English-language adaptation of Dutch bestseller to open IFFR 2016.

Beyond Sleep

Beyond Sleep, the latest feature from Dutch director Boudewijn Koole (Kauwboy), is to open the 45th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) on Jan 27.

The English-language film is based on Willem Frederik Hermans’ bestselling novel, Nooit meer slapen, and will world premiere on the opening night of IFFR.

Reinout Scholten van Aschat takes the lead role of ambitious geologist Alfred Issendorf, who goes in search of meteorites in the swampy north of Norway, hoping that the journey will cement his academic reputation by uncovering a significant scientific proof.

The young geologist is also trying to continue the work of his father, who died during a similar research trip, and he only finds redemption when he has reached the brink of insanity. The cast also includes Pål Sverre Hagen (Kon-Tiki).

Beyond Sleep is produced by Hanneke Niens and Hans de Wolf (Soof, Nena, Ventoux, Twin Sisters) from Amsterdam-based KeyFilm in co-production with Dutch broadcaster VPRO and Nordisk Film, in cooperation with FilmCamp, and was realised with support from the Netherlands Film Fund, the Netherlands Film Production Incentive, CoBO and the Norwegian Film Institute.

September Film will release Beyond Sleep in Dutch cinemas on Feb 11.

IFFR festival director Bero Beyer described it as “a dream opening film: a Dutch story taken to another level by international cooperation in cinematography and production”.  

The 45th IFFR will run Jan 27 to Feb 7.