Cyriel Guds is a Dutch actor, filmmaker and storyteller and producer (Never Boring Films) who has built his career by boldly taking the do it yourself route in the film industry. Born and raised in Amsterdam, and trained at the prestigious Toneelacademie Maastricht, he has carved out a unique place in Dutch film and television with a mix of raw talent, determination and entrepreneurial spirit.
From powerful performances in Mocro Maffia, Undercover, and Heer & Meester to his breakout web series Loverboy Amsterdam—a YouTube hit he wrote, produced, and directed himself— Cyriel has shown that independent creativity can reach and inspire massive audiences. With 800,000 views under his belt, he wanted to turn this into a long-running series for the streaming platforms.
“I pitched this idea to the major streaming services… but unfortunately, I got a ‘no’ everywhere. The broadcasters and the Film Fund also didn’t turn out to be the right match. So I decided to keep pursuing my dream. With the encouragement of the YouTube audience, I launched a crowdfunding campaign,” he explains. “I realised it was up to me to create that opportunity!”
So in 2024, his feature film Loverboy: Emoties uit became the most visited Dutch cinema release of the year, proving that a self-made approach can rival big-budget productions. At this moment Cyriel is working on the follow up Loverboy II.
Whether he’s acting, writing, directing, or producing, Cyriel embodies the spirit of resourcefulness and resilience. His story is a powerful example of how to create opportunities when they don’t come knocking—by, simply making them yourself.
At this talk, Cyriel will share his story and vision on doing it yourself in filmmaking: how to start with what you have, grow through collaboration, and stay true to your voice in an industry that often pushes conformity. Come and ask Cyriel all your questions and get inspired!