Ruud Lenssen (1986) is an independent documentary filmmaker. Through his films, he brings to light what often remains hidden, in order to shed light on social issues. His work is characterised by an intimate, personal narrative style in which local stories take on universal significance.
Lenssen’s credits include the award-winning documentaries Kathem & Chris (Dutch Film Festival 2010) and Wei (IDFA 2019, Kristallen Film), both of which he produced and directed entirely on his own, handling everything from production and direction to camera work and editing. He has also created the successful documentary series My Father, the Hash King (Videoland, 2022), Candy: A Skater’s Mind (BNNVara, 2022) and Rowwen Hèze: Blieve Loepe (NTR, 2025 Kristallen Film).
Niekie Khaled is a film professional who makes intimate, personal documentaries. Her drive to tell stories that not only move people but also bring about change runs like a common thread through her work. For example, she was executive producer of Mijn Vader de Hasjkoning (Videoland), producer of Becky Bulldozer (BNNVARA) and, most recently, of the Filmfonds Wildcard documentary Zwieber by Eline van der Kaa.
Alongside her work as a filmmaker, Niekie is an advisor at Kunstloc Brabant, where she supports creators in their artistic and business development. She was also part of the first cohort of Impact Lab, where she developed an impact strategy for an animated film by Floor Adams.