The Netherlands Film Fund (NFF) has promoted Iwana Chronis to CEO.
Chronis will succeed Sandra den Hamer, who has served as interim director for the past three years, on May 1. Den Hamer is credited with steadying the organisation after Bero Beyer stood down suddenly for health reasons in 2023.
Chronis joined the fund in 2019 as a feature film consultant and since 2021 has been head of feature film and documentary, responsible for the artistic and editorial assessment process for film applications.
She previously led the Hubert Bals Fund at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), worked for the film festival Movies that Matter and the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), and was closely involved as a coordinator in the founding of the International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk (ICFR).
Chronis will lead the film fund and shape its course and strategy together with business director George van Breemen.
The Minister of Education, Culture and Science Rianne Letschert confirmed her appointment, on the recommendation of the NFF supervisory board.
Initial responses from Dutch industry sources to her appointment have been very positive. She is a popular, well liked figure, known to be diligent and attentive to filmmakers’ concerns. Some producers, though, have noted that she lacks direct production experience and is more from what one called ‘a ‘film science than a filmmaking background.’
NFF supervisory board chair Jorien Wuite said: “Iwana knows the field inside out and was the creative driving force behind the Film Fund’s new strategy and direction. As head of selective funding, she encountered many types of projects at many different stages. She knows what we have to offer as a filmmaking nation and how the Fund cancontribute to help strengthen that position further.”
“The importance of a public fund for the independent film sector is significant. Especially now, at a time when the need for dialogue and connection within society is growing, meaningful stories are more necessary than ever,” said Chronis.
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