Next level for film and animation talent in Noord-Brabant
We want to boost the creative industry in the region of Noord-Brabant by allowing talents the resources, people and knowledge to kick-start their careers, initiate and produce new projects and create or broaden their (inter)national network.
What is Next and what is in it for you?
With Next we created a broad program for film talent in different stages of their career.
Next consists of several program items:
EVENTS & NETWORKING
Next Talks & Workshops
We believe in sharing. Every month we dive into a different subject: how to make content for children, how to create a trailer, what is the journey of a successful DOP like Richard Spierings, an evening with the creators behind Mocro Maffia. Place to be: Natlab Eindhoven, watch our socials (@next.playgrounds) and website. And we have set up shop in Breda with Next Oomph nights (12 June), Atelier Next and Next Feedback & Fries. Dates to be announced.
Filmhelpdesks
Every 3 weeks you can ask us anything about your film plan, funding of your film, finding your crew, setting up your commercial practice. Anything goes! Partners: BROET and Kunstloc/KONKAV.
TAILOR MADE GUIDANCE FOR SELECTED TALENTS
Next Talent Program
Every year we guide eight selected talents from all disciplines in a tailor made program.
Talents for this program are forwarded by the national and regional industry. The partners in Next, consisting of representatives from the industry and former Next talents selects eight talents per trajectory. A program, tailored to the specific needs and wishes of each talent, is set up.
For at least one year these talents commit themselves to their personal talent-program and work together with coaches, professionals and advisors to nourish their needs for knowledge and skills in all kinds of fields and levels. The needs of the talent are leading and will result in tailor-made programs with which we support and co-construct a track record for each of our talents.
In 2025 we will start a new trajectory for 8 talents. The open call is closed. A new trajectory will start in 2026.
Next XR Talent Program
New in town: in 2024 we launched a program for XR talents coordinated by XR specialist and producer Nienke Huitenga. The open call for 2025 is closed. The selected talents will be announced soon.
OTHER TRAININGS
Next Writers Room Training
Together with Netflix, Willem Bosch, Saar Ponsioen and Matthijs Bockting we created a training for writing fiction series in writers rooms. A skill not yet developed fully at art and film academies. In the fall of 2024 the third edition took place. Five writers were selected via an open call.
Next Animated Series Story Room Training
In 2025 we launch a new training developed together with storyboard artist Dirk van Dulmen and producer and teacher Frank Verheggen. The training focusses on how to develop and pitch stories for an Animated Series. We are looking for 6 aspiring and motivated storytellers with an animation background who are interested to learn the process how to develop stories and pitch ideas for an Animated Series. The open call is now open, deadline 5 August.
Applying for funding – Feedback coaching
Creating a good application for funding and translating your visual language into words is almost an art form on itself. We have launched one-on-one coaching sessions to help Brabant filmmakers and animator to get their funding applications to the next level. Call is now closed. Keep an eye on the socials and this website for new deadlines. Open call now open, deadline 23 June.Â
This talent program was created in 2016, on the initiative of Playgrounds. Playgrounds already had a number of talent development activities, such as workshops, awards and the development of new work, but wanted to formalize this and gain more visibility for talents and the need to invest time and budget in talent development. In Next, the connections that Playgrounds has made for more than a decade between talents and the professional field are structurally embedded and supported by a broad network.
Nowadays the Next trajectory is supported by 10 partners: Playgrounds, BROET, Submarine, Herrie Film & TV, Noise Film & TV, Art Academy St. Joost, independent producer Inge Zoete, Natlab, Studio Biarritz, BredaPhoto and Kaboom animation festival.
Financial support
Next is kindly supported by Provincie Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands FilmFund, and all involved partners.
Playgrounds Next is funding partner of Screen Talent NL together with New Noardic Wave and CineSud.
Within Screen Talent NL we share ideas with other national  talenthubs and together we strive to create a national view on talent development in film, documentary and animation.
