Fellows - New Producers Acadamy

Fellows

of NPA

Class of '24

Meet the Fellows of Class ’24 —a dynamic group of emerging producers, each bringing their unique vision and passion to the world of film development and production. These talented individuals are committed to telling authentic stories that reflect a wide range of perspectives, with the goal of making the industry more culturally rich. Learn more about the class of ’24 and how they’re working to shape the future of storytelling.

Marre Tramper

Marre Tramper grew up in a vibrant household infused with both Indonesian and Dutch influences. Even at a young age, she noticed a lack of cultural representation in the Dutch media, which quickly shaped her vision and ambition. During her studies in fashion & branding, this desire for more cultural diversity in the media only grew stronger.

Later in her career, she attempted to realize this vision by working as a creative and video producer. However, she found that introducing the idea of working with diverse young talent and advocating for broader cultural representation didn’t gain much traction, as the industry seemed to prioritize other concerns. When working as a production manager on her first fiction production SNOR (2023) she finally felt seen.

Marre’s mission as a producer is to create stories that reflect cultural diversity, ensuring that future generations, regardless of their backgrounds, feel seen, heard, and valued within the Dutch film industry.

Peggy Gemerts

Peggy Gemerts is a Surinamese-Dutch film professional and founder of Full Color Entertainment and online streaming platform Pepr. After graduating Film and Television Studies in 2004, she started as a text editor in media and grew through marketing at several film distributors to become an independent film distributor.

Since 2015 she has been able to give filmmakers of color a platform with Full Color Entertainment by distributing films that would otherwise not be released or by supporting distributors and producers in the release of their films.

As of November 2020, she is also the owner of Pepr, an online stage for films by Black filmmakers and stories from the African diaspora. Film production is a new field to explore and a way to come closer to filmmakers in telling their stories.

Rudina Gomez

Rudina Gomez is a producer, creative producer, and storyteller from Bonaire with a passion for media production that began at an early age. In 2017, she moved to the Netherlands to study Media and Culture at Utrecht University, driven by her vision of becoming a producer and eventually establishing her own production company. While her studies were largely theoretical, Rudina sought practical experience, launching her career in 2019 as a self-taught producer with a mission to support underrepresented creatives in bringing their stories to life.

Throughout her journey, Rudina became aware of the lack of diversity and inclusion in the audiovisual industry, particularly for creators from marginalized communities like hers. Having experienced these barriers firsthand, she is committed to changing the landscape for Caribbean creatives.

Now a fellow at the New Producers Academy, Rudina focuses not only on her own growth as a film producer but also on creating pathways for Caribbean makers to succeed in the Dutch film industry. She is dedicated to ensuring that stories from her community reach the big screen.

Jeansen Djaoen

Jeansen Djaoen, born on January 21, 1987, knew from an early age that he wanted to do something in the media. At a young age, he and his friends were already busy making videos and sketches for local TV stations. The Netherlands got to know Jeansen through the NPO documentaries ‘Lost boys’ and ‘Lost Boys, 5 years later’, where he was the subject, and the failure of aid in the Netherlands was painfully highlighted. Despite a rough background and hopeless opportunities, Jeansen has waged a titanic battle and shown that with hard work you can achieve anything you want. Starting as a radio reporter at youth station NPO FunX, he has since grown to editor-in-chief for radio and projects, where he is responsible for weekend programming and major projects like the FunX Music Awards. Jeansen is also the owner of the media company ‘Goonsquad Media’, with which he has worked as a director, producer, researcher, etc. for various formats such as ‘Jojanneke in de prostitution‘, ‘KULT‘, Drop it and he made his debut as a director and producer with the documentary ‘The school advice‘.

Now, Jeansen is ready to take the next step in his career and start working as a full-fledged producer.

Baran Sedighian Bidgoli

Baran is originally from Iran and holds a master’s degree in Illustration. She began her professional career as an illustrator and animator, following her passion for many years. In 2022, she made the decision to leave her homeland and immigrate to the Netherlands, where she pursued a second master’s degree in Animation at St. Joost University.

Her master’s graduation project, The Deer (2023), metaphorically shares her experience of immigration. The Deer has been selected for prestigious festivals, including the Stuttgart Film Festival and the Zlín Film Festival. Alongside her art, Baran is now pursuing a path as a producer, with the aim of helping artists like herself achieve their dreams.

Class of '23

Meet the Fellows of Class ’23—a talented group of emerging producers, each bringing their unique vision and passion to film development and production. This cohort is currently working on their NPA shorts, producing a diverse range of projects that span documentaries, hybrids, animation, and fiction with elements of science fiction. These filmmakers are dedicated to telling bold and authentic stories, drawing from a variety of perspectives to enrich the industry.

Elizabeth Francisco

Born and raised in Curaçao, Elizabeth is a writer-director and emerging film producer now based in Amsterdam. Her work focuses on themes of colourism, familial bonds, absurdism, and magical realism, always aiming to highlight Caribbean stories. As a 2023 fellow of the New Producers Academy (NPA), Elizabeth dedicates her craft to amplifying voices from the Caribbean and tackling urgent themes.

Her short film Roba Alma premiered at the Curaçao International Film Festival, marking a milestone as the first Filmfonds-funded production from Curaçao. Her other short, Sin Ayó, has been screened at several film festivals and received multiple accolades. Elizabeth is currently producing her first short documentary, Alex, while continuing to develop fiction projects that showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Dutch Caribbean. She is passionate about elevating diverse stories and bringing them to the forefront of the global cinema stage.

Terry Tao

Terry Tao was born and raised in Almere to parents with roots in Hong Kong. When growing up, he developed an interest in reconnecting with his bicultural background and soon discovered that the Dutch media industry lacked Asian-Dutch role models. Turning to online platforms such as YouTube, he found inspiration in Asian-American media creators producing content like short films, comedic sketches, and street interviews. Terry aims to be one of the first Dutch film producers with a focus on stories from the Asian diaspora.

Tatevik Martirosyan

Tatevik Martirosyan is an animation line producer and production coordinator with a design and animation background. This lets her understand and cherish production and development of animated films. Graduated from the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam in 2022 with a Bachelor in Animation and a minor in Visual Culture, where she had the opportunity to refine her filmmaking vision and contribute to various multidisciplinary projects, including installations, short animations and studio films. She is currently focused on the production of 2D (both digital and various analogue techniques) and stop-motion films, as well as open to and actively learning more about live-action. Whether through use of bold imagery, or incorporation of critically aware storytelling, she strives to work on projects that are visually interesting, as well as create space for dialogue and reflection.

Karim Mrabti

Karim Mrabti was born in Rotterdam and studied International Event Management. Instead of completing his studies, he decided to organize club nights and events with a group of friends. In 2016, Karim relocated to Morocco, where he established an international music, art, and culture festival in Marrakesh. Through this project, he embraced his passion for collaborating with others to achieve the extraordinary and working alongside creatives and artists. He quickly realized his talent for generating innovative ideas and identifying emerging talent.

Naomi Wills

Naomi Wills grew up in a vibrant Surinamese family in Groningen, alongside her parents and three siblings. From a young age, she was fortunate to experience art, travel, and various encounters that shaped her perspective on the world. However, Naomi noticed that the Dutch mainstream media did not always reflect her real-life experiences. It was in American pop culture that she found resonance. While pursuing her studies in Media and Entertainment Management in Rotterdam, Naomi fell in love with the film industry after unexpectedly finding herself on a film set. Despite initially focusing on directing and production, she eventually transitioned to the field of Human Resources.

Class of '22

Meet the Fellows of Class ’22—the very first cohort of the New Producers Academy, who have now become fully-fledged producers. Each successfully completed their NPA shorts, showcasing their unique vision and passion for storytelling. After a successful showcase in April 2024, many of their films premiered at festivals, with some even winning awards. From documentaries and hybrids to animation and fiction with science fiction elements, these filmmakers have proven their commitment to bold, authentic storytelling. Now, as they continue to build their careers, the momentum from the NPA fellowship continues to drive them forward.

Yordi Werkzam

Yordi Werkzam is a filmmaker and music video producer, skilled in creative development and on-set production for narrative films and new media. His film journey began during his studies at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, where he initiated his career by producing YouTube videos and crafting spec-scripts and original content. This led him to various sets, working in roles such as line producer, production assistant, 1st assistant director, and director.

Yordi Werkzam, a producer, seeks to collaborate with filmmakers and amplify voices from underrepresented backgrounds. He strives to introduce fresh Dutch and European perspectives to the global film and TV industry, treating cities as vibrant characters to showcase unique subcultures.

With an educational background in International Business and film set experience, Yordi focuses on fiction in TV and film. Additionally, he explores emerging storytelling mediums such as video games, animation, and NFTs.

Madhiha Duynhouwer

Born in Nairobi, Kenya with Arabic, Indonesian, Ugandan, and Dutch roots, Madhiha Duynhouwer emigrated with her parents and younger brother to Brabant at the end of 1997. She grew up in front of the television and dreamed of becoming a museum curator. In 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, she took a leap of faith and began working full-time in the production industry. Since then, she has held many assisting roles at various production houses. As the first cohort fellow of the New Producers Academy, she started producing films herself and launched Clove Film.

Madhiha aims to address contemporary themes prevalent in our society. The major themes in her stories often revolve around identity, migration, bi-cultural background, success, and, not to forget, love. She wants to produce films that accurately represent diverse perspectives, highlight the differences between people, and show that fundamentally, we are not so different from one another.

Nizar El Manouzi

For a time, Nizar envisioned his future in the medical field, but he soon realized it didn’t fulfill his passion, creativity, or ideas. Now, his work spans acting, producing, presenting, and creative entrepreneurship. His diverse interests include philosophy, medicine, social action, and most of all, exploring the complexity of reality and human nature. Nizar draws inspiration from his personal experiences and his bicultural background as a Moroccan raised in the Netherlands. He believes that film is a powerful medium for communicating complex ideas and emotions in an accessible way.

As a film producer, Nizar aims to bridge his varied interests, creating experiences where viewers feel engaged, surprised, and understood. He gravitates toward formats like social drama, thrillers, and documentaries, and is dedicated to providing space for talented creators to bring their authentic visions to life.

Being part of the NPA has allowed Nizar to combine his talents with his passion. The most valuable lesson he learned during his time at the NPA is that motivation is key to sustaining a project, and that every individual brings something valuable to the table, even when perspectives differ.

Emilia Lantink

As a queer producer born in China and raised in the Netherlands, Emilia knows how crucial diversity and representation in media can be—not only to see oneself reflected on screen but also to build a sense of community, both for audiences and creators. She is passionate about creating accessible yet nuanced fiction, particularly for and by queer people. Emilia has produced a variety of projects, including the web series pilot Bittersweet (dir. Lara Sluyter), available on 3Lab’s YouTube channel, and the NPA-short film Morgen doen we het beter (dir. Jottum Kok), which premiered at IFFR 2024 and continues to screen at (inter)national festivals. This film is also part of the educational programme at the Netherlands Film Festival.

Emilia produced the HKU-graduation film Wij zijn de spoken (dir. Alisa Noa), which won Best Graduation Film at the Netherlands Film Festival and received the NPO3LAB fund in 2024. Based in Rotterdam, Emilia graduated with a degree in Creative Business in 2022, began her fellowship at the New Producers Academy that same year, and currently works at Volya Films.

Mirwais Sarwary

Mirwais came to the Netherlands as a child, and Dutch quickly became his primary language. Though he felt like any other kid, his Afghan, Azeri, and Georgian roots often left him feeling culturally conflicted. After 9/11, everything changed—people treated him differently because of his Muslim heritage. This experience drew him towards stories about outcasts, exploring themes of injustice, privilege, and belonging.

Filmmaking wasn’t initially on his radar until he met real filmmakers who inspired him to pursue studies at LUCA School of Arts in Belgium. There, he realized his passion for connecting people with shared visions and creating collaborative platforms. As a producer, his mission is simple: “helping good people do good stuff.”

The New Producers Academy (NPA) transformed Mirwais in unexpected ways, boosting his confidence and providing him with an invaluable network. Working on a short film at NPA allowed him to embrace trial and error and reinforced the importance of believing in his voice and continuing to refine his craft.