14 OCTOBER – 19 OCTOBER 2025
As Tilburg continues to revitalise its city centre and enhance its cultural footprint, the idea of starting an international film festival—small at first but with big hopes for the future—seemed like a natural fit. And what better place for this festival to take place than Cinecitta, the central art-film complex and cultural meeting place that has become, since its lavish refurbishment and re-opening in 2014, the haven for cinephiles of all ages and stripes in and around Tilburg? So, with these two thoughts in mind, we held the first edition of the 013 Cinecitta International Film Festival, with support from the City of Tilburg, in 2019 and are very pleased to say that the seventh edition takes place Tuesday, 14 October through Sunday, 19 October 2025. Expect quality films, a friendly atmosphere, invited guests, and a celebration of the best that cinema can be!
THE MANDATE: ‘UNHEARD VOICES’
Although hard numbers are impossible to determine, worldwide film production yields more than 7,000 feature films each year, many of which are showcased at nearly 5,000 annual film festivals. So, why did we start another festival last year? Because so many of those 7,000 films seem to fall through the cracks and vanish mere moments after premiering. Of course, many of them deserve to vanish, but the fact is there are so very many excellent works that are either undeservedly consigned to the trash heap of history or deserving of further exposure. We will screen 17 fiction features from different countries, all of which we will be entertaining, thoughtful, and high-quality examples of the seventh art. These are films hat more than merit many chances to entertain and enlighten audiences. When you see them, we are convinced you’ll agree.
THE TEAM:
Jasper Naaijkens – Festival Director
Jasper Naaijkens studied marketing communication and, afterwards, worked for film producer Scarabeefilms. In 2009, he edited his first feature documentary: Contractpensions. He then went to the US for a year to give guest lectures at Harvard University, together with director Leonard Retel Helmrich. At that time, Jasper also edited the successful documentary Position Among the Stars (winner at IDFA 2010 and Sundance 2011). In 2013, he edited the feaure documentaries Buitenkampers and Hollandse Nieuwe / Raw Herring (official competition Tribeca Film Festival 2013). Jasper was nominated in the ‘Best Editing’ category at the Sundance Film Festival and the Cinema Eye Honors in New York for his work on Position Among the Stars. After this, Jasper released various films, including Jackie, Wind River, Hell or High Water, I Tonya and Roma as marketing manager for film distributor The Searchers. In 2015, Jasper became the main programmer/Head of Film at Cinecitta cinemas. By 2023, he had also joined the board of the Cinecitta Foundation.
Paul Vermee – Founder
In 2009, Paul Vermee bought Tilburg’s Cinecitta cinema and refurbished it, turning it into a completely new venue. A few years ago, Paul visited family in Canada. ‘Do you know Jack?’ asked cousin Glenn. ‘He works for the film festival in Vancouver.’ Not much later, Jack Vermee received an email from his then-unknown relative Paul. The last sentence: ‘Do you want to start a film festival at Cinecitta…?’ Paul was a boy of only ten when he started collecting old paper with his brother, who was two years older. After the HBS, he explored different worlds: from transport to the music industry, from employment agencies to project development. ‘My drive is in entrepreneurship itself,’ says Vermee, from the beautifully renovated Cinecitta. ‘If I have something in mind and the idea feels good, I want to realise it, not only in a successful manner, but also with pleasure. Doing business must be fun. My parents had nothing, but we had culture in our house. We were the only family on the street with a piano in our living room, and my mother knitted Norwegian sweaters, which she sold in a store on Heuvelstraat. You did things yourself. You were active and creative. I grew up with that. Given my age, I could be on the golf course at the moment. But I prefer to be busy; I am a doer. Anyone who knows me knows that there is always work. With the 013 CIFF, I’m very proud to have started a new cultural initiative in the city of Tilburg.’
Joining Paul and Jasper are Cinecitta staff members Nettie Verhagen as 013 CIFF’s Co-founder and Accounts Manager, Francisca Retel Helmrich as Guest Liaison and co-Travel Co-ordinator, Sam Simons as co-programmer, Hendrik Graumans as Social Media and Communications Co-ordinator, Jochem Michels as PR, Esther Burggraaff as Head of Operators, and two dozen wonderful, essential volunteers!
The festival is produced in partnership with Cinecitta, Marnick van Gessel (Managing Director).