THE PUPIL

Daan (12) is obsessed with football. Like his three brothers, he plays at the local club. The coolest and nicest coach at the club is Ries (35). He is devoted to the players and on friendly terms with their parents. Slowly but surely, Daan's relationship with Ries turns into a secret affair. The urge to keep it a secret makes him increasingly more lonely. When the relationship is discovered and is out in the open, Daan is mortified. Suddenly he has a new problem: he has to fight the harsh reactions from his community and his own shame.

• writers: Karin Junger, Mart Dominicus

• director: Karin Junger

• with: casting ongoing

• producers: Ineke Kanters, Lisette Kelder - The Film Kitchen (NL)

• co-producers: Xavier Rombaut – Polar Bear (BE), Maarten D’Hollander, Tim Martens – Krater Films (BE)

• genre: drama - feature film

• country: The Netherlands / Belgium

• year: 2025

• duration: 100 minutes

• Benelux distribution: Gusto Entertainment

• Sales agent: Pluto Film

• with the support of: Creative Europe, Netherlands Film Fund, Netherlands Film Production Incentive, Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF), Tax shelter of the Belgian federal government via Shelter Prod

• stage: in post-production