As the year draws to a close and the Movies that Matter team wraps up its final tasks before the office takes a short break, we want to take this opportunity to thank you, our loyal follower, friend and festival visitor, for your support over the past year. We’d also like to take a moment to reflect on 2024.

But first, we’re excited to send you a save the date for the opening of the Movies that Matter Festival 2025, taking place on Friday, 21 March 2025, at Theater aan het Spui. Make sure to add the event to your calendar!

• This year, the Movies that Matter Festival 2024 attracted approximately 24,000 visitors to various locations in The Hague and our satellite cities. We are super proud the audience appreciated our film programma with an 8,7 out of 10! The festival hosted various delegations and international guests, such as Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, a four-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee. The compelling documentary by Tal Barda I Shall Not Hate, about his life and work won the 2024 Audience Award, supported by ASN Bank. 

• Our online magazine underwent a major transformation, enabling us to highlight our stories even better.  

• In 2024, the importance of our festival and organisation within the Dutch cultural and societal landscape was reaffirmed by grants from the Municipality of The Hague, the Netherlands Film Fund, and valuable recognition from the Dutch Council for Culture.  

• And last but not least: in October, we were proud to announce that the Movies that Matter Festival has joined the exclusive group of Oscar® Qualifying Festivals. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences stated: “Inclusion on the Qualifying Festival List is a privilege granted to organisations the Academy considers excellent, not only for the films they select but also for their ongoing contributions and dedication to the global film community.”  

While we celebrate these milestones, we also remain deeply mindful of the world around us. In a year when we should reflect on the fact that 75 years ago the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, these rights are under immense pressure worldwide – including in the Netherlands. With everything happening across the globe, the need for safe spaces where filmmakers and human rights activists can share their stories remains as urgent as ever. It is crucial to demonstrate that taking action does make a difference, that injustice can indeed be successfully challenged, and that the abnormal should never become normal.

To sustain our platform for socially engaged cinema, we are increasingly reliant on the support of donors. It was truly heartwarming to see how many people responded to our call for support in September.

Click the button below to find out how you, too, can contribute – helping us to continue organising our festival, educational programmes, and international activities!

We wish you a wonderful, healthy and successful 2025. Thank you for being part of our journey and for your unwavering commitment to storytelling and social impact.  

Warm regards on behalf of the Movies that Matter team,  

Margje de Koning, Artistic Director

Laurens Korteweg, Managing Director