Jurjen Zeelen

Fifteen-year-old Sem is a fan of YouTuber Wesley. When Sem accidentally films his idol's angry outburst, he uses the footage to blackmail himself into Wesley's life. His hope for a forced friendship with Wesley slowly but surely turns into something more sinister.

A neglected and talented youngest daughter strives to break free from her utterly dysfunctional and fame-driven family through the television world, which turns out to be even more dystopian than her home situation.

Two poor farmers spend all their money on a chicken, while waiting for her first egg they slowly start to get the feeling there’s something very wrong with the animal.

Matthias is going on a weekend course of self-discovery called “My Value on Earth,” which was an expensive gift from his girlfriend. The course is supposed to help him deal with his chronic inability to finish things that he’s started. But before Matthias leaves, his girlfriend springs a surprise on him: he’s going to be a father. And so he hopes to use the weekend, which he has no real desire to go on, to answer new and pressing questions. The “alternative” therapist, however, doesn’t inspire much trust. The tragicomedy Frantic Attempts takes aim at the field of personal development, in particular, dubious therapists who offer quick fixes. After all, what if we should answer our existential questions ourselves instead of trying to find answers from others?

Nora produces a podcast about hidden love stories—ranging from forbidden workplace romances to desires that clash with identity, family, and self-image. She helps others bring their clandestine romances out into the open, sometimes with far-reaching consequences. And Nora herself? She is, in a way, one of those secret loves—making the podcast, in essence, a quest of her own.