About
I shoot intimate, visually imaginative films that balance realism with the surreal. I work across fiction, documentary and commercials, in the Netherlands and abroad.
I like joining a project early, talking through the emotional perspective, finding the visual language and deciding where preparation should end and instinct can begin. Preparation gives us something solid to stand on. When the pressure rises, I stay calm, keep looking and solve the problem in front of us.
I like working with honest directors and producers who are as passionate about film as I am. I bring sensitivity to actors and the people in front of the camera. I enjoy creative problem solving and translating an idea into images that feel true to the story. I like experimenting, but only when the story asks for it. Apart from that: good coffee, a sarcastic joke and a stroopwafel.
Directors I’ve worked with
Astrit Ismaili · Biserka Šuran · Sarah Blok & Lisa Konno · Puck Litaay ·
Luuk Walschot · Rosita Wolkers · Ewan Macbeth · Zara Dwinger · Daphne Lucker ·
Cory Santilli · Maurice Trouwborst · Joey de Leeuw · Jacobine van Hellemond ·
Juul Op den Kamp · Diek Pothoven · Tim Gersen · Kristian van Kuijk
Bandit · Studio Ruba · Hazazah · Pink Rabbit · VPRO
Selections and awards
Locarno Film Festival 2026, world premiere, First Flower
IDFA 2022, Envision Competition, nominated Best Dutch Film, Scenes with My Father
Trieste Film Festival 2023, winner, Documentary Competition
SEEfest Los Angeles 2023, winner, Best Documentary
Beyond Borders Kastellorizo 2023, History Award and FIPRESCI Award
ZagrebDox 2023, winner, Small Stamp Award
Young Director Award, Union Jake
Nederlands Film Festival, Spijkerbroekelite, Sunshine Motel
Cinekid nomination 2021, Sunshine Motel
VPRO 2Doc, Henk
abelvdijk@gmail.com · instagram
Curriculum
Fiction
First FlowerAstrit Ismaili · 17 min
2026
KosmosRosita Wolkers · 10 min · NPO 3Lab
2025
SpijkerbroekelitePuck Litaay · 20 min · Nederlands Film Festival
2024
Prison with SongbirdsEwan Macbeth · IFFR
2022
Sunshine MotelRosita Wolkers · 6 min · NFF Debut Competition · Cinekid nomination
2021
EchoDaphne Lucker · Kepler Film · 40 min
2020
Fiction, earlier
AlphaMaurice Trouwborst · Kaapholland · episode of the Videoland series Random Shit
2019
Union JakeLuuk Walschot · 3 min · Winner, Young Director Award
2019
360 DegreesJoey de Leeuw · 2 min
2019
A Death in the FamilyPuck Litaay · 4 min · nominated Best Cinematography, Shortcutz Annual Awards
2018
LivZara Dwinger · 12 min · Short of the Week · Go Short Nijmegen
2016
Froth and BubbleCory Santilli · USA · 85 min · with Chloe Levine and Orson Bean
in production
Documentary
HenkSarah Blok and Lisa Konno · Studio Ruba with VPRO · 25 min
2022
Scenes with My FatherBiserka Šuran · 47 min · IDFA Envision · winner, Trieste
2022
Commercial
Moeders voor MoedersJacobine van Hellemond · Hazazah
ToegiftJuul Op den Kamp · Pink Rabbit
Defensie, Generatie DSteamTalmark · two films
KraamZusTim Gersen · Daily Dialogues · 16mm
Adidas Originals and Footlocker, LOOPSJam Jam Creative · Cake Film & Photography
And for Adidas, Amsterdam Museum, Appelsap, Ben, Bunq, Citroën, Concertgebouw, Desperados, Dutch Masters of Steel, Duracell, Etos, Huawei, Interpolis, Jägermeister, Kinderpostzegels, KPN, Kunsthal Rotterdam, KVK, LG, Lois Jeans, Netflix, Philips, Rabobank, Rijksoverheid, Swapfiets, TNO, Tommy Hilfiger, Tropenmuseum, Yoga, Zeeman.
B camera operator
Front RowDirector: Miriam Guttman · DP: Christiaan van Leeuwen
Medisch Centrum WestDirector: Simone van Dusseldorp · DP: Casper van Oort
RippersDirector: Fadua El Akchaoui · DP: Joris Bulstra
