About FilmForward

FilmForward was founded in 2020 with support from the Netherlands Film Fund as a central, connecting organisation within the television and audiovisual sector. Working closely with professional associations, festivals, producers, and other sector partners, we began with the aim of strengthening and connecting the existing field — across disciplines, regions, and levels of experience. From the outset, a future-oriented and inclusive approach has been central to our work.

In just five years, FilmForward has grown into a stable and widely valued organisation. Each year, hundreds of professionals from a wide range of disciplines find space within FilmForward to deepen their practice, learn from one another, and grow together.

Our Vision

FilmForward strives for a future-proof Dutch film and audiovisual sector: one that is innovative, internationally competitive, and capable of creating artistically leading, high-quality, and socially relevant productions that reach a wide audience.

We believe such a sector requires professionals with access to the knowledge and networks that enable their artistic craft to flourish; a future-focused learning culture in which knowledge is deepened, developed, and shared, and where there is room for reflection and exchange; and a healthy ecosystem in which professionals enjoy their work, talent can find its way with ease, and where fair practice, safety, sustainability, and inclusion form strong foundations.

Our Mission

FilmForward’s mission is to promote a strong and healthy film and audiovisual sector and to stimulate a future-oriented learning culture in which film professionals can develop sustainably. We work towards this mission through three strategic pillars:

1. Deepening and developing knowledge
   We offer a broad and varied programme for film and audiovisual professionals from all disciplines. We stimulate artistic development and innovation, as well as the development of technical expertise and entrepreneurship. In a sector where the vast majority are freelancers moving from project to project, we focus on creating a free thinking space that allows for reflection, vision development, and experimentation.
2. Collaboration, exchange, and mobility
   We believe in the power of collaboration—not departments functioning as isolated islands, but professionals from different disciplines working together productively. Our interdisciplinary programmes stimulate encounters, exchange, and knowledge sharing. We are building a strong infrastructure for talent development by connecting networks, opening up existing initiatives, and promoting mobility.
3. Strengthening a healthy sector
   As a central sector organisation, we promote a fair, safe, and inclusive industry. We support the sector in implementing sector-wide (policy) codes and provide individual professionals with tools to strengthen their position within the field. In developing all our programmes, fair practice, diversity & inclusion, and sustainability are key values. In our long-term programmes, we integrate these values as fully as possible. In addition, we drive further development by working with partners to design programmes around specific themes.