Ton van Zantvoort (Heesch, 1979) is an acclaimed director, cinematographer and editor, whose films have screened at numerous prestigious A- film festivals. His work has been theatrically released in several countries, broadcast all over the world (VPRO, KRO-NCRV, ARTE/ZDF, Al Jazeera, VRT) and has won more than 50 awards for best director, best cinematographer and best editor.

Ton van Zantvoort (Heesch, 1979) graduated with credits at the Academy for Visual Arts in Breda in 2003. In 2006, his debut film GRITO de PIEDRA premiered at IDFA and was broadcast by ARTE/ZDF and other stations. His second feature a BLOOMING BUSINESS, a co-production with the Dutch VPRO, was screened at hundred (renowned) international film festivals, broadcast worldwide and won a dozen awards, such as at DOK Leipzig. In 2016 his controversial documentary, the BENNO TAPES, won a Golden NL Award.

As with his acclaimed movie SHEEP HERO (81 minutes, 2018), he was not only responsible for (co-) production and directing for all these above mentioned films, but Ton van Zantvoort also did the cinematography, editing, grading, artwork and more. SHEEP HERO was selected by more than 100 (renowned) international film festival (such as IDFA, Thessaloniki, Vision du Réel, DOK.fest, GZDOC, DOCNYC) won more than 25 awards and 30+ nominations and got a theatrical release in several European countries.

Filmography

Filmography as director (selection)
a WORLD to SHAPE, 52 min, director, cinematographer & editor, production Elbe Stevens Films, AVROTROS, Omroep Brabant, 2022
a TRAVELER’S GUIDE, 63 min, director, cinematographer, co-editor, post production, producer, 2022
SHEEP HERO, 81 min, producer, director, cinematographer & editor in co-production with seriousFilm, Omroep Brabant & KRO-NCRV, 2018
THE BENNO TAPES, 54 min, director, cinematographer & editor, produced by Van Osch Films, Omroep Brabant, L1, TV West, 2015
Kees en Mien, 30 min, director, cinematographer & co-editor, produced by Zuidenwind filmproducties, Omroep Brabant, 2011
a BLOOMING BUSINESS, 52 min, producer, director, cinematographer & editor, co-production VPRO, 2009
GRITO de PIEDRA, 55 min, producer, director, cinematographer & editor, 2006
other films: Past as future, 18 min, 2011; Lovely Planet, 8 min, 2009; Carrousel, 7 min, 2010; Another day in Bombay, 10 min, 2007; Isla Totora, 10 min, 2007; Pack, 5 min, 2005; Moja Mbegu, 5 min, 2004; Items, 25 min, 2003, Khamuvillage, 25 min, 2003

Filmography as producer (selection)
ANIMA. 25 min, directed by Anna Witte & Josefien van Kooten, in development, expected 2024
The Hole In My Life, 55 min, direction by Xavier van Delft, EO, developped/ not realised, 2020
Honds, 26 min, directed by Josefien van Kooten, Teledoc Campus, KRO-NCRV, 2020
Dick Verdult, 70 min, directed by Luuk Bouwman, in coproduction with seriousFilm, Omroep Brabant, 2017
FALLING, 25 min, Teledoc Campus, directed by Jef Monté, EO, 2014
Loving Heart, 71 min, directed by Wouter Verhoeven, 2013
Day is Done*, 30 min, directed by Guido Hendrikx, 2010

About the director

Ton van Zantvoort observes with great attention and takes us into the worlds of people on the edge, people who try to survive but are confronted by external forces such as tourism, international commerce and mass consumption. With great humanity, van Zantvoort shows us a different world in which all human life is valuable. His films are characterized by a language of intimate images, a poetic structure and enormous involvement. In his lyrical documentaries with socio-economic overtones he usually resists the temptation of doing interviews. His work is original and testifies to a great effort of will by the maker. The vision of a Western civilized person who holds up a mirror to us. A confronting mirror, but one that invites you to take a long good look.

Miscellaneous(selection)

NEWTON film BV – creative documentary production, founder and Majority Shareholder 2006 – present and director of NEWTON film foundation
DOCfeed, Artistic advisor & volunteer, 2015- 2020
Stichting TEEK president : this foundation supports film makers who try to push the boundaries. (2008- 2021)
Grant committee member: Professional Arts Advisory Committee, Province of North Brabant (2025-2028), and others.
Guest teacher (directing, documentary, cinematography, editing 2006-present) at HKU Media Utrecht, St. Joost Acadamy Breda, Koning Willem 1 College ‘s-Hertogenbosch , Mgr. Frencken College Oosterhout, DOCedu, Sparkle (Eindhoven)
Masterclasses taught at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (with Mike Gunton, producer of BBC’s Planet Earth II/III, and Vikram Channa, Vice President of Warner Bros. Discovery Asia), Planet in Focus (Toronto); University of Manitoba, Canada; 3-day master class taught together with Cherry Duyns under the supervision of Jan Eilander at Dziga Nijmegen
Jury member at various (inter)national film festivals, including:
29th Shanghai International TV Film Festival, Shanghai, China, 2024
West Lake International Documentary Film Festival, Hangzhou, China, 2020
Millennium International Documentary Film Festival, 2020
International Film Festival Montenegro (with Marija Perovic, among others), 2011
International Film Festival Breda (with Monic Hendrikx & Marc de Cloe), 2010
Filmfront Festival, Gorinchem (with Hans Eijses), 2010
Panasonic International LUMIX award, commissioned by Scholz & Volkmer (with Michael Lum & Fred Flade), 2010-2011

SHEEP HERO trailer

Reviews SHEEP HERO

Trouw (national paper)“Film moment of 2019, not to be missed!”
Volkskrant (national paper) ★★★★ “a visual ode to a primeval landscape. And if there is ever a prize for the most beautiful drone images, SHEEP HERO should win.”
Nederlands Dagblad (national paper) ★★★★ “SHEEP HERO lets you really sympathize with Stijn.“
Indebioscoop ★★★★★ “extreme strong film ”
Filmvandaag ★★★★ ½ “Everything is perfect in SHEEP HERO. There is a complete story, interspersed with beautiful images and beautiful characters. None of this would be out of place in a feature film.”
De Protagonisten ★★★★ “Truly recommended. The images are beautiful and more sincere than Stijn, you hardly find them anymore.”