravanti has previously been involved with BMIM and took part in The Third Character. In the NFF selection, he is involved in both Mocros and Tonnano.
Toen Ik Klein Was, Was Ik Niet Bang – Vernon Chatlein & Jean-Jacques Rojer
A particularly direct connection: Vernon Chatlein and Jean-Jacques Rojer won the MIMA for Short Film with this very production earlier this year. Now, Toen Ik Klein Was, Was Ik Niet Bang is part of the Golden Calf Competition.
Not Built to Last – Buket Zor
Buket Zor previously won a MIMA with KLOAQ audio design and took part in Script & Score in 2024. This year, Not Built to Last is part of both the Golden Calf Competition and the Debut Competition.
How to Catch a Butterfly – Anne Teikari
How to Catch a Butterfly, featuring music by Anne Teikari, is also part of both competitions. The film is now also one of the three nominees for the City of Utrecht Film Award.
Tot de laatste noot – Paul M. van Brugge
Paul M. van Brugge composed the music for the short documentary Tot de laatste noot. His work has previously received two nominations at the MIMAs: in 2020 for A Fool’s Paradise and in 2024 for DEPOT – Reflecting Boijmans. This year, Tot de laatste noot is part of the Golden Calf Competition.
Debut Competition
Among the 34 productions in the NFF Debut Competition, there are also several composers we have seen at BMIM over the past few years. Here, the connection often lies in talent development and matchmaking: from Script & Score and Third Character to the New Talent Award at the MIMAs. Two of these films, How to Catch a Butterfly and Not Built to Last, have now also been nominated for the City of Utrecht Film Award.
Ultrakort – Insha Allah – Jurrian Steman
Jurrian Steman won the MIMA New Talent Award in 2025, took part in Script & Score that same year and was selected for Third Character in 2026. He composed the music for the animated film Insha Allah.
Personal – Xiangming Niu & Jamie Alpherts
Xiangming Niu won this year’s MIMA New Talent Award for Kus Kus Beng Beng. Together with Jamie Alpherts, she forms Theme Two; the duo was also selected for Third Character this year. Together, they composed the music for Personal.
Not Built to Last – Buket Zor
Buket Zor took part in Script & Score in 2024 and previously won a MIMA with KLOAQ audio design. Not Built to Last is not only part of the Debut Competition, but has also been nominated for the City of Utrecht Film Award and selected for the Golden Calf Short Film Competition.
How to Catch a Butterfly – Anne Teikari
Anne Teikari won the MIMA New Talent Award in 2024 and was once again involved in BMIM Conference this year. Her music can be heard in How to Catch a Butterfly, which has also been nominated for the City of Utrecht Film Award.
Ongeschreven Regels – Verhuismussen – Beau Zwart
Beau Zwart won the MIMA for Documentary earlier this year with Fortuyn: On-Hollands and was a speaker at BMIM Conference 2026. He composed the music for Verhuismussen.
Teledoc Campus – Circus Royal – Nick Verschoor
Nick Verschoor took part in both Script & Score and Third Character in 2024 and was selected for Third Character again this year. In the Debut Competition, his music can be heard in Circus Royal.
De Floor is Lava – Sebastiaan Bax
There is also a connection between De Floor is Lava and an earlier matchmaking programme: the project by director Demian van der Wekken and producer Idris Bakker was selected for Third Character in 2025, the international programme BMIM is involved in. Sebastiaan Bax composed the music for the final film. He also has a strong history with BMIM: in 2023, he won the BMIM New Talent Award with Funny Feeling, and this year he won the MIMA in the Experience category for Gammel.
In addition to De Floor is Lava, Bax also wrote the score for Anne Meffert’s documentary Ik werd wakker op een bol. Furthermore, he composed the music for this year’s official NFF trailer, teasers, and compilation videos.
During NFF 2026, BMIM will once again be present with, among other things, Script & Score and the focus talk Music, Camera, Action!, which centres on music for film and the collaboration between composers and filmmakers.