The 46th Golden Calf Gala at the Stadsschouwburg in Utrecht concluded on October 2, 2026, with Muriel d’Ansembourg’s directorial debut Truly Naked winning a leading six awards, nos.nl reported. The Dutch Film Festival ceremony crowned the low-budget drama across major categories including best feature film, best director, and best screenplay.
Six Wins for Truly Naked at Utrecht Gala
Truly Naked dominated the evening by securing six awards out of its seven nominations. In addition to best feature film, Muriel d’Ansembourg earned the Gouden Kalf for best feature film direction and best screenplay. The production also picked up awards for best camera work by Myrthe Mosterman, best editing by Emiel Nuninga, and best production design by Fleur Ankoné.
The drama centers on the impact of pornography on teenagers, following an introverted British boy named Alec growing up within his father’s low-budget adult film industry. D’Ansembourg stated during the event that the film explores a yearning for genuine contact with others and oneself, requiring the courage to be vulnerable.
The production could have equaled Joe Speedboat in total nominations if it had featured a Dutch cast. Because the Dutch Academy For Film restricts certain categories to domestic talent, international cast members such as Caolán O’Gorman, Andrew Howard, and Alessa Savage were ineligible for acting nominations.
Three Awards for Marco van Basten Bio Series Basta
The biographical drama series It just is, which chronicles the life and career of football legend Marco van Basten, claimed three awards. The production won best drama series, best direction for Remy van Heugten, and best leading role in a drama series for actor Chris Peters, nos.nl reported.
During his acceptance speech, director Remy van Heugten thanked Van Basten for granting the creative team the trust to portray not only his athletic successes but also his mental struggles. The series competed in a field that included the literary thriller adaptation The dining club and the second season of youth series Hein.
Daan Buringa wins best leading role
Daan Buringa accepted the Gouden Kalf for best leading role in a feature film for playing the silent, wheelchair-bound Fransje Hermans in Joe Speedboat, adapted from Tommy Wieringa’s bestselling 2005 novel. Sam de Jong’s feature film adaptation led the initial nominations with nine nods before the awards were distributed across various titles.
Other major category winners included Maasja Ooms for the VPRO documentary My word against mine, which won best long documentary. The public awards went to the feature film For the girls directed by Mike van Diem and the documentary Mama’ku – From Jakarta to the Moluccas directed by Sven Peetoom.
Halina Reijn Receives Film Culture Honor
Halina Reijn was honored with the Golden Calf for Film Culture, a career prize announced ahead of the gala. Reijn directed the 2019 feature. Instinct, which premiered at the Netherlands Film Festival, before achieving international recognition with the 2024 Babygirl starring Nicole Kidman.
“I always say as a joke: I’m a farmer in Hollywood, but I mean that,” Reijn remarked regarding her international career. She emphasized remembering one's origins, guarding creative and business boundaries, and knowing who you are.
Netherlands Film Festival sets 2027 dates
The 46th edition of the Netherlands Film Festival ran for eight days in Utrecht, serving as a gathering place for filmmakers and audiences to celebrate domestic cinema across twenty-five categories. Following the conclusion of this year’s events on October 2, 2026, organizers announced that the next iteration of the festival is scheduled to run from Friday, September 24, through Friday, October 1, 2027.
How many awards did Truly Naked win?
How many awards did Truly Naked win at the 2026 Gouden Kalveren Gala?
Truly Naked won six awards, including best feature film, best direction, best screenplay, best camera work, best editing, and best production design.
Who won the Gouden Kalf for best leading role in a feature film?
Daan Buringa won the award for his portrayal of Fransje Hermans in the adaptation of Tommy Wieringa’s novel Joe Speedboat.
When and where did the 46th Netherlands Film Festival take place?
The festival took place over eight days leading up to the Gouden Kalveren Gala on October 2, 2026, at the Stadsschouwburg in Utrecht.
When is the next Netherlands Film Festival scheduled?
The next edition of the festival will run from Friday, September 24, through Friday, October 1, 2027.
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