Director Michael Middelkoop is joining Amsterdam-based 100% (formerly HALAL) for commercial representation worldwide. The signing comes after Middelkoop’s upcoming film Dit Is Geen Kerstfilm (This is not a Christmas movie) won big at this year’s Nederlands Film Festival, garnering three “Golden Calves” (the Dutch equivalent of the Academy Awards)–for Best Director, Best Screenplay (Lotte Tabbers) and Best Supporting Actor (Laura Baker). The absurdist ensemble comedy was produced by 100% and will be released on December 19 exclusively on Prime Video.
Prior to coming aboard 100% for U.S. and international representation spanning spots and branded content, Middelkoop was repped in the Netherlands by Czar. The former advertising creative director likes to play with the familiar and the unexpected, imbuing his work with authenticity and multiculturalism. Middelkoop’s body of work encompasses commercials (including a Cannes Bronze Lion winner in 2015), short films, features, TV and web series. His credits include Netflix & Chill, a horror comedy; Snor, a surrealist story about accepting a lost love; and the TV series Zina.
After studying Film in Amsterdam, the Rotterdam-born Middelkoop started his career as an art director at agencies such as Saatchi & Saatchi, Happiness Brussels, Achtung! and Dawn, before finally directing for brands such as adidas, Tele2, Lego and Asics–experimenting with new techniques to connect with youth culture.
Gijs Determeijer, partner and executive producer of 100%, said, “We have really loved working with Michael on his feature film over the past year. The whole process went so smoothly–and working with Michael truly felt like one big party. We are currently also developing two other feature films with Michael, so it only felt natural for us to also work on commercials together. With three big awards under our belt, the timing couldn’t be more perfect.”
Determeijer added, “I always enjoyed working with Michael when he was still on the agency-side, but now, I have gotten to experience him as one of the most well-rounded and ambitious directors in this country–a director who really knows exactly how to get the best out of his actors.”
Middelkoop said of the honors received as last month’s Nederlands Film Festival, “My ambition was to make a film that examines modern society with intelligence and humor. Winning three golds not only shows me that this ambition can be achieved–but also highlights that the future is bright for crossover movies: films that both have something to say, and have commercial value.”
As for his move to 100% for representation, Middelkoop shared, “I’m actually a bit of a weirdo–a director with a background as a creative. I get equally hungry from a strong ad campaign, a brilliant sketch or a good script that has something to say. I can only satisfy that hunger in one place – a place that is just as diverse as I am. I am very happy to open a new chapter and change the game with 100%!”
