Three films from the Netherlands have been selected for the 75th Venice International Film Festival. Sergei Loznitsa’s Process (The Trial), produced by Atoms & Void, Loznitzas own Hague-based production house, world-premieres Out of Competition while the documentary essay Living the Light – Robby Müller by Claire Pijman (produced by Moondocs) screens in VENICE CLASSICS – Documentary on Cinema section. Sven Bresser’s short film L’été et tout le reste (produced by IJswater Films) world premieres in Orizzonti Short Films Competition. All films are supported by the Netherlands Film Fund.

Sergei Loznitsa’s Process (The Trial) uses unique archive footage to present one of Stalin’s first show trials as an actor-led theatrical performance in which prosecutors, witnesses, defendants and judges lie to themselves, to the audience and to the world. The film records events in Moscow’s Pillar Hall of the State House of the Unions in 1930, when a group of top ranking economists and engineers is put on trial accused of plotting a coup d’état against the Soviet government.
 
Living the Light – Robby Müller is about the legendary Dutch Director of Photography who passed away July 4 2018. Müller worked with some of the major directors of our time, such as Wim Wenders, William Friedkin, Jim Jarmusch, Lars von Trier and Steve McQueen, in the process shooting modern classics like Dancer in the Dark (2006), Breaking the Waves (1996), Dead Man (1995), Mystery Train (1989), Barfly (1987), Down by Law (1986), Paris, Texas (1984), The American Friend (1977) and Alice in the Cities (1974).

For this lyrical film essay director and fellow DoP Claire Pijman was given full access by Müller to thousands of hours of his Hi8 video diaries, photographs and polaroids that he produced while working on some of the seventy films he shot throughout his career. The documentary interweaves these images with fragments from his oeuvre into a fluid and cinematic continuum. Together with producer/composer Carter Logan, Jim Jarmusch adds a musical voice to the film. The film is produced by Moondocs (a.o. Need for Meat, Janine, Shame/Fame).

L’été et tout le reste by Sven Bresser will have its world premiere in Orizzonti Short Films Competition. When, at the end of the summer, the last of the ferries leave Corsica and most of Marc-Antoine’s friends have left for the mainland to study or to work, he and his friend Mickael remain behind on the deserted island. Mickael is full of plans to leave, but Marc-Antoine seems unwilling to escape his old life…

Director Bresser graduated in 2016 with his short film Cavello, which was awarded the VERS Jury Prize for new Dutch talent. Bresser’s short TV film Free Fight, also produced by IJswater Films, is selected for the Golden Calf competition at the upcoming Netherlands Film Festival. IJswater Films produces high quality drama and award-winning features and shorts by emerging or established talent. The short film Raak won a Berlinale Golden Bear while the feature The Polish Bride won Cannes Critics Choice and a Golden Globe Nomination. Recently, In Blue won Best Feature at the Austin FF.

In addition, as previously announced, four Dutch projects have been selected For the Venice Gap Financing Market. These include Do Not Hesitate by Shariff Korver (produced by Lemming Film and co-produced with Colombia) and the VR project The Imaginary Friend by Steye Hallema (produced by Submarine and co-produced with the UK).

The 75th Venice International Film Festival is organized by La Biennale di Venezia and will take place August 29 to September 8 2018