FilmForward invites screenwriter Fiona van Heemstra for an Artist Talk on her work in animation. She will talk us through her impressive career, her collaborations, and ways of working. Let op: de voertaal van dit programma is Engels.
Where do you get inspiration from as a screenwriter for animation? What aspects do you need to consider in animation that you might not know from writing for live action? And which collaborations are important for the process of writing for animation?
Award-winning screenwriter Fiona van Heemstra has written for live action and animation series and films. In this Artist Talk she will be in conversation with animation director Anna Eijsbouts, talking about her impressive career in writing for animation. From her long lasting collaboration with director Mascha Halberstad and producer Marleen Slot (Viking Film) to working in an international market, and the importance of writing good characters.
Fiona will also delve into collaborations with set designers and animators, who bring your story to life through certain techniques that could be worth considering in your script. In animation the writing continues in the animatic phase, which will not only impact the visual choices, but many other aspects of the scenario as well.
At the end of the Artist Talk there is a Q&A.
We conclude this morning with a networking coffee (drinks included in the ticket) to keep talking with each other about the wondrous world of animation.
Who is this Artist Talk for?
Screenwriters who write for animation and other animation professionals, like set designers, animators, producers and directors.
Deep Dive
Are you an animation professional who is currently working on a project that could benefit from this deep dive? In the afternoon, Fiona will host a Deep Dive for a select group of animation professionals. During the Deep Dive, all participants get feedback on the current challenges of their projects by Fiona. Apply by Monday 15 June through [this page].
Practical information
Date: Thursday 2 July 2026
Time: 10.00 to 12.00
Location: Social Hub – Het Parool Theater, Wibautstraat 131D, Amsterdam
Costs: €25,- excl. VAT
For this event the cancellation policy is as follows:
- If you cancel more than 14 days before the workshop day, you will receive a full refund of the ticket price.
- If you cancel between 7 and 14 days before the workshop, you will receive a 50% refund of the ticket price.
- If you cancel within 7 days of the workshop day, you will not receive a refund.
About Fiona van Heemstra
Fiona van Heemstra (1971) trained as a historian at the University of Amsterdam, where stories about real people in extraordinary circumstances first drew her to writing. After five years of making school television for Amsterdam’s local broadcaster AT5, she wrote her first short film in 2002 — the beginning of a screenwriting career that has since produced multiple award-winning live action and animation series and films. Her most celebrated animation works include Munya in Me (Banff Grand Jury Prize), Pim and Pom (multiple Cinekid Awards) and Oink (Golden Calf Best Film).
About Anna Eijsbouts
Anna Eijsbouts is an animation award winning director and writer on short films (a.o. Hate for Sale, 2017 and Voting in the EU, 2019) and documentaries (a.o. Spijtmoeders by Milou Gevers, 2024), and occasionally finds a moment for a music video. She is a programmer and host at the Kaboom Animation Festival and does jury work, organisation, and guest curation at other film festivals in Europe. Additionally, she works as a lecturer in the animation program at the Utrecht University of the Arts, has served as Head of the animation program at The University of Bedfordshire, and also leads a troubadour existence as a guest lecturer at various Dutch and international art schools.
Image copyright: Still from the movie Knor (2022, dir. Mascha Halberstad, scenario Fiona van Heemstra, prod. Viking Film / Marleen Slot)
This programme is made possible with support from Vevam Fonds.
