SHEEP HERO has been selected at 150+ (renowned) international film festivals, officially released in cinemas in the Netherlands, Belgium and France, broadcast worldwide and won more than 25 international awards and more than 35 nominations for best film, best direction, best cinematography and best editing.
SHEEP HERO
Shepherd Stijn has a romantic world view, but his idealism clashes with the harsh reality of having to be a modern entrepreneur. In this poignant and cinematic documentary we come close to Stijn and his family in their quest to keep the tradition of sheep herding alive. Will his struggle pay off or is he forced to go with the flock?
director: Ton van Zantvoort
producer: NEWTON film | seriousFilm
broadcaster: Omroep Brabant | KRO-NCRV
distribution nl: Windmill Film Distribution
world sales: Films Transit International
language: Dutch | English subtitles
length: 81 minutes | 58 minutes
format: UHD 3840 x 2160 | DCP 2K flat, 5.1, 1:85, 25 fps
ISAN: 0000-0004-D799-0000-O-0000-0000-2
categories: Human interest, environment, neoliberalism
SHEEP HERO trailer
logline
How to live in a world that conflicts with your ideals?
A traditional shepherd is forced to innovate in a neo-liberal world that conflicts with his idealistic views.
synopsis (61 words)
Shepherd Stijn has a romantic world view, but his idealism clashes with the harsh reality of having to be a modern entrepreneur. In this poignant and cinematic documentary we come close to Stijn and his family in their quest to keep the tradition of sheep herding alive. Will his struggle pay off or is he forced to go with the flock?
synopsis (113 words)
SHEEP HERO is a 81-minute cinematic documentary about a traditional shepherd who is forced to innovate in a neoliberal world that conflicts with his idealistic views. With no voice-over the story is told in a cinematic and observational cinema vérité style. The film shows the hardships of herding sheep and the harsh reality of a contemporary entrepreneur trying to keep his business going. Will his struggle pay off or is he forced to go with the flock?
SHEEP HERO got selected by more than 75 (renowned) international film festivals and won a dozen awards already. Ton van Zantvoort did not only direct the film, but also did production, cinematography, editing, grading and more.
synopsis (187 words)
SHEEP HERO tells the story of Shepherd Stijn, an outspoken idealist who may have been born in the wrong place and era. He feels at home on the quiet heathlands tending his sheep, far away from today’s hectic Western society. Stijn and his family fight to maintain their quiet and simple life, but this is proving to be increasingly difficult in a densely populated, modern world where the power of money and mass production outweighs good intentions and slow traditions. The family is heading towards a turning point: they can either continue their downward spiral or throw in the towel.
The documentary starts from the romantic idea of living a mindful life as a sheep herder, but then clearly reveals the frustration of a non-conformist who is only trying to live his own life. The beautiful images and storyline of the documentary clearly depict the constant physical and mental struggle of the protagonist as he tries to strike a balance between his ancient profession and being a modern-day entrepreneur. Stijn has to make a choice, does he keep on fighting the system or is there another option?
synopsis IDFA (168 words)
About 10 years ago, filmmaker Ton van Zantvoort got to know Stijn, an idealist with a cheerful, relaxed nature. Stijn is one of the last remaining Dutch shepherds working in the traditional way. We see the shepherd, his sheep and his three loyal dogs crisscrossing nature reserves and farmlands so the herd can graze the land in an eco-friendly way. But nowadays, little remains of the romance and peace that we associate with the centuries-old tradition of sheepherding. Tenders are increasingly hard to acquire—competition from big companies, cheap East European shepherds and smart machinery make Stijn the expensive choice.
With the camera in his wake, the shepherd roams across picturesque Dutch landscapes, talking passionately about his inventive approaches to preserving his traditional occupation. But even as he tries so hard to keep his company afloat, the same camera captures how the incessant stress transforms him into an embittered man with a quick temper. Tragicomic conflicts alternate with scenes of beautiful nature and Stijn’s pleasantly chaotic family life.
synopsis (294 words)
Ten years ago, director Ton van Zantvoort became friends with one of the last traditional shepherds in the Netherlands. He had a perfect life: a loving wife, a flock of sheep, and was living in nature as we all once did and often still long for. Throughout the years the filmmaker noticed how the relaxed, cheerful and passionate shepherd was becoming bitter and increasingly short-tempered. A traditional shepherd losing his hair overnight, because of extreme stress: what a paradox. Was herding sheep not supposed to be the most relaxed and romantic profession in the world? ‘The silent heath is no longer quiet. There is a war going on in the heathlands’ and so the story began.
Stijn’s environment is closing in on him. In an overregulated society his quest for freedom is a struggle almost too hard to bear. His resentment is palpable, but there is also his stubbornness and determination to see it through to the end. He wants to keep his herd and the heathlands healthy and faces many obstacles along the way. Who looks out for the cultural heritage that is sheep herding? And are we able to salvage beauty amongst all our freeways and advancing industrial zones and suburbs. Life will be irrevocably different if the herd goes, as with it the craft will also vanish. Is it too late to save Stijn’s dream?
With no voice-over and very little interviews, this 81-minute cinematic story is told in an observational cinema vérité style. Where Stijn goes, the camera follows and, as in direct cinema, we become unaware of the camera’s presence.
The feature-length documentary shows the hardships of herding sheep in today’s neoliberal world and the harsh reality of a contemporary entrepreneur trying to keep his business going. Anything but a dream job. Will his struggle pay off or is he forced to go with the flock?
SHEEP HERO synopsis
Director’s statement
Many years ago I met Stijn, one of the last traditional shepherds in the Netherlands. Throughout the years, I noticed how the relaxed, cheerful and passionate shepherd became bitter and short-tempered. A traditional shepherd losing his hair overnight, because of extreme stress. How paradoxical. Was herding sheep not supposed to be the most relaxed and romantic profession in the world? ‘The silent heath is no longer quiet. There is a war going on in the heathlands,’ Stijn said to me and so the story began.
We live in a world that is determined by economic laws and this has penetrated deeply into one of the most romantic professions in the world. In many ways I am like Stijn. We both live in a neoliberal world, which is at odds with our ideals. I too chose an insecure, creative existence because of my ideals. In my own way I try to contribute to a better world by making films about these topics. I too am a little entrepreneur who cannot escape innovation. Wouldn’t we all like to go back to nature, to real life, to what it’s all about? But how far should you go to try and realise your ideals? And isn’t it easier to just follow the herd?
I see the world around me as a visual, narrative source. Looking at, wondering about and consciously experiencing what is happening around me is a feeling I am trying to instill in the audience. As a filmmaker I look for themes that may seem to only represent small and everyday issues, but I use them to discuss bigger, universal themes. Not in order to make a didactic statement but to encourage viewers to think about themselves, about the world we live in and about what binds us as people.
My films are about people I meet; about the world we live in and how small it has become. Looking back at my films, many protagonists share the same motivation. They are all trying to live and realise their dreams. People who hold up a confronting mirror to us in our relatively carefree existence. These people suffer consequences of our capitalist economy, which can only be maintained if there is sufficient growth and profit. It is a paradigm of infinite growth on a finite planet. Although a growing number of people realise this, there are only few who actually do something about it. People who go against the current, or strive for their ideals, regardless of the cost. This is what appealed to me when I met Stijn. He made a conscious choice for a different, more sustainable lifestyle. But is such a lifestyle still an option in our current society?
DIRECTOR | CINEMATOGRAPHER | EDITOR |
Ton van Zantvoort (Heesch, 1979) is an acclaimed director, cinematographer and editor, whose films have screened at numerous prestigious A- film festivals. His work has been theatrically released in several countries, broadcast all over the world (VPRO, KRO-NCRV, ARTE/ZDF, Al Jazeera, VRT) and has won more than 50 awards for best director, best cinematographer and best editor.
Education
1999- 2003 Art Academy St. Joost, Audiovisual. diploma obtained with credit
1996- 1999 Grafisch Lyceum Eindhoven, Art-direction. diploma obtained
1991- 1996 HAVO, Maaslandcollege Oss. diploma obtained
name: Ton van Zantvoort
production company: NEWTON film | newtonfilm.nl
other websites: newtonsolutions.nl | newtonfilm.com
other: IMDB | Facebook | LinkedIn
Biography
Ton van Zantvoort (Heesch, 1979) graduated with credits at the Academy for Visual Arts in Breda in 2003. In 2006, his debut film GRITO de PIEDRA premiered at IDFA and was broadcast by ARTE/ZDF and other stations. His second feature a BLOOMING BUSINESS, a co-production with the Dutch VPRO, was screened at hundred (renowned) international film festivals, broadcast worldwide and won a dozen awards, such as at DOK Leipzig. In 2016 his controversial documentary, the BENNO TAPES, won a Golden NL Award.
As with his acclaimed movie SHEEP HERO (81 minutes, 2018), he was not only responsible for (co-) production and directing for all these above mentioned films, but Ton van Zantvoort also did the cinematography, editing, grading, artwork and more. SHEEP HERO was selected by more than 100 (renowned) international film festival (such as IDFA, Thessaloniki, Vision du Réel, DOK.fest, GZDOC, DOCNYC) won more than 25 awards and 30+ nominations and got a theatrical release in several European countries.
In 2022 his film a WORLD to SHAPE about the Dutch designers Dave Hakkens and Nienke Hoogvliet was released. Also that year his film a TRAVELER’S GUIDE premiered at the Film by the Sea film festival.
In addition to producing his own documentary films, van Zantvoort has also produced documentaries for other directors: DAY is DONE* by acclaimed director Guido Hendrikx (premiered at IDFA), FALLING (EO) by Jef Monté, a feature length film by Luuk Bouwman about the enigmatic artist Dick Verdult (Omroep Brabant) and HONDS (KRO-NCRV) by Josefien van Kooten among others.
Besides longer films van Zantvoort has made dozens of short (art) films, gives master classes at (art) academies in Europe and Canada and was a jury member for several international film festivals and for organisations such as Panasonic International. He was also artistic director of DOCfeed Film festival and chairman of Stichting TEEK
Filmography
Filmography as director (selection)
a WORLD to SHAPE, 52 min, director, cinematographer & editor, production Elbe Stevens Films, AVROTROS, Omroep Brabant, 2022
a TRAVELER’S GUIDE, 63 min, director, cinematographer, co-editor, post production, producer, 2022
SHEEP HERO, 81 min, producer, director, cinematographer & editor in co-production with seriousFilm, Omroep Brabant & KRO-NCRV, 2018
THE BENNO TAPES, 54 min, director, cinematographer & editor, produced by Van Osch Films, Omroep Brabant, L1, TV West, 2015
Kees en Mien, 30 min, director, cinematographer & co-editor, produced by Zuidenwind filmproducties, Omroep Brabant, 2011
a BLOOMING BUSINESS, 52 min, producer, director, cinematographer & editor, co-production VPRO, 2009
GRITO de PIEDRA, 55 min, producer, director, cinematographer & editor, 2006
other films: Past as future, 18 min, 2011; Lovely Planet, 8 min, 2009; Carrousel, 7 min, 2010; Another day in Bombay, 10 min, 2007; Isla Totora, 10 min, 2007; Pack, 5 min, 2005; Moja Mbegu, 5 min, 2004; Items, 25 min, 2003, Khamuvillage, 25 min, 2003
Filmography as producer (selection)
ANIMA. 25 min, directed by Anna Witte & Josefien van Kooten, HUMAN, 2024
a Traveler’s Guide, 63 min, co-director Josefien van Kooten, production with Annerose Langeveld, NEWTON film, 2022
The Hole In My Life, 55 min, direction by Xavier van Delft, EO, developped/ not realised, 2020
Honds, 26 min, directed by Josefien van Kooten, Teledoc Campus, KRO-NCRV, 2020
Dick Verdult, 70 min, directed by Luuk Bouwman, in coproduction with seriousFilm, Omroep Brabant, 2017
FALLING, 25 min, Teledoc Campus, directed by Jef Monté, EO, 2014
Loving Heart, 71 min, directed by Wouter Verhoeven, 2013
Day is Done*, 30 min, directed by Guido Hendrikx, 2010
About the director
Ton van Zantvoort observes with great attention and takes us into the worlds of people on the edge, people who try to survive but are confronted by external forces such as tourism, international commerce and mass consumption. With great humanity, van Zantvoort shows us a different world in which all human life is valuable. His films are characterized by a language of intimate images, a poetic structure and enormous involvement. In his lyrical documentaries with socio-economic overtones he usually resists the temptation of doing interviews. His work is original and testifies to a great effort of will by the maker. The vision of a Western civilized person who holds up a mirror to us. A confronting mirror, but one that invites you to take a long good look.
Director’s awards
Audience award, 10th Arquiteturas Film Festival, Porto, Portugal, 2023
Green Academy Award winner, best documentary, India, 2023
Palmare Best Feature Documentary Film Award, FECSC Santa Cruz International Film Festival in Argentina, 2023
Ministry of Culture of the Saratov Region award, Saratov Sufferings Film Fest, Russia, 2020
Grand Prix Feature-Length Competition, 6th Apricot Tree Ujan International Documentary Film Festival, Armenia, 2020
Grand Prix, 15ème Festival International du film Pastoralismes et Grands Espaces, France, 2020
Grand prize of the city of Innsbruck for the best Environmental documentary, INF Innsbruck Nature Festival, Austria, 2020
Christian Berger Cinematography Award, INF Innsbruck Nature Festival, Austria, 2020
President of the Polish Filmmakers Association Award, 18th Włodzimierz Puchalski International Nature Film Festival, Poland, 2020
Best Newcomer, International Green Screen Nature Film Festival, Germany, 2020
Best Documentary Feature Award, FicLaPaz (7th) International Film Festival Bolivia, Bolivia, 2020
Best Cinematography Award, Woods Hole film festival, USA, 2020
Best Documentary Feature, Alternative Film Festival, Canada, 2020
Best Cinematography Award, Indie Film Awards, Japan, 2020
NL Award, best documentary of the year, RPO, The Netherlands, 2020
Best Director, Torino Underground Cinefest, Italy, 2020
Most Original Story mention, Florence Film Awards, Italy, 2020
Special Jury Award, Cinema Vérité, Iran, 2019
Best International Documentary Award, FICMA, Mexico, 2019
Best International Documentary Award and Audience award, NIFF (Nederland), USA, 2019
2nd Best International Feature film, Fiorenzo Serra Film Festival, Italy, 2019
Honourable mention, Cine Eco Seia, Portugal, 2019
Award of Excellence: Film Feature Accolade Global Film Competition, USA, 2019
Best Documentary Film, NYCA New York Cinematography Awards, USA, 2019
Honourable mention, Festiver Festival Barichara, Colombia, 2019
Green Warsaw Award, Millennium Docs Against Gravity, Poland, 2019
Best European Cinematography award, European Cinematography Awards/ ECA, 2019
Distribution award La Trois, Millennium Documentary Festival, Belgium 2019
Best Film and Best Director, NVIFF, The Netherlands, 2019
Top 10 best of IDFA audience award, IDFA, The Netherlands, 2018
Golden NL-Award, the Netherlands, 2016
NL Award, the Netherlands, 2016
Trevignano FilmFest Award, Italy, 2013
Honourable mention, best short, Planet in Focus, Canada, 2011
Jury award, FIFDH, France, 2011
Audience award, The Art of the Document, Poland, 2010
Special jury mention, The Art of the Document, Poland, 2010
Golden Olive, best documentary, Int Festival Montenegro, 2010
Golden Olive, best cinematography, Int Festival Montenegro, 2010
Audience award, Millennium Film Festival, Belgium, 2010
Press award, best film of the FICA festival, Goiás, Brazil, 2010
Best Treatment, Cinema Planeta, Cuernavaca, Mexico, 2010
Healthy Workplaces Award, DOK Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany, 2009
Special mention Open Eyes, Med Film festival, Rome, Italy, 2009
Audience award Mixed Greens, Planet in Focus, Canada, 2009
Honourable mention, Media city 13, Visual Art Festival, 2007
2nd price NFTVM award, for best new Dutch filmmaker, 2006
4th price 1 minute & sound award 2006/ dogs
Nomination for St. Joost Penning/ 2003
Festival screenings (selection)
National – IDFA International Documentary Film Festival, Amsterdam (2018, 2010, 2006, 2005); Dutch Film Festival, Utrecht (2024, 2020, 2014, 2009, 2007, 2005); Film by the Sea (2005,2022, 2024)
Europe – DOK Leipzig, Germany; Visions du Réel, Switzerland, Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, Greece (2009,2019); DOK.fest, München, Festival dei Popoli, Italy; Documenta Madrid, Spain; Millennium Docs Against Gravity, Poland; Docpoint Helsinki, Finland; Edinburgh International Film Festival, UK; Docville, Belgium; One World Prague, Czech Republic; Dokufest, Kosovo; MakeDox Macedonia; Moldox, Moldavia; European Film Festival Palić, Serbia; Eberswalde Film Festival – Provinziale, Germany; Art of the Document Multimedia Festival, Poland; Split International Festival of New film, Croatia; International Millennium Film Festival, Belgium; International Film Festival for Human Rights, various locations in France; International Audiovisual Festival of Biodiversity, Italy; Kinookus FFF, Croatia; Sunchild Film Festival, Armenia; This Human World, Austria; Jihlava IDFF, Czech Republic; CineEco Portugal;
World – Vancouver International Film Festival, Canada; Planet in Focus, Toronto; Montreal Human Rights Film Festival; Margaret Mead Film Festival & travelling selection, New York, Chicago, Florida, Vermont, Indiana; BAFICI Buenos Aires; DOCSMX Festival Internacional de Cine Documental, Mexico; Animal & Nature Film Festival, Beijing, China; Film Festival Arlington, Virginia, USA; Duke City DocFest, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA; Criterio Ambiental, Costa Rica; Short Film Festival, Moscow; International Documentary Festival, Agadir, Morocco; Green Film Festival, Seoul, Korea; New Zealand International Film Festival; Flahertiana International Documentary Festival Russia; BIFED, Turkey; Festiver Festival Barichara, Colombia,
Miscellaneous(selection)
NEWTON film BV – creative documentary production, founder and Majority Shareholder 2006 – present and director of NEWTON film foundation
DOCfeed, Artistic advisor & volunteer, 2015- 2020
Stichting TEEK president : this foundation supports film makers who try to push the boundaries. (2008- 2021)
Grant committee member: Professional Arts Advisory Committee, Province of North Brabant (2025-2028), and others.
Guest teacher (directing, documentary, cinematography, editing 2006-present) at HKU Media Utrecht, St. Joost Acadamy Breda, Koning Willem 1 College ‘s-Hertogenbosch , Mgr. Frencken College Oosterhout, DOCedu, Sparkle (Eindhoven)
Masterclasses taught at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (with Mike Gunton, producer of BBC’s Planet Earth II/III, and Vikram Channa, Vice President of Warner Bros. Discovery Asia), Planet in Focus (Toronto); University of Manitoba, Canada; 3-day master class taught together with Cherry Duyns under the supervision of Jan Eilander at Dziga Nijmegen
Jury member at various (inter)national film festivals, including:
29th Shanghai International TV Film Festival, Shanghai, China, 2024
West Lake International Documentary Film Festival, Hangzhou, China, 2020
Millennium International Documentary Film Festival, 2020
International Film Festival Montenegro (with Marija Perovic, among others), 2011
International Film Festival Breda (with Monic Hendrikx & Marc de Cloe), 2010
Filmfront Festival, Gorinchem (with Hans Eijses), 2010
Panasonic International LUMIX award, commissioned by Scholz & Volkmer (with Michael Lum & Fred Flade), 2010-2011
Publications (selection)
Publications, reviews and interviews in all national Dutch newspapers and periodicals, and on news sites, including Trouw, NRC, Volkskrant, AD, Telegraaf and Filmkrant, Brabants Dagblad, BN de stem, Nu.nl, De Groene A’dammer, EVA, KONKAV, virtually all Dutch TV guides, and in international newspapers and film festival publications, including EDN DOX magazine, Modern Times Review, Eye For Film, IDFA daily papers, Dutch Film Festival paper, etcetera.
TV and radio interviews (selection)
VPRO Best of IDFA NPO, Al Jazeera World, Sky Movies (UK), ArmNews (Germany), ET1 (Greece), NPO2 Radar (the Netherlands), Een vandaag (the Netherlands), TV10 (Dutch regional broadcaster), Radio Deutsche Welle (Germany), Radio Klara VRT (Belgium), Omroep Brabant Radio (Dutch regional broadcaster), Dit is de Dag EO (the Netherlands).
SHEEP HERO trailer
FREE WORK SHOWREEL
References
Jury report (by John Appel, Oscar van der Kroon et al.), Golden NL-Award, 2016
The makers have cleverly edited the material to achieve a powerful result. Impact and relevance are big. Watching this film is an emotional experience, going from sympathy to pity to annoyance to despair. As a viewer you are affected by all these emotions and you watch the documentary to the end with growing amazement. The film succeeds very well in letting the viewers judge for themselves.
Jukka Takala, Director of European Union -OSHA, Spain
Only 10 films from international filmmakers were nominated for the Film Award and selected from 2,578 documentaries submitted to DOK Leipzig this year. I would like to offer my congratulations to Ton Van Zantvoort, whose film was a worthy winner. He approaches the topic in a highly creative way and highlights the strength of international documentary film-making in 2009.
Jury rapport, NFTVM-award
Ton van Zantvoort shows his ability to use a purposeful approach and cinematic means to achieve a wonderful end result. In difficult circumstances he succeeds in creating well-rounded and mature images with fantastic lighting. His work shows historic awareness and respect for his characters. He cleverly succeeds in capturing an atmosphere and through neat observations he manages to get very close to his characters. Work of this high quality commands admiration and respect.
René Bosma, deputy director St. Joost Academy
His modus operandi seems to follow that of the direct cinema; direct observations with as few outside interventions as possible and control over virtually the entire creation process of the film. However, in Ton’s films you see a preference for stylisation and an emphasis on image and sound design. This makes the work original and its content is indicative of the film maker’s great willpower. In his films Ton determinedly takes a stance, presenting his own vision of reality, the vision of a Westerner who holds a mirror up to society and himself. This mirror shows things that are not easy to watch but still you enjoy looking into it at great length.
Panasonic International
Independent filmmaker is only half the description of what Ton van Zantvoort actually does. His films are typified by the language of intimate images, a poetic structure and enormous involvement. Van Zantvoort observes with great attention and takes us into a world of people who try to survive but are confronted by external powers as tourism, international commerce and mass communication. In his seven years of making films and art, the Dutch born director and cameraman has screened his works at hundreds film festivals around the world, has been awarded more than 25 times and has taught and written on photography and documentary making in various institutions.
Reviews SHEEP HERO
Trouw (national paper)“Film moment of 2019, not to be missed!”
Volkskrant (national paper) ★★★★ “a visual ode to a primeval landscape. And if there is ever a prize for the most beautiful drone images, SHEEP HERO should win.”
Nederlands Dagblad (national paper) ★★★★ “SHEEP HERO lets you really sympathize with Stijn.“
Indebioscoop ★★★★★ “extreme strong film ”
Filmvandaag ★★★★ ½ “Everything is perfect in SHEEP HERO. There is a complete story, interspersed with beautiful images and beautiful characters. None of this would be out of place in a feature film.”
De Protagonisten ★★★★ “Truly recommended. The images are beautiful and more sincere than Stijn, you hardly find them anymore.”
International reviews of a BLOOMING BUSINESS
a poetic, cinematic and poignant documentary – IMDB Movie database – USA
the film intrigues and outrages in equal measure – Eye For Film, review 4 out 5 stars – UK
Part poetry, part explosive exposé – Newport International Film Festival – USA
A quietly formidable film – Vancouver International Film Festival -CA
It’s time to wake up and smell the imported roses – Edinburgh Int’l Film Festival – UK
for the outstanding artistic achievement of a strong film – Golden Olive Award
curriculum vitae NEWTON film
SHEEP HERO director
about Stijn
Shepherd Stijn has chosen to live as a free man, supporting his family in an honest and sustainable way. That is what he thought. But modern neoliberal life is hard, encloses him and grinds him down bit by bit. What is left of his freedom? Is there an ultimate escape?
He is a true idealist at heart. He believes in people looking out for one another, living in close connection with nature and being self-sufficient. However, he finds his pure, uncompromising way of life more and more at odds with the world around him. A world that is driven by money, technology and mass consumption.
A world that favours those who ’go with the flock’ and makes it impossible for Stijn to realize his dream. Stijn may not be a born businessman, but it is mainly this contrast between how the world should be and reality that has made him bitter. Stijn keeps at it, looking for new ways to survive and support his family. Trying to get by without losing yourself, isn’t that what we are all doing?
TON VAN ZANTVOORT | DIRECTOR | PRODUCER | IMDB
Acclaimed Dutch director and cinematographer whose works have screened at numerous prestigious film festivals. His work has been broadcast all over the world and he has won dozens of awards. SHEEP HERO is his first feature length film that will have an official theatrical release in the Netherlands.
newtonfilm.nl | tonvanzantvoort.nl
JOOST SEELEN | COACH | IMDB
He focuses on documentaries that challenge and surprise and clearly bear the director’s signature: form and content reinforcing each other. Films that bring the viewer close to the perception of the main characters and in which the special and tense relationship between the individual and the surrounding world plays an important role.
zuidenwind.nl
RALF VERBEEK | EDITING ADVICE | IMDB
“You can use as many tricks and manipulations as you want, but the truth and honesty touches the heart of your audience the most. I like to play with that. Film must continue to surprise.”
ralffilm.nl
GYS ZEVENBERGEN | EDITING ADVICE | IMDB
To write is human, to edit is divine. With more than 50 films to his name and even more awards, he is one of the best editors in the Netherlands. Editing makes the movie and Zevenbergen has been editing since 1985; his films have been screened at prominent film festivals around the world ever since.
JEROEN GOEIJERS | SOUND DESIGNER | IMDB
For the past 25 years he has composed music and designed sound for over 200 films for the international industry which have been shown and awarded on many International film festivals (a.o. Toronto, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Berlin, Utah, New York).
jeroengoeijers.nl
ROY BEMELMANS | MUSIC COMPOSER | IMDB
“Subtlety and impact don’t have to be mutually exclusive.” In this one phrase, composer Roy Bemelmans summarizes the unique musical signature that has established him at the forefront of today’s new generation of orchestral composers. His work draws parallels to peers and heroes such as James Horner, Max Richter and Mychael Danna.
roy-bemelmans.com
ANNEROSE LANGEVELD | SOUND | LINE PRODUCER | IMDB
Annerose has been working with the director for more than ten years and they complement each other perfectly. With great precision and diligence Annerose creates work that touches people and makes them think of the role humans play in this world.
OLIVIER NIJS | ADDITIONAL SOUND | IMDB
To truly find the sound, that’s what I listen for. A matter of craft, trial and error, and being in the right place at the right time. And then when I manage to catch that moment, it just makes my day.
oliviernijs.nl
MARC THELOSEN | CO-PRODUCER | IMDB
Marc is creative producer at the Rotterdam-based production company seriousFilm. He produced many award-winning art films, animations, film essays, and documentaries, reaching a variety of audiences around the world.
seriousfilm.nl
KOERT DAVIDSE | CO-PRODUCER | IMDB
Koert started his career as a script writer. In 2002 he directed his first long documentary The Flood. His second long documentary Sybold van Ravesteyn: architect for eternity was seriousFilm’s first production in 2005, since then he delivered over 8 short and long documentaries, and has many more to come.
seriousfilm.nl
IRIS VAN DE RIJT | PRODUCTION INTERN
Iris did a great job as production intern. She assisted on many shooting days, spent a lot of time spotting and making rough cuts and even made a few important images that ended up in the film.
special thanks to
Stijn & Anna
Artuur & Midas
Loek & Margriet
Martin, Tim & Michael
director & cinematographer
Ton van Zantvoort
sound
Annerose Langeveld
Iris van de Rijt
Olivier Nijs
editing
Ton van Zantvoort
editing advice
Joost Seelen
Ralf Verbeek
Gys Zevenbergen
Barbara Hin
music
Roy Bemelmans
sound design
Jeroen Goeijers
visual effects and grading
NEWTON film
grading advice
Ramon de Jong
deliveries
Rob Maas
production intern
Iris van de Rijt
subtitles
Jozef Brienen
artwork
newton solutions
co-producers seriousFilm
Marc Thelosen
Koert Davidse
co-producer NEWTON film
Ton van Zantvoort
line producer NEWTON film
Annerose Langeveld
commissioning editor Omroep Brabant
Lout Donders
commissioning editor documentaries KRO-NCRV
Jelle Peter de Ruiter
producer documentaries KRO-NCRV
Yolande van der Blij
theatrical distribution
Windmill Film Distribution
distributor
Wallie Pollé
world sales
Films Transit International Inc.
sales agent
Jan Rofekamp
thanks to
Family Hilgers, Family van Diepen, Martin blaauwgeers, Michael Colart, Tim van delft, Daphne Hogeweg, Patrick learbuch, Bert Klerks, all shepherds and volunteers, traditional shepherds guild, Marcel van Silfhout, Nyeleni forum , Dutch delegation, Sylvia Kay, TNI/ FIAN, Jildou Friso, Elske Hageraats, Lars Veraart, Guus Geurts, ASR estate Harry Breviers, Marianne Oostveen, Radio 1 Langs de lijn, Renze Klamer, Robbert Meeder, RTL4, Herman den Blijker, De Druiventros, family Mutsaers, Accountant Leermakers, Hein Koenraad, Daisy Lane Tilburg, Sabine Wijsman, Michael Wirken, BNN Rare Jongens, Valerio Zeno, Jelle de Beule, Leo Alkemade, The slaughterhouse, Elementary School Tilburg, municipality Goirle, Streekpark Klein Oisterwijk, Fijnproevers en Smaakbarbaren, Neighborhood committee Aarle Poppel, parlour ‘t Moontje, Wouter Verhoeven, Rutger Hesseling, Etienne van Nuland, Koen van Grinsven, Giel van Schaijk, Meike van Zandvoort, Maureen Prins, Marcel Melchers, Stijn van Eekelen, Family van Zantvoort, Radius College, AKv St Joost,
Noortje van de Sande, Anke van Dijen, Wallie Pollé, Jan Rofekamp and everyone that made the film possible.
This film is produced by NEWTON film and seriousFilm in co-production with Omroep Brabant and KRO-NCRV. This film was supported by the Dutch Cultural Media Fund, the Netherlands Film Fund and Brabantse Beauties.
© 2019 NEWTON film | seriousFilm | Omroep Brabant | KRO-NCRV
please use one of the main stills
alternative stills
English artwork (Dutch below)
Dutch artwork
The documentary SHEEP HERO premiered at IDFA and ended up as the highest scoring Dutch film in the audience award top 10 best of IDFA. At the DOCfeed Film Festival in Eindhoven, the film was shown in 4 venues as the opening film, after which it was theatrically released in more than 70 Dutch movie theaters where it screened for many months. SHEEP HERO received rave reviews with 4 and 5 stars in virtually all major national newspapers and magazines. Internationally, titled SHEEP HERO, the film was selected for more than 150 renowned international film festivals, including Vision du Reel, DOK.fest Munchen, GZDOC, Docs Against Gravity, DOC NYC, Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, Dokufest, and many other film festivals. On these festivals the film won more than 25 international awards and more than 35 nominations for best film, best direction, best cinematography and best editing, all performed by director Ton van Zantvoort. SHEEP HERO was also broadcast on TV in several European countries and shown in cinemas in Belgium and France under the name NO WAY. The film has reached more than 1 million viewers and has contributed to legislative changes in the Netherlands.
download English presskit as PDF
download Dutch presskit as PDF
| Index | Page |
|---|---|
| INFORMATION | 3 |
| SYNOPSIS | 4 |
| MAIN CHARACTER | 6 |
| DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT | 7 |
| CREW | 8 |
| ABOUT THE DIRECTOR | 10 |
| STILLS | 12 |
| FAQ | 13 |
| CREDITS | 14 |
| REVIEWS | 15 |
| PUBLICATIONS | 16 |
| SCREENINGS | 17 |
1. How long did the project take?
10 years ago I became friends with Stijn. From start to finish it took more than 8 years. We shot over the course of two years. Editing took two years, spanning 80 different versions and 2 picture locks. We did many test screenings with difference audiences.
2. Why did you choose this way of storytelling?
I wanted to tell the story in an observational cinema vérité style, without a voice-over and with very little interviews that would explicitly emphasize the point I am making. We are very close to Stijn and as in direct cinema we become unaware of the camera’s presence. I didn’t want to tell the story too obviously, but rather give the audience the sense that they are discovering the story themselves and with it the heart of the film.
3. What point do you want to make?
Is it possible in our neoliberal world not to follow the flock and to what extent? And if we choose to live differently, is it worth the fight? In the film Stijn discovers that shepherds are being recognized as intangible cultural heritage. But what good is that if they are 30K short each year? Towards the end of the film our seemingly traditional shepherd is being ‘exhibited’ on a TV show called ‘Weirdos’, in an episode about bygone times. What do we really think is important in our society?
4. What artistic choices did you make?
Everything is by choice. I wanted the audience to feel Stijn’s stress and get close to him. I explicitly shot with a wide lens, an 1.7 aperture with lots of DOF and handheld to capture the constant movement and tension of the situation. To emphasize this tension, the film is recorded in twilight whenever possible. The sun is only shining in the beginning, but in the rest of the film there is rain, snow, fog, wind and darkness. Most weather effects such as rain and snow were added in post. During writing I already knew I wanted to color grade everything in a ‘sky on fire / blue and orange’ complementary color contrast which underscores the tension and oppression.
5. What was a problem during the process?
I feel quite lucky with many scenes, as most of the film unfolded as I had anticipated in the years before. For example in the script I wrote “Besides Anna’s husband and father of Midas and Artuur, Stijn in a way is still a child living with his parents. His parents have to clean up his mess.” In the film Stijn is fined because a few sheep droppings were left on the pavement in front of an ice cream parlor. As mom is sweeping up the droppings with a hand brush, the police are writing a report. I do think it has a lot to do with having the nose for being at the right place at the right time. I can’t tell anything about the ending, but I am also satisfied with that.
6. Any challenges during the making?
To show that herding sheep isn’t as romantic as we think, I deliberately focused on Stijn’s moments of stress during shooting. The result however was, when people saw the first rough cut (with Stijn yelling and stressing most of the time), they were taken aback by that side of Stijn. I love Stijn and understand his behavior but the viewers didn’t feel for him the way I wanted them to feel. A struggle during the editing was to create the exact right balance in Stijn’s character: loving and passionate shepherd on one hand, burned out and angry entrepreneur on the other.
Trouw (national paper)“Film moment of 2019, not to be missed!”
Volkskrant (national paper) ★★★★ “a visual ode to a primeval landscape. And if there is ever a prize for the most beautiful drone images, SHEEP HERO should win.”
Nederlands Dagblad (national paper) ★★★★ “SHEEP HERO lets you really sympathize with Stijn.“
Indebioscoop ★★★★★ “extremely strong film ”
Filmvandaag ★★★★ ½ “Everything is perfect in SHEEP HERO. There is a complete story, interspersed with beautiful images and beautiful characters. None of this would be out of place in a feature film.”
De Protagonisten ★★★★ “Truly recommended. The images are beautiful and more sincere than Stijn, you hardly find them anymore.”
★★★★★
Everything is perfect. A great story with beautiful cinematography and magnificent characters. None of this would be out of place in a feature fiction film.
It’s just movies – November 2019 – US Premiere DOCNYC
Modern Times Review – Another one bites the dust (read pdf)
Trouw 03-01-2019 – These will be the top 5 films in 2019
Volkskrant 09-11-2018 / 28-10-2018
23-11-2018 | VPRO Best of IDFA TOP 10 NPO2
The documentary SHEEP HERO ended with a 8.9 in the top 10 best films of IDFA 2018. During the live talkshow on national TV the winner of the IDFA Audience Award 2018 was announced. Director Ton van Zantvoort was there together with Father Loek to talk about the film (in Dutch) .
26-11- 2018 RTL 4 – 5 uur Live – IDFA special
Radio 1 journaal live with Stijn (16-11-2018, Dutch)
Radio 2 Ruud de Wild ‘de Wild in de middag’ with Stijn (16-11-2018, Dutch)
Radio 1 Felix Rottenberg IDFA aanrader (18-11-2018, Dutch)
Radio 4 Opium with Director Ton van Zantvoort (9-11-2018, Dutch)
SEE NL – Filmfund November 2018 – Nick Cunningham
09-11-2018 | Director Ton van Zantvoort at Radio 4 Opium
Talking about SHEEP HERO with music by my composer Roy Bemelmans and music from films such as Requiem for a dream (Darren Aronofsky, music composed by Clint Mansell and performed by the Kronos Quartet) Arrival (music by Max Richter), and classic tv serie North & South. In Dutch on 0.00 – 2.10 | 9.30 – 26.00 | 34:00 – 42.00 | 51:30 – 56:00 | 1:03:50 -1:22:29
15-11-2018 Brabants Dagblad | BN de Stem
Bernhezer | regio Oss 09-11-2018
International film festivals
date | festival | additional | country | city | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-11-17 | IDFA | Competition | Top 10 best of IDFA | The Netherlands | Amsterdam | |
| 2019-02-21 | Theatrical Release | In 70+ cinemas for 2+ months more than 1000 screenings | The Netherlands | All major | |
| 2019-02-21 | DOCfeed | Opening film | The Netherlands | Eindhoven | |
| 2019-02-21 | NVIFF | Award for best film | best director Winner | The Netherlands | Amsterdam | |
| 2019-03-06 | Thessaloniki Documentary Festival | International premiere | Greece | Thessaloniki | |
| 2019-03-08 | One World Prague | Regional Jury Nominee | Czech premiere | Czech republic | Prague | |
| 2019-03-28 | Docville Leuven | Best International Documentary Nominee | Belgian premiere | Belgium | Leuven | |
| 2019-03-28 | Millenium International Documentary Film Festival | La Trois Distribution award | International competition | Belgium | Brussels | |
| 2019-04-06 | Visions du Réel | Grand Angle nominee | Switserland | Nyon | |
| 2019-04-13 | TIAFF | - | The Netherlands | Tilburg | |
| 2020-04-24 | La Bibliothèque du Grand M | - | Toulouse | France | |
| 2019-04-29 | European Cinematography Award | Winner of the Best European Cinematography Award | Multiple cities | Europe | |
| 2019-05-08 | DOK.fest München | German premiere | Germany | München | |
| 2019-05-10 | Docs Against Gravity Film Festival | Winner Best Documentary Green Warsaw Award | Competition | Poland | Warszawa | |
| 2019-05-15 | Theatrical Release | Belgium in 8 venues | Belgium | Several | |
| 2019-05-23 | Cinema Planeta | Best International documentary nominee | Mexico | Guernavaca | |
| 2019-06-01 | FICMEC | Best International Feature length Documentary Nominee | Canary Islands | Tenerife | |
| 2019-06-13 | MOOOV | - | Belgium | Turnhout | |
| 2019-06-18 | FIDADOC | Prix du Public nominee | Morocco | Agadir | |
| 2019-08-03 | International Documentary Festival of Ierapetra | Ierapetra Award nominee | Greece | Crete | |
| 2019-06-17 | New York Cinematography AWARDS (NYCA) | Winner of the best documentary film | USA | New York | |
| 2019-06-25 | Pärnu Film Festival | Estonian People' s Award nominee | Estonia | Pärnu | |
| 2019-07-20 | European Film Festival Palić (26th) | Eco Dox nominee | Serbia | Palić | |
| 2019-07-27 | KGIFF Kranjska Gora International Film Festival | Vitranc Award nominee | Slovenia | Kranjska Gora | |
| 2019-08-02 | DokuFest | Best Green Dox nominee | Kosovo | Prizren | |
| 2019-08-03 | Green Montenegro International Film Fest | Soul Ecology nominee | Montenegro | Podgorica | |
| 2019-08-19 | West Europe International Film Festival | Best Feature Documentary & Best Cinematography In A Documentary Nominee | Belgium | Brussels | |
| 2019-08-24 | Nacht van het Witte Doek | outdoor screening | The Netherlands | Deurne | |
| 2019-08-25 | Makedox | Best International Feature documentary nominee | Macedonia | Skopje | |
| 2019-09-14 | Moldox | Official selection | Moldova | Cahul | |
| 2019-09-22 | Split Film Festival (24th) | Best International Features nominee | Croatia | Split | |
| 2019-09-19 | Festiver Festival Barichara (9th) | Best International Feature Film nominee + winner honorable jury mention | Colombia | Barichara | |
| 2019-09-24 | Flahertiana International Documentary Festival | Best international documentary nominee | Russia | Perm | |
| 2019-09-30 | Dutch Film Festival (NFF, 39th) | Golden Calf selection | The Netherlands | Utrecht | |
| 2019-10-03 | NFFO Nature Film Festival Oisterwijk | Opening film | The Netherlands | Oisterwijk | |
| 2019-10-14 | Prince of Prestige Academy Awards | Official selection | USA | Florida | |
| 2019-09-22 | Meetings in Siberia | Official selection | Russia | Novosibirsk | |
| 2019-10-04 | Västerås Filmfestival | Best International Documentary nominee | Sweden | Västerås | |
| 2019-10-15 | Inconvenient Films Festival | Audience Choice Award nominee and Youth Jury Award nominee | Lithuania | Vilnius | |
| 2019-10-09 | BIFED 2019 | Panarama section | Turkey | Bozcaada | |
| 2019-10-09 | One World Slovakia | Best International documentary nominee | Slovakia | Bratislava | |
| 2019-10-10 | Ekofilm Film Festival (45th) | Beauty of Nature nominee | Czech Republic | Brno | |
| 2019-10-10 | Golden Tree International Documentary Film Festival | Official opening film | Germany | Frankfurt | |
| 2019-10-17 | Alexandre Trauner ART/FILM Festival | Official selection | Hungary | Szolnok | |
| 2019-10-15 | Eberswalde Film Festival - Provinziale | Best documentary nominee | Germany | Eberswalde | |
| 2019-10-18 | Planet in Focus | International competition nominee | North American premiere | Canada | Toronto | |
| 2019-10-17 | CineEco Seia | Winner Honourable mention and Best International Longas nominee | Portugal | Seia | |
| 2019-11-07 | DOC NYC (10th) | International perspective and portrait section | US premiere | USA | New York | |
| 2019-11-09 | Red Rock Film Festival (13th) | Closing film | USA | Utah | |
| 2019-11-10 | Festival Tutti Nello Stesso Piatto | Official competition | Italy | Trente | |
| 2019-11-15 | Verzió International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival | Anthropocene section | Hungary | Budapest | |
| 2019-11-01 | Accolade Global Film Competition | Award of Excellence: Film Feature | USA | California | |
| 2019-11-01 | NYCA New York Cinematography Awards | Best Documentary Film USA 2019 | USA | New York | |
| 2019-11-01 | Prince of Prestige Acadamy award | Best motion picture, best documentary and best cinematography nominee | USA | - | |
| 2019-11-09 | Leeds International Film Festival | UK premiere | UK | Leeds | |
| 2019-11-07 | Panorama of the European Film in Egypt | Egypt premiere | Egypt | Zawya | |
| 2019-11-15 | Strasburg Film Festival | Official competition | USA | Strasburg | |
| 2019-11-19 | FISFF Fiorenzo Serra Film Festival | Winner 2nd Best International Feature film | Italy | Sassari | |
| 2019-11-23 | Nederland International Film Festival | Winner Best International Documentary Award and Audience award | USA | Colorado | |
| 2019-11-26 | International Anthropological Film Festival (8th) | Official selection | Israel | Jeruzalem | |
| 2019-11-27 | FICMA Festival Internacional de Cine con Medios Alternativos | Winner Best International Documentary Award | Mexico | Mexico City | |
| 2019-12-01 | LIDF London International Documentary Festival | Best International Documentary nominee | UK | London | |
| 2019-12-09 | Iran International Documentary Film Festival | Winner special Jury mention and Best Full-Length Documentary Nominee | Iran | Tehran | |
| 2019-12-10 | GZDOC | Golden Kapok Award Nominee | China | Guagnzhou | |
| 2019-12-12 | China International Green Film Week | selection | China | Beijing | |
| 2020-01-18 | Alternative green week | Heinrich Boell Foundation, Schumannstrasse 8, 10117 Berlin | Germany | Berlin | |
| 2020-01-08 | De Roma | Turnhoutsebaan 286 | Belgium | Borgerhout | |
| 2020-01-15 | Cultuurcentrum Begijnhof Diest | Citadel, 3290 | Belgium | Diest | |
| 2020-02-01 | Rome Independent Prisma Awards | Best Feature Doc nominee | Italy | Rome | |
| 2020-01-31 | Florence Film Awards | Official finalist and winner of best original story | Italy | Florence | |
| 2020-03-21 | LA Festival of Cinema | Finalist | USA | Los Angeles | |
| 2020-03-01 | Jansstheater | Lichem | The Netherlands | Lochem | |
| 2020-03-19 | DCEFF - Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital | Official selection | USA | Washington DC | |
| 2020-03-22 | Torino Underground Cinefest (7th) | Winner best director feature films | Italy | Torino | |
| 2020-05-04 | Ecozine | Official opening film | Spain | Zaragoza | |
| 2020-05-11 | Ekotopfilm | International Competition | Bratislava | Slovakia | |
| 2020-07-06 | Alternative Film Festival | Winner best documentary Feature | Canada | Toronto | |
| 2020-07-25 | Woods Hole Film Festival (29th) | Best feature documentary nominee | USA | Massachusetts | |
| 2020-08-03 | The 26th Shanghai TV Festival | Magnolia award for best documentary nominee | China | Shanghai | |
| 2020-08-16 | Krakow Green Film Festival | Best feature documentary nominee | Poland | Krakow | |
| 2020-09-01 | Salento Int'l Film Festival | Winner best documentary | Italy | Tricase | |
| 2020-09-03 | Euganea Film Festival 2020 | Best International Film nominee | Italy | Padua | |
| 2020-09-03 | FicLaPaz Festival Internacional de Cine de La Paz | Best Documentary Feature Award | Bolivia | La Paz | |
| 2020-09-12 | Greenscreen Naturfilmfestival | Winner best newcomer | Germany | Eckernförde | |
| 2020-09-14 | VI Apricot Tree Ujan International Documentary Film Festival in Armenia | Best Documentary Feature nominee | Armenia | Ujan | |
| 2020-09-14 | The International TV Broadcasters and Independent Producers Festival SIMFEST | Romania | - | ||
| 2020-09-23 | 18th Włodzimierz Puchalski International Nature Film Festival | Winner of the President of the Polish Filmmakers Association Award | Poland | Łódź | |
| 2020-10-06 | Innsbruck Nature Film Festival | Best International Film nominee | Austria | Innsbruck | |
| 2020-10-08 | Pastoralismes et Grands Espaces | Official selection | France | Les Adrets | |
| 2020-10-08 | Workers Unite Festival | Official selection | USA | New York | |
| 2020-10-13 | 5x4 - Brandenburger Festivalkino Tour | Thalia - FilmFestival Cottbus | Germany | Potsdam | |
| 2020-10-14 | French Theatrical Release for multiple weeks | Espace Saint-Michel (first week 32 screenings) | France | Paris | |
| 2020-10-14 | French Theatrical Release for multiple weeks | Le Club | France | Grenoble | |
| 2020-10-14 | French Theatrical Release for multiple weeks | Le Star | France | Strasbourg | |
| 2020-10-14 | French Theatrical Release for multiple weeks | Les Variétés | France | Marseille | |
| 2020-10-14 | French Theatrical Release for multiple weeks | L'Espace Malraux | France | Chambéry | |
| 2020-10-15 | UNAFF United Nations Association Film Festival | Official selection/ Palo Alto/ San Fransisco | USA | Stanford | |
| 2020-10-16 | El Paso Film Festival | Best Documentary Feature Film nominee | USA | Texas | |
| 2020-10-17 | United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF) | official selection | Stanford, CA | USA | |
| 2020-10-25 | 5x4 - Brandenburger Festivalkino Tour | Movieland Berlin Erkner | Germany | Erkner | |
| 2020-10-29 | 5x4 - Brandenburger Festivalkino Tour | Zempow - Autokino | Germany | Wittstock/Dosse | |
| 2020-10-30 | 5x4 - Brandenburger Festivalkino Tour | Brandenburg - Event-Theater | Germany | Brandenburg | |
| 2020-11-12 | NorthwestFest International Documentary Festival | Best International Film nominee /audience award nominee | Canada | Edmonton Alberta | |
| 2020-11-16 | Europe On Screen | Realities section | Indonesia | Jakarta | |
| 2020-11-25 | Saratov Sufferings Film Fest | Winner of Ministry of Culture of the Saratov Region | Saratov | Russia | |
| 2020-12-01 | Asti International Film Festival | Official selection | Italy | Asti | |
| 2020-12-02 | 6th Apricot Tree Ujan International Documentary Film Festival | Winner Feature-Length Competition Grand Prix | Armenia | Yerevan | Yerevan |
| 2020-12-04 | Encuentro Internacional de Cineastas 2020 | Official selection | Mexico | Monterrey | |
| 2020-12-07 | Ânûû-rû Âboro International Film Festival | Official selection | New Caledonia | Poindimié | |
| 2020-12-12 | Indiecinema | Official selection | Italy | ||
| 2021-02-05 | Esto Es Para Esto | Official selection | Mexico | Monterrey, Nuevo Leon | |
| 2021-06-01 | GRACE International Film Festival | Competition | Germany | Berlin | |
| 2021-29-01 | Rain International Nature Film Festival | International Competition | India | Kottayam | |
| 2021-02-04 | 7th International Peloponnisos Documentary Festival | Main competition | Greece | Kalamata | |
| 2021-06-18 | Formula Mundi | Main competition | Germany | ||
| 2021-10-28 | Studio de Bakkerij | screening | Netherlands | Rotterdam | |
| 2021-11-18 | Universal Film Festival | Best documentary Feature nominee | USA | New York | |
| 2022-06-23 | Greener Screen | screening | Jordan | Aman | |
| 2022-09-07 | SIFF Serbest International Film Festival | main competition | Moldova | ||
| 2022-07-14 | Ecocup | main selection | Russia | Moscow |
SHEEP HERO on Dutch television
Omroep Brabant:
Saturday June 1st at 16:00
Sunday June 2nd at 20:30
KRO-NCRV 2DOC – NPO2:
Monday June 10 at 20:25
Tuesday June 11 at 09:55
In Belgium cinemas
Gent – Sphinx Cinema | Kortrijk Buda | Leuven – Zed
Dutch Theatrical screenings (1000+) in
Alkmaar – Filmhuis Alkmaar
Amersfoort – De Lieve Vrouw
Amsterdam – Het Ketelhuis
Amsterdam – Rialto
Amsterdam – EYE
Amsterdam – Melkweg
Amsterdam – StudioK
Apeldoorn – Gigant
Arnhem – Focus Arnhem
Assen – Filmliga Assen
Breda – Chasse Cinema
Bussum – Filmhuis
Castricum – Corso Bioscoop
Delft – Lumen theater
Dieren – Filmhuis Dieren
Enschede – Concordia
Den Bosch – Verkadefabriek
Den Haag – Filmhuis Den Haag
Eindhoven – NatLab
Geldrop – Filmhuis Hofdael
Goes – Podium ‘t Beest
Groningen – Groninger Forum
Haarlem – Filmschuur
Harderwijk – Filmhuis Harderwijk
Heesch – Filmhuis de Pas
Helmond – Cacaofabriek
Hilversum – Filmtheater Hilversum
Leeuwarden – Slieker Film
Leiden – Kijkhuis
Lelystad – Agora
Maastricht – Lumiere
Middelburg – Cinema Middelburg
Nijmegen – 042
Nijmegen – Lux
Oosterbeek – Filmhuis Oosterbeek
Oosterhout – Film op Locatie
Oudenbosch – Filmtheater FanFare
Rotterdam – LantarenVenster
Rotterdam – KINO
Schijndel – Filmclub Schijndel
Tiel – Agnietenhof Tiel
Tilburg – Cinecitta
Utrecht – LHC Louis Hartlooper Complex
Utrecht – Sprinhaver
Veendam – Filmhuis Van Beresteyn
Waalwijk – De Leest
Wageningen – Movie W
Zaandam – De Fabriek
Zierikzee – Filmtheater Zierikzee
Zwolle – Fraterhuis
Awards
Status | Award | Festival | Country | Year | City | Month | date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Best Documentary Feature | LA Festival of Cinema | USA | 2021 | Los Angelos | April | 17 |
| Winner | Ministry of Culture of the Saratov Region award | Saratov Sufferings Film Fest | Russia | 2020 | Saratov | November | 25 |
| Winner | Feature-Length Competition Grand Prix | 6th Apricot Tree Ujan International Documentary Film Festival | Armenia | 2020 | Yerevan | December | 2 |
| Winner | Grand Prix | 15ème Festival International du film Pastoralismes et Grands Espaces | France | 2020 | Grenoble | October | 11 |
| Winner | Grand prize of the city of Innsbruck for the best Environmental documentary | INF Innsbruck Nature Festival | Austria | 2020 | Innsbruck | October | 9 |
| Winner | Christian Berger Cinematography Award | INF Innsbruck Nature Festival | Austria | 2020 | Innsbruck | October | 9 |
| Winner | President of the Polish Filmmakers Association Award | 18th Włodzimierz Puchalski International Nature Film Festival | Poland | 2020 | Łódź | September | 23 |
| Winner | Best documentary | Salento Int'l Film Festival | Italy | 2020 | Tricase | September | 1 |
| Winner | Best Newcomer | International Green Screen Nature Film Festival | Germany | 2020 | Eckernförde | September | 14 |
| Winner | Best Documentary Feature Award | FicLaPaz (7th) International Film Festival Bolivia | Bolivia | 2020 | La Paz | September | 9 |
| Winner | Best Cinematography Award | Woods Hole film festival | USA | 2020 | M.A. | August | 16 |
| Winner | Best Documentary Feature | Alternative Film Festival | Canada | 2020 | Toronto | July | 6 |
| Winner | Best Cinematography Award | Indie Film Awards | Japan | 2020 | Tokyo | May | 31 |
| Winner | NL Award Best Documentary of the year | NL Media event RPO | The Netherlands | 2020 | Hilversum | April | 21 |
| Winner | Best Director | Torino Underground Cinefest (7th) | Italy | 2020 | Torino | March | 29 |
| Winner | Most Original Story Honorable mention | Florence Film Awards | Italy | 2020 | Florence | February | 4 |
| Winner | Special Jury Award | Cinema Vérité | Iran | 2019 | Tehran | December | 16 |
| Winner | Best International Documentary Award | FICMA | Mexico | 2019 | Mexico City | December | 3 |
| Winner | Best International Documentary Award and Audience award | Nederland International Film Festival | USA | 2019 | Colorado | November | 28 |
| Winner | 2nd Best International Feature film | Fiorenzo Serra Film Festival | Italy | 2019 | Sassari | November | 25 |
| Winner | Honourable mention | Cine Eco Seia | Portugal | 2019 | Seia | October | 19 |
| Winner | Award of Excellence: Film Feature | Accolade Global Film Competition | USA | 2019 | California | August | 21 |
| Winner | Best Documentary Film | NYCA New York Cinematography Awards | USA | 2019 | New York | June | 16 |
| Winner | Honourable mention | Festiver Barichara Green Film Festival | Colombia | 2019 | Santander | October | 16 |
| Winner | Green Warsaw Award | Millennium Docs Against Gravity | Poland | 2019 | Warsaw | May | 19 |
| Winner | Best European Cinematography award | European Cinematography Awards/ ECA | Europe | 2019 | Amsterdam | February | 14 |
| Winner | La Trois Distribution award | Millennium Documentary Festival | Belgium | 2019 | Brussels | March | 28 |
| Winner | Best Film and Best Director | NVIFF New Vision International Film Festival | The Netherlands | 2019 | Amsterdam | February | 21 |
| Nominee | Top 10 best of IDFA Audience | IDFA International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam | The Netherlands | 2018 | Amsterdam | November | 24 |
| Nominee | Best Documentary Feature, Best Director, Best Editing | Indie Film Awards | Japan | 2020 | Tokyo | ||
| Nominee | Best motion picture, best documentary and best cinematography nominee | Prince of Prestige Acadamy award | USA | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Regional Jury Award | One World Prague | Czech republic | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best International Documentary | Docville Leuven | Belgium | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Grand Angle | Visions du Réel | Switserland | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best International documentary | Cinema Planeta | Mexico | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best International Feature length Documentary | FICMEC | Canary Islands | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Prix du Public | FIDADOC | Morocco | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Ierapetra Award | International Documentary Festival of Ierapetra | Greece | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Estonian People' s Award | Pärnu Film Festival | Estonia | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Eco Dox | European Film Festival Palić (26th) | Serbia | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Vitranc Award | KGIFF Kranjska Gora International Film Festival | Slovenia | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best Green Dox | DokuFest | Kosovo | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Soul Ecology Award | Green Montenegro International Film Fest | Montenegro | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best International Feature documentary | Makedox | Macedonia | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best International Feature documentary | Split Film Festival (24th) | Croatia | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best International Feature film | Festiver Festival Barichara (9th) | Colombia | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best International Feature documentary | Flahertiana International Documentary Festival | Russia | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best International Feature documentary | Västerås Filmfestival | Sweden | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Audience Choice Award and Youth Jury Award | Inconvenient Films Festival | Lithuania | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best International Feature documentary | One World Slovakia | Slovakia | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Beauty of Nature Award | Ekofilm Film Festival (45th) | Czech Republic | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best International Feature documentary | Eberswalde Film Festival - Provinziale | Germany | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best International Feature documentary | Planet in Focus | Canada | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best International Longas Award | CineEco Seia | Portugal | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Audience Award | Thessaloniki Documentary Festival | Greece | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best Film & Best Cinematography | West Europe International Film Festival | Belgium | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best International Feature documentary | Golden Tree International Documentary Film Festival | Germany | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best Documentary Featurette | Red Rock Film Festival (13th) | USA | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best International Feature documentary | Festival Tutti Nello Stesso Piatto | Italy | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best International Feature documentary | Leeds International Film Festival | UK | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best International Feature documentary | Strasburg Film Festival | USA | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best International Feature documentary | International Anthropological Film Festival (8th) | Israel | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best International Feature documentary | LIDF London International Documentary Festival | UK | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Best International Feature documentary | DOC NYC (10th) | USA | 2019 | |||
| Nominee | Finalist | Near Nazareth Festival ( NNF) | Israel | 2019 | Afula | ||
| Nominee | Finalist Best Documentary Feature | LA Festival of Cinema | USA | 2020 | Los Angeles | ||
| Nominee | Shanghai TV Festival (26th) | Magnolia award | China | 2020 | Shanghai | August |
UPCOMING SCREENINGS AND SHORT NEWS
SCREENING UPDATESOur documentary, a WORLD to SHAPE is on the schedule for some special screenings. Join us in [...]
‘NO WAY’ IN FRENCH CINEMAS NOW
NO WAY IN FRENCH CINEMAS NOW SHEEP HERO retitled as NO WAY has been released in French cinemas [...]
AWARDS FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY & GRANDPRIZE FOR BEST FILM
Two awards for best film & best cinematography Awards for best cinematography and grand prize for best [...]
SHEEP HERO AS ‘NO WAY’ IN FRENCH CINEMAS
SHEEP HERO RETITLED AS NO WAY IN FRENCH CINEMASThe French theatrical release of SHEEP HERO kicks off on October [...]
SHEEP HERO: from a free shepherd to a small rental house
SHEEP HERO: from a free shepherd to a small rental house The film SHEEP HERO by Ton [...]
NL AWARD WINNER
NL AWARD WINNER BEST DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR C ompletely unexpectedly Renzo Veenstra (editor in chief of Omroep [...]
Leave A Comment