Thinking Outside the Box, Coloring Inside the Lines: Challenges and Growth of the Dutch Film Industry

This thesis explores how filmmakers in the Netherlands, defined as directors, producers and writers, perceive the growth potential of the Dutch film industry. Using qualitative interviews with ten filmmakers and supported by a theoretical framework that includes national cinema, risks and resilience of small-nation filmmaking, funding and co-productions. The study shows a complex film industry marked by both ambition and challenges. While participants express a desire for innovation, inclusivity and international relevance, they also point to challenges that persist, such as underfunding and bureaucratic rigidity. The findings align with the Olsberg SPI (2023) report and affirm the importance of the Dutch Film Fund's new policy (2025), which focuses on quality over quantity, talent development and innovation. Growth opportunities are identified in international co-productions, alternative appliance funding models, and audience engagement. Ultimately, this research shows that understanding industry growth requires measuring quantitative output, as well as listening to experiences and opinions of filmmakers in the Dutch film industry.