The Circle of Dutch Film Journalists (in Dutch: ‘Kring van Nederlandse Filmjournalisten’) was established in 1982 as the foremost professional organisation for film journalists in the Netherlands. It promotes the rights and interests of Dutch film journalists and is the international spokesperson for professional film journalism in the Netherlands. The KNF also organizes juries at the two biggest filmfestivals in the Netherlands, the International Film Festival Rotterdam and the Netherlands Film Festival (‘Nederlands Film Festival’), awards the best Dutch graduation film and coordinates the yearly Film of the Year election byo the Dutch film press. As the official Dutch section of FIPRESCI (the Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique / International Federation of Film Critics), it is responsible for the selection of Dutch members of national and international film juries.
Award Winners
2025
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Temo Re by Anka Gujabidze and Temo Rekhviashvili
Best Student Film: Hausfrau by Alanis Neva Bani
Netherlands Film Festival: Zie je by Kiki Ho
Film of the Year: One Battle After Another by Paul Thomas Anderson
Dutch Film of the Year: Voor de meisjes by Mike van Diem
2024
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Daphne was a Torso Ending in Leaves by Catriona Gallagher
Best Student Film: Januari by Jetske Lieber
Netherlands Film Festival: Torch Song by Jeroen Houben
Film of the Year: The Zone of Interest by Jonathan Glazer
Dutch Film of the Year: Melk by Stefanie Kolk
2023
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Aqueronte by Manuel Muñoz Rivas
Best Student Film: Paul en Paul by Hugo Drechsler
Netherlands Film Festival: Zomervacht by Joren Molter
Film of the Year: Aftersun by Charlotte Wells
Dutch Film of the Year: Sweet Dreams by Ena Sendijarevic
2022
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Punctured Sky by Jon Rafman
Best Student Film: Verwoede pogingen by Joris Tobé
Netherlands Film Festival: Narcosis by Martijn de Jong
Film of the Year: Everything Everywhere All at Once by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
Dutch Film of the Year: Knor by Mascha Halberstad
2021
Best Student Film: Verlangen
Netherlands Film Festival: Up To G-Cup by Jacqueline van Vught
Film of the Year: Druk by Thomas Vinterberg
Dutch Film of the Year: Quo vadis, Aida? by Jasmila Zbanic
2020
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Kala Azar by Janis Rafa
Best Student Film: Waarom bleef je niet voor mij by Milou Gevers
Netherlands Film Festival: Kom hier dat ik u kus by Sabine Lubbe Bakker and Niels van Koevorden
Film of the Year: Babyteeth by Shannon Murphy
Dutch Film of the Year: De beentjes van Sint-Hildegard by Johan Nijenhuis
2019
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Tarde para morir joven by Dominga Sotomayor
Film of the Year: Parasite by Bong Joon Ho
Dutch Film of the Year: Bumperklever by Lodewijk Crijns
2018
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Zama by Lucretia Martel
Dutch Film Academy: Tot het einde van de wereld by Florence Bouvy
Netherlands Film Festival: Light as Feathers by Rosanne Pel
Film of the Year: Call Me By Your Name by Luca Guadagnino
Dutch Film of the Year: Niemand in de stad by Michiel van Erp
2017
International Film Festival Rotterdam: King of the Belgians by Peter Brosens and Jessica Woodworth
Dutch Film Academy: Sirene by Zara Dwinger
Netherlands Film Festival: Geschenk uit de bodem by Paul Cohen and Martijn van Haalen
Film of the Year: Moonlight by Barry Jenkins
Dutch Film of the Year: Brimstone by Martin Koolhoven
2016
International Film Festival Rotterdam: De Waarneming by Frank Scheffer
Dutch Film Academy: The Origin of Trouble by Tessa Pope
Netherlands Film Festival: A Strange Love Affair With Ego by Ester Gould
Film of the Year: ex aequo La La Land by Damien Chazelle and Toni Erdmann by Maren Ade
Dutch Film of the Year: Tonio by Paula van der Oest
2015
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Key House Mirror (Nøgle hus spejl) by Michael Noer
Dutch Film Academy: Tarikat by Jasmijn Schrofer
Netherlands Film Festival: Tussen 10 en 12 by Peter Hoogendoorn
Film of the Year: Son of Saul by László Nemes
Dutch Film of the Year: Bloed, zweet & tranen by Diederick Koopal
2014
International Film Festival Rotterdam: To Kill a Man (Matar a un hombre) by Alejandro Fernández Almendras
Dutch Film Academy: Fernweh by Ena Sendijarevic
Netherlands Film Festival: Jongens by Mischa Kamp
Film of the Year: Boyhood by Richard Linklater
Dutch Film of the Year: Aanmodderfakker by Michiel ten Horn
2013
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Il futuro by Alicia Scherson
Dutch Film Academy: Een scout weet de weg by Sjoerd Niekamp
Netherlands Film Festival: De marathon by Diederick Koopal
Film of the Year: La grande bellezza by Paolo Sorrentino
Dutch Film of the Year: Borgman by Alex van Warmerdam
2012
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Klip (Clip) by Maja Miloš
Dutch Film Academy: Magnesium by Sam de Jong
Netherlands Film Festival: Kauwboy by Boudewijn Koole
Film of the Year: Amour by Michael Haneke
Dutch Film of the Year: Kauwboy by Boudewijn Koole
2011
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Winter Vacation by Li Hongqi
Netherlands Film Festival: Curaçao by Sander Snoep and Sarah Vos
Film of the Year: Drive by Nicolas Winding Refn
Dutch Film of the Year: Rabat by Jim Taihuttu and Victor Ponten
2010
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Norteado (Northless) by Rigoberto Perezcano
Netherlands Film Festival: Schemer by Hanro Smitsman
Film of the Year: ex aequo Un prophète by Jacques Audiard and Toy Story 3 by Lee Unkrich
Dutch Film of the Year: Schemer by Hanro Smitsman
2009
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Tony Manero by Pablo Larraín
Netherlands Film Festival: Boris Ryzhy by Aliona van der Horst
Film of the Year: Let the Right One in by Tomas Alfredson
Dutch Film of the Year: Kan door huid heen by Esther Rots
2008
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Gruz 200 (Cargo 200) by Alexei Balabanov
Netherlands Film Festival: Calimucho by Eugenie Jansen
Film of the Year: The Dark Knight by Christopher Nolan
Dutch Film of the Year: Oorlogswinter by Martin Koolhoven
2007
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Operation Filmmaker by Nina Davenport
Netherlands Film Festival: Tussenstand by Mijke de Jong
Film of the Year: Das Leben der Anderen by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Dutch Film of the Year: Alles is liefde Joram Lürsen
2006
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Look Both Ways by Sarah Watt
Netherlands Film Festival: Forever by Heddy Honigmann
Film of the Year: Caché by Michael Haneke
Dutch Film of the Year: Nachtrit by Dana Nechushtan
2005
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Illumination by Pascale Breton
Netherlands Film Festival: Guernsey by Nanouk Leopold
Film of the Year: Sin City by Robert Rodriquez and Frank Miller
Dutch Film of the Year: Guernsey by Nanouk Leopold
2004
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Bu jian (The Missing) by Lee Kang-sheng
Netherlands Film Festival: Shouf shouf habibi! by Albert ter Heerdt
Film of the Year: Gegen die Wand by Fatih Akin
Dutch Film of the Year: Simon by Eddy Terstall
2003
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Sud senaeha (Blissfully Yours) by Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Netherlands Film Festival: De arm van Jezus by André van der Hout
Film of the Year: Finding Nemo by Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich
Dutch Film of the Year: Cloaca by Willem van de Sande Bakhuyzen
2002
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Bolivia by regie Adrián Caetano
Netherlands Film Festival: First Kill by Coco Schrijber
2001
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Die Unberührbare by Oskar Roehler
Nederlands Film Festival: Familie by Willem van de Sande Bakhuyzen
2000
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Odishon (Audition) by Takashi Miike
Netherlands Film Festival: Wilde mossels by Erik de Bruyn
1999
International Film Festival Rotterdam: La vida es silbar by Fernando Pérez
Netherlands Film Festival: De Daltons by Rita Horst
1998
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Gummo by Harmony Korine