At IDFA 2024, we caught up with Renko Douze, producer of Tom Fassaert’s Forum project Between Brothers. The pic follows two elderly brothers – one a psychologist, the other a lifelong psychiatric patient – who set out to unravel the mystery of their father’s disappearance. Their son and nephew, filmmaker Tom Fassaert, joins them on a tragicomic road trip, untangling the roots of their inseparable bond.
“I first fell in love with Tom Fassaert’s work when I saw An Angel in Doel, which premiered at the Berlinale in 2011,” Dutch producer Renko Douze (Een van de jongens) tells BDE. “At the time, I was in my final year of film school, and his filmmaking left a lasting impression on me. We connected a few years later around the premiere of A Family Affair, which opened IDFA in 2015. Our collaboration for this new film, Between Brothers, began in 2017.”
What begins as a plan to clean up René’s cluttered, book-filled home turns into a deeper confrontation with family history, exposing a recurring generational pattern of loss, mental health struggles, and resilience. Despite their differences, the brothers’ journey reveals a profound connection that has kept them together where others might have drifted apart.
Speaking about his expectations and the project’s potential, Douze says: “Between Brothers is a powerful and universal story, and our aim at IDFA is to find partners who share our ambition to bring this film to the world. We are currently looking for a sales agent, along with other partners who can help position the film for a global audience, from festivals to theatrical distribution and beyond.”
“More than anything, we’re excited to share 20 minutes from the film, fresh from the edit room, with the industry for the very first time. Presenting this work-in-progress at IDFA is a special opportunity to receive feedback and begin building the momentum needed to launch the film internationally,” he continues.
The project is now in the final stages of post-production, with about 90% of the financing in place. “We are currently looking to secure the last bit of gap funding to complete the film,” reveals Douze. “We’re aiming for a festival premiere in early 2025, with theatrical releases planned in the Netherlands and Belgium later that year.”
Douze firmly believes in this project and in his helmer’s talent.
“Tom Fassaert’s films are renowned for their emotional depth and intimacy,” he underscores. “He often works solo, which allows him to build a uniquely close relationship with his subjects. This is especially evident in Between Brothers, where his role as both filmmaker and family member gives the story an unparalleled sense of authenticity and vulnerability.”
“His previous works, such as A Family Affair, have demonstrated his ability to craft deeply personal narratives with universal resonance, and this project continues in that vein.”
Asked whether other key creatives have joined this project, Douze explains: “While Tom works independently for much of his filmmaking process, this project also features the contributions of an exceptional team. In particular, Mick van Dantzig has done some amazing additional cinematography, which has added a poetic, more abstract visual dimension to the film, enriching its emotional and artistic impact.”
“Meanwhile, editors Thabi Mooi and Dieter Diependale are bringing their expertise in shaping emotionally complex stories, ensuring the film maintains its intimacy while offering a compelling narrative arc,” Douze adds. “Composer Tobias Borkert has been an integral part of the process from the very beginning. He collaborates closely with Tom, defining and shaping the rhythm and pacing of the film. His music deeply enhances the emotional resonance and narrative flow, becoming a vital element of the storytelling,” the producer concludes.
Between Brothers is produced by Renko Douze with Hasse van Nunen for Dutch outfit Een van de jongens, and co-produced by Hanne Phlypo for Belgian firm Clin d’oeil films.
