Setting up a Film Festival with Massimo Barbato

Jan Hendrik Verstraten and myself set up New Renaissance Film Festival (NRFF) in London, in 2016. We have since added a second festival in Amsterdam. We want to give aspiring artists and storytellers a platform to showcase their work, and our aim is to promote and nurture the incredible creativity and talent that is out there. We also wanted to create a good platform for filmmakers and to treat them in a respectful way.  As filmmakers ourselves, we understand the need to have your work seen by an audience.  And a lot of the short films we screen are high quality drama and often far more interesting than what you get to see in a big cinema complex.

​​Although still a young festival, NRFF has already defined its identity. We have a real passion for drama, and much of our time is spent discovering stories that move us, challenge us and above all inspire us. This has been noted by the critics. NRFF was featured recently in the London METRO’s list of TOP UK FILM FESTIVALS, alongside Raindance and Aesthetica  - two very well established festivals - which was wonderful!
 
As the Creative Director of NRFF, I am keen to support a diversity of different voices and points of view. NRFF London, for instance, actively encourages young talent starting out in the industry, whilst NRFF Amsterdam has a large section devoted to LGBTQ films and screenplays. Our many awards give independent filmmakers and screenwriters the recognition they deserve.

​Filmmaking is the work of artists who love what they do and that’s why they do it. It’s great to work in this kind of atmosphere.
 
For more information: 
nrffamsterdam.com   
newrenaissancefilmfest.com

NRFF London 2016 Trailer: 
https://vimeo.com/177750729

NRFF Amsterdam 2017 Trailer (for LGBTQ films):  
https://vimeo.com/200750662

NRFF Amsterdam (International Films)
https://vimeo.com/201834281

Click here to see what people are saying about NRFF.

For Festival Images: 
​http://newrenaissancefilmfest.com/2016-festival-gallery-2