THE RESURRECTION OF A BASTARD Opens Rotterdam

An adaptation of his own graphic novel. Guido van Driel's The Resurrection Of A Bastard has been announced as the opening film of the International Film Festival Rotterdam.

An old Frisian farmer bent on revenge. A criminal from Amsterdam barely surviving a liquidation. An illegal immigrant with uncertain prospects. Eventually, they meet under an ancient oak tree. Beyond the last town.

Rutger Wolfson, director of the International Film Festival Rotterdam about the opening film: "We are extremely glad to present 'The Resurrection of a Bastard' as our Official Opening Film and in our Hivos Tiger Awards Competition. Filmmaker Guido van Driel deeply impresses with an original, bleak and nearly magical story that he shot in a compelling and controlled way. Also the actors excel in this film. Yorick van Wageningen gives a knock out performance as criminal in transformation. The late Jeroen Willems is seen in a hair-raising and unforgettable role."

Multi-talented artist Guido van Driel is filmmaker, painter and writer / designer of graphic novels. In 2000 Van Driel made his debut as a filmmaker with the documentary 'U spreekt met Frank Laufer'. The film 'Groen is toch de Mooiste kleur voor Gras', produced by Topkapi Films for broadcaster VPRO, was written and directed by Van Driel and nominated for a Golden Calf Award at the Netherlands Film Festival in 2007. This film established his name as a filmmaker with a very original signature.

In 2004 Om Mekaar in Dokkum was published, a graphic novel which was universally acclaimed in the Dutch media. Based on this graphic novel, 'The Resurrection of a Bastard' was selected for IFFR's CineMart in 2010.

Long considered one of the edgiest and most audience friendly festivals in Europe, this seems a promising start to the 2013 Rotterdam event.