SHORT FILM (7:19 minutes)
YEAR: 2020
Genre: comedy drama
LOGLINE
When slightly naive Ronnie gives up a tad too much personal information answering verification questions, he loses control over his computer and his privacy.
Keywords
Technology, Privacy, Desire, Secrets, Dystopia, Humor, Dark.
WATCH IT HERE
what is it about
Forty-somethings Ronnie and Britt are having a quiet evening at home. Britt on the couch, Ronnie behind his computer screen. Then Ronnie's operating system prompts him to renew his password, followed by a series of increasingly personal questions. When the naïve Ronnie has given away far too much private information, his computer takes control. Now he must do everything in his power to keep his secret dark desires hidden from his girlfriend.
A vision of the future with pitch-black humor.
screenings / selections
Nederlands Film Festival
Interfilm Berlin
Rhode Island International Film Festival (Oscar-qualifying)
Screamfest LA
IMAGINE Film Festival
Mecal Pro Barcelona
BUSHO Film Festival
Sapporo International Short Film Festival
Sci-Fi London
Shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival
Bristol Independent Film Festival
LA Crime and Horror Film Festival
Fargo Fantastic Film Festival
New Renaissance Film Festival
tEASER
about
Zwart was developed as part of De Ontmoeting, a Dutch talent development program that pairs emerging filmmakers with industry partners to bring ambitious short film projects to life. The program provided the creative infrastructure and support to develop the film from pitch to screen.
Videoland, the Dutch streaming platform by RTL, came on board as the production and realization partner — co-funding the film and ensuring it reached a wide audience. After its run on the international film festival circuit, Zwart was distributed exclusively on Videoland, making it available to Dutch audiences nationwide.
THEMES
Zwart is a film about distraction — and what we lose to it. At its heart, it's a warning about the quiet way technology inserts itself into our most intimate relationships, pulling our attention away from the people right in front of us until the distance becomes impossible to close.
Big tech and AI promise connection, but the film asks whether they deliver the opposite. Every notification, every personalized suggestion, every verification question is a small surrender — a little more of ourselves handed over in exchange for convenience. And somewhere in that transaction, the people we love most get left behind.
The next step is darker still. Once the system knows enough about you, it doesn't just distract you — it traps you. A prison of surveillance. A prison of attention. A prison of loneliness. Zwart imagines that moment when the data you've carelessly given away is turned against you, locking you into something you never agreed to and can't escape from.
The tragedy isn't the technology. It's that Ronnie and Britt were right there, together, on an ordinary evening at home — and still managed to lose each other.
PROCESS
credits
This film could not have been made without the generosity of the creative team. I send my full gratitude to all of them, thank you for taking this ride with me.
CAST Ronnie — Rienus Krul Britt — Julia van de Graaff Ann-Louise — Belle Venema
ADDITIONAL CAST Voice Ann-Louise — Wynn Heliczer Guard 1 — Ivan Cheng Guard 2 — Shin Aung Spied on People — Eveline Kroese, Penny Jenkinson Loughray, Bruce Big, Morris Linders, Willeke & Floris, Vincent Boudewijn, Jorrit de Vries, Evi Magada, Pim Kitzen, Zoe Kitzen, Boyd Emmen, Noortje van de Vooren, Sara Woods, Marina Woods-Nio, Martin Woods, Loulou Woods
HEADS Director — Tom Gera Screenplay — Roy van Kessel, Arthur Menko Producers — Jules Tervoort, Liene Berina Director of Photography — Maxime Desmet Music — Vincent Paolo Corputty Film Editor — Inèz Poortinga Production Designer — The Artel, Thomas Hamming & Hayley Lovelock Casting — Buddy Casting, Dennis Overeem & Dewi Reijs
SHOOT First A.D. — Gelder Dermout 1st Assistant Camera — Eli van Cleef 2nd Assistant Camera — Gijsbrecht den Engelse 2nd Unit D.O.P. — Rene Huwae Grip — Bjorn Schumacher Sound on Set — Joris Prakken Gaffer — Glenn Bruintjes Electrician — Read Alzamel Electrician — Tara Biosen Creative Advisor — Paul de Vrijer Key Makeup Artist — Gracielle Owen Styling — Tess Queenie van Rooijen Catering — Onechefscuisine Locations — Grace Locations, Sanne Bovenberg Locations Manager — Bruce Big Runner & PA — Jella van Eck Researcher, Legal & Production Coordinator — Niki Nikolaou
POST VFX Advisor — Ivor Goldberg VFX Supervisor — Jeroen Aerts, Guido Ekker Digital Artists — Chris Staves, Dieuwer Feldbrugge, Matteo Giorni, Davide Raimondo, Kevin Reynes, Mathis Zweideck, Karolis Jurkstaitis, Vincent Boudewijn Compositing — Davide Raimondo, Matteo Giorni 2D Animations — Giovanni Locantore Colour Grading + DCP Mastering — Laurens Orij @ Crabsalad Sound Design + Mixing — KLEVR Sounddesign, Lennart Kleinen, Alan van Ramshorst, Kirill den Outer
COMIC-CON FOOTAGE Videography — Mineralblu (@mineralblu) Featuring — Beke Cosplay (@bekejacoba) Cosplay Star — @giu_hellsing Cosplay Star — @kamicosplayer Manga Artist — Tamada Heijun
THANKS TO Videoland — Steven van Roosmalen & Truus Swart Cinesud — Guido Franken Special Thanks — PostPanic, Willem van Eeghen (Jägermeister), Rene Huwae, De Ontmoeting (Sacha Gertsik & Jeltje Hillen), Lightunit, KLEVR Sound Design, Onechefscuisine, Annejes van Liempd, Mischa Rozema, Bruce Bongers & Rotterdam Blaak – Tribes Team, Guido Vanhulzen, Peter Jan Wieringa, Sanne Bovenberg, Jasper & Rick, Paul de Vrijer, Ania Markham