Next is a talent program for those who make innovative creative visual representations and explore the boundaries of the moving image. Next was initiated in 2016 by Playgrounds as a result of our efforts for talent and talent development in our festivals. We wanted to sustain these efforts in a new program. Next was the first talent program in The Netherlands that guided in an interdisciplinary way, with animators, illustrators, XR artists to documentary filmers and fiction filmers. Visual artists that work cross disciplinary to tell their story are the core of Next.
Playgrounds Next is also the official film talent hub for the Province of Noord-Brabant and will be present at the Industry Garden during The Art Department.
FORTICHE (ARCANE)
creative, animation and production company
artist talk
IAIN McCAIG (CANCELLED)
concept artist, writer and filmmaker
artist talk
DERMOT POWER
concept artist
artist talk
THE LINE
animation studio
artist talk
AARON BLAISE
animation director, illustrator, painter
artist talk
MARLON NOWE
animator, educator
artist talk
FEEFAL
illustrator
artist talk
NOMADA STUDIO
video game studio
artist talk
BLENDER (PABLO FOURNIER)
2d anime with the grease pencil 3
artist talk, demo
MOTH
animation studio
artist talk
IRIS COMPIET
artist talk
AARDMAN (DARREN DUBICKI)
director & designer
artist talk
KAHO YOSHIDA
director and animator
artist talk
MIKEY PLEASE & DAN OJARI
directors
artist talk
BLENDER (SIMON THOMMES)
learn stylized rendering in Blender
artist talk, demo
BEE GRANDINETTI
animation director, co-founder Panimation
artist talk
PATRICK CHIN
animation writer and director
artist talk
PIP WILLIAMSON
2D Animator
artist talk
TOM VAN RHEENEN
character designer
artist talk
LEON TUKKER
concept artist & illustrator
artist talk
ROLF TE BOOIJ
prop artist (RFX Propmaking)
interview
GIANT OF THE STEPPE
BTS of the short film
artist talk
PORTFOLIO REVIEWS
brushen up your portfolios!
portfolio reviews
INDUSTRY GARDEN
meet industry professionals to let your projects grow
industry garden
SKETCH SESSIONS
sketch, observe, sketch
live sketching session
ARTIST STUDIOS
check your favorite artists at work
artist studios
SMALLTOWN TALES
delightfully creepy stories from Iain McCaig
reading session
REAL TALKS WITH IRIS COMPIET AND LOISH
a sit-down with two industry legends
real talk
CONVOLOOT PANEL – THE RENAISSANCE OF TRADITIONAL ART
exploring the return to traditional media
panel
PANEL WHAT THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY NEEDS
a conversation on equality and the future of animation
panel
PANEL CHARACTERS THAT LAST
character design unveiled
panel
CONVOLOOT PANEL – REFLECTIONS ON DIGITAL ART
the evolution of digital art in concept design
panel
BOOKSHOP
discover art books, comics, and exclusive titles
books
PLAYGROUNDS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
your TAD wristband = free access
short film program
COLLECTIF SCALE: HULAHOOP
light installation
installation
TAD x WACOM
sponsor program
NEXT STAGE
artist talk
DISCORD SHOWCASE
have a look at artworks created by our online community
community
ART MARKET
print, apparel and tattoos
art market
DRINKS @ KETELHUIS
evening program
MEET THE NEIGHBORHOOD: STRIJP-S
take a look around!
hotspot
OPEN CALL: APPLY FOR A SPOT IN THE ART MARKET! (CLOSED)
have your works seen by thousands of visitors
art market
GAME DEMOS
take a break and play a game
demo
WORKSHOP CREATE & PLAY WITH CARDBOARDERS
create your own character! (free workshop)
workshop
WORKSHOP CREATURE DESIGN FIGURE SCULPTING BY ROLF TE BOOIJ (SOLD OUT)
90-minute workshop creature design sculpting
workshop
WORKSHOP CHARACTER DESIGN WITH WOUTER TULP (SOLD OUT)
90-minute workshop character design
workshop
WORKSHOP PORTRAIT SCULPTING WITH ALEXANDRA SLAVA (SOLD OUT)
2-hour sculpting workshop
workshop
WORKSHOP ANIMATING FOUR LEGGED CREATURES WITH AARON BLAISE (SOLD OUT)
5-hour animation workshop
workshop
ALEXANDRA SLAVA
sculpting
artist studios
JOSHUA FLYNN & LAURA TOFARIDES
puppet making & animation
artist studios
ROLF TE BOOIJ (RFX PROPMAKING)
prop making
artist studios
TOM VAN RHEENEN
cut out-character design
artist studios
IRIS COMPIET
sketching
artist studios
AARON BLAISE
sketching and animating
artist studios
DIEPFRIS
sketching sc-fi vehicles
artist studios
SKETCH & CAKE TAD EDITION
sketch, connect, cake
artist studios
BLENDER
hands-on demo with Blender
demo, artist studios
INDUSTRY GARDEN
meet industry professionals to let your projects grow
industry garden
PORTFOLIO REVIEWS
brushen up your portfolios!
portfolio reviews
GUERRILLA
game studio
industry garden
TRIUMPH STUDIOS
game developer
industry garden
MAKE WAY FILM
film production company
industry garden
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES FUND NL
culture fund
industry garden
COOLER MEDIA
animation studio
industry garden
VPRO/HUMAN
broadcaster
industry garden
SUBMARINE
animation studio
industry garden
NPO 3 LAB
talent development program
industry garden
KUNSTLOC
cultural organization
industry garden
CREATIVE EUROPE DESK NL
gateway to european film & media funding
industry garden
SOUND & VISION
audiovisual archive - join their world building competition
industry garden
PLAYGROUNDS NEXT
talent hub
industry garden
HKU MEDIA
education
industry garden
SINTLUCAS
education
industry garden
HOWEST DAE
university
industry garden
DE KUNSTENBOND
supporting creatives & cultural workers
industry garden
HANZE CMGT
university
industry garden
BUAS GAMES
university
industry garden
AMBASSADORS
production company
industry garden
FONTYS ACADEMY OF THE ARTS
education
industry garden
NL FILMFONDS
film fund
industry garden
WILLEM DE KOONING
education
industry garden
TAD x WACOM
sponsor program
PLAYGROUNDS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
your TAD wristband = free access
short film program
SAUCY SELECTION
enjoy a saucy selection of short films by female and queer directors
short film program
ANIMATION PITCH
keep an eye on future projects
pitch
STUDENT FILM COMPETITION
official selection of student films
short film program
OSCAR SHORTS
a celebration of visionary storytelling
short film program
FILM COURSE: DESIGNING WORLDS
explore the core of production design
masterclass
MAKING MAGIC ON A BUDGET
learn how to create amazing films on a budget
artist talk
STOP MOTION CLASSICS
Aardman classics with Dan Ojari
short film program
NEXT GEM
showcase of bright talent
short film program
THE ART OF THE 20 MIN PITCH
master the 20-minute pitch with Chris Mack (Netflix)
artist talk
STORIES IGNITING ACTION
reclaiming storytelling for a healthy world
artist talk
THE JUNGLE BOOK (2016)
d. Jon Favreau
film screening
REAL STORIES
hybrid documentaries
short film program
IK ZAL ZIEN (2025)
d. Mercedes Stalenhoef
film screening
GIVING A NEW VOICE TO ARCHIVAL MATERIAL
reclaiming history, redefining identity
artist talk
THE ART OF HAIR AND MAKE UP DESIGN
elevating storytelling with expert makeup & hair design
artist talk
BEHIND THE SCENES OF AMSTERDAMNED 2
from photographer to film producer
artist talk
THROUGH THE LENS
pick the brains of experienced cinematographers
panel, Q&A
GREENER FILM MAKING
create with an eye on the future
panel, Q&A
FILMHELPDESK SPEED DATES
custom advice for your particular filmmaking challenge
Q&A