Registration opens on 20 May at 08:00

Noorderkroon 2026

Noorderkroon is the platform and competition for professional, student and amateur films by filmmakers from Friesland, Groningen or Drenthe, or films about this region. ‘Noorderkroon’ is a small constellation in the northern sky, formed by seven visible stars. These stars symbolise the seven awards we present to our own stars, the filmmakers of the North. During NoFF 2025, the awards were presented in the following categories: Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best Student Film, Best Short Film (fiction), Best Short Film (documentary), Best New Filmmaker and Most Promising New Talent.

Taking part in 2026?

These are the rules

  • Films set in the Northern Netherlands region (Friesland, Groningen and/or Drenthe), or films whose producer, director or screenwriter comes from this region.
  • The film must have been produced in 2025 or 2026 and must not have been screened at the Noordelijk Film Festival before. In the selection process, preference will be given to films that have not been published online.
  • For the selection process, films must be submitted via a secure online streaming platform (a link to Vimeo + login code or a private video on YouTube, for example). This link must remain available until the festival for potential judging.
  • Selected films must be submitted as a DCP at a later stage via Filemail. Are you unfamiliar with creating a DCP? We have a simple guide here.
  • The festival reserves the right to use the submitted works and publicity material to promote the film, the filmmaker and the festival.
  • The contact person will be notified in September if their film is selected and/or nominated.
  • Selected filmmakers are expected to attend and take part in a Q&A session during the festival.
  • No correspondence will be entered into regarding the selection, nominations and results of the competition.
  • After the festival, we reserve the right to offer the film to other venues, naturally in consultation with and with the consent of the filmmaker of the film in question.

Explanation per category

Best Feature Film

The best (medium-length) feature film (minimum 30 minutes), made by a filmmaker (director, screenwriter or producer) with a strong connection to the Northern Netherlands (born, living or working in the region), or with a distinct Northern Netherlands character, both in terms of theme and execution.

Best Documentary

The best (medium-length) documentary (minimum 30 minutes), made by a filmmaker (director, screenwriter or producer) with a strong connection to the Northern Netherlands (born, living or working in the region), or with a distinct Northern Dutch character in both theme and execution.

Best Short Film (fiction)

The best short fiction film up to 30 minutes, by a filmmaker (director, screenwriter or producer) with a demonstrable link to the Northern Netherlands, or with a distinct Northern Dutch character, both in theme and execution.

Best Short Film (documentary)

The best short documentary of up to 30 minutes, by a filmmaker (director, screenwriter or producer) with a demonstrable link to the Northern Netherlands, or with a distinct Northern Dutch character, both in theme and execution.

Best Student Film

The best graduation film by a recent graduate of an accredited Dutch film or art school. Films from overseas institutions are also eligible, provided the filmmaker has a demonstrable connection to the Northern Netherlands. The filmmaker must have graduated no more than two years ago. The film may be no longer than 30 minutes.

Best New Filmmaker

The best film by a self-taught filmmaker or director without formal film training or professional funding. The emphasis is on originality, expressiveness and a distinctive voice. The film may be no longer than 30 minutes.

Most Promising New Talent

The seventh Noorderkroon Award is presented to a filmmaker whose work has been selected in one of the other categories. The prize is intended for a talented director with a maximum of two (short) films to their name, who stands out through their own vision, style or narrative approach. Age is not a factor; the stage of the career is the determining factor. Both fiction and documentary are eligible.

Selected?

We invite all filmmakers to attend the screening(s) of their selected film at the Noordelijk Film Festival and, where possible, to take part in a Q&A session with the audience and fellow filmmakers. The selected films will be screened throughout the festival, and the winners will be announced during a festive awards ceremony.

The 2025 Winners

  • Best Feature Film: Vlam by Daphne Luckers
  • Best Documentary: Yn myn dreamen hear ik dy by Murk-Jaep van der Schaaf
  • Best Short Fiction Film: Pocongdorie by Jasper ten Hoor & Ivan Hidayat
  • Best Short Documentary: Met huid en haar by Jasper van Leeningen
  • Best Student Film: Super Duper Mega Fan by Sarah van der Pers
  • Best New Filmmaker: Écht? by Jonathan Bergsma & Jonathan Sipkema
  • Most Promising New Talent: Koud Water by Ayan Egal & Alexander Roux