The Limburg native Jos (Fedja van Huêt), a provincial criminal from a family of born losers, finds himself completely sidelined, much to his frustration. His daughter no longer respects him, his wife distrusts him, and his friends don’t take him seriously. When his somewhat clumsy son-in-law Özgür presents an opportunity to regain the respect of those around him—through a lucrative drug deal—Jos eagerly seizes it. But when this deal spirals completely out of control as well, Jos must find a way to right his wrongs. Together with Özgür and his father, he roams the hilly Limburg countryside in a desperate search for an answer to the question haunting him: “Who or what is punishing me?”
‘Fabula’ is the new film by director Michiel ten Horn (‘Hotel Sinestra,’ ‘Aanmodderfakker’), who brings Limburg’s fable history to life in this absurdist crime drama through folklore and fantasy. Fedja van Huêt (‘De Veroordeling,’ ‘Speak No Evil,’ ‘Soof’) shines in the lead role as Jos, as well as in four other roles. Additional roles are played by comedian Sezgin Güleç, Anniek Pheifer, Georg Friedrich, and David Kross. The film is the opening feature of the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2025.
Cast
FEDJA VAN HUÊT (Jos), DAVID KROSS (The Grape), ANNIEK PHEIFER (Dien), GEORG FRIEDRIC (Hendrik), IZABELA GWIZDAK (Anja), STEFAN PERCEVAL (Prince Carnaval), VICTOR LÖW (Fairground Operator), MICHIEL KERBOSCH (Lei), CHRIS NIETVELT (Bulke), LEAH THYS (The Tick), NORMA DIXIT (Woman at the Market), WILL FALIZE (Security Guard Pub), MURAT TOKER (White Haired Man), SEZGIN GÜLEÇ (Özgür), CONNY WILHELMUS (Midwife), DION VINCKEN (Aggresive Shooter), LIVIA LAMERS (Linda), HANNELORE DUWE-SCHERWAT (Grandmother of the Grape), MATEUSZ MLODZIANOWSKI (Employee of the Grape), ANTHONY GOPAUL (Head of City Guard), HASAN ALI METE (Idriss), YASIN BOYNUINCE (Deniz), PAUL FISSETTE (Pierre), FERHAT KAPLAN (Abdul), OMER BRAMS (Employee of The Grape), BERT IMPELMANS (Jules), TYCHO PLEITER (Son of the Grape), OLIVIER VAN BUUREN (Son of the Grape), CAS VAN DER HORS (Jordy), WIM WEERT (Shooting Guild Champion)
Sales Representatives
Producers
THOMAS DEN DRIJVER (Producer), HARRY FLÖTER (Co-Producer), MARCO GRÖNWOLDT (Line Producer), SWANTJE HOPPE (Line Producer), JASPER POL (Line Producer), CLAUS REICHEL (Line Producer), JÖRG SIEPMANN (Co-Producer), MARIANO VANHOO (Co-Producer), SANDER VERDONK (Producer), ALEXANDER VAN DAMME (Consulting Producer)
Editor
Costume Designers
Art Department
BRAM DOYER (Production Designer), AAUKJE LEENARS (Art Director), ANGELIQUE MELIS (Set Dresser), TERASA KUHN (Props Buyer)
Production Managers
HANNA JUGO (Assistant Production Manager), KAITLYN SMEETH (Assistant Production Manager)
Camera and Electrical Department
JAN GIESEN (Second Assistant Camera), ROBERT HOEBEKE (Best Boy), JASPER KEYMEULEN (Lighting Technician), NATHAN LEDERMAN (First Assistant Camera), BART VAN DRIEL (Lighting Technician), BRAM VAN WOUDENBERG (Gaffer), BOAS WIEGMANS (Camera Trainee), EGON WILLE (Grip)
Casting Department
FEMKE GEBRUERS (Animal Casting), MAITÉ THIJSSEN (Animal Casting)
Director
Writer
Production Companies
Distributors
Composer
Cinematographer
Casting Director
Makeup Department
ELISABETH DIETRICH-FRY (Makeup Department Head), MARIE- EGLANTINE PIRSON (First Assistant Makeup Artist)
Second Unit or Assistant Director
NOEN BROUWER (Assistant Director)
Sound Department
JELRIK BARDIJN (Production Sound Mixer), MARC HAGENAARS (Production Sound Mixer), FILIP JACOBS (Re-recording Mixer, Sound Designer), JEROEN TRUIJENS (Dialogue Editor), PIETER VAN EESBEEK (Boom Operator)
Special Effects
ERIC DE WULF (Special Effects), LIEVEN SLABBINCK (Special Effects Coordinator), THIERRY VAN RAAY (Special Effects)
Visual Effects
JAN DAGHELINCKX (Visual Effects Supervisor), CHRIS VAN OSSELAER, (Visual Effects Producer, Flow Postproduction)
Stunts
MARCO SLEESWIJK (Stunt Performer), RON SLEESWIJK (Stunt Coordinator), NORMAN VEERBEEK (Stunt Performer), BRIAN VAN DE VOOREN (Stunt Driver)
Costume and Wardrobe Department
ELLEN LLOYD (Key Costumer)
Editorial Department
PETER BERNAERS (Colorist), NIELS CHRISTENSEN (Digital Intermediate Supervisor), EMILIE CLAEYS (On-line Editor), PIETER-JAN UVYN (On-line Editor)
Location Management
Additional Crew
FEMKE GEBREURS (Animal Trainer), LEEN VAN GOITSENHOVEN (Animal Trainer)
Official Selection
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
NOMINATED
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD FOR FILM
Official Selection
FEATURE FILM COMPETION
Nominated
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
ROBBIE VAN BRUSSEL
Won
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
BRAM DOYER
PRESENTS IN COPRODUCTION WITH
2PILOTS and FORBIC FILMS "FABULA"
WITH
FEDJA VAN HUÊT | SEZGIN GÜLEÇ | MICHIEL KERKBOSCH | ANNIEK PHIEFER | DAVID KROSS | GEORG FRIEDRICH
CASTING DIRECTOR
JOB CASTELIJN | SABINE SCHWEDHELM
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
ROBBIE VAN BRUSSEL
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
BRAM DOYER
ART DIRECTOR
AUKJE LEENAARS
SOUND RECORDIST
JELRIK BARDIJN | MARC HAGENMANS
COMPOSER
DJURRE DE HAAN
SOUND DESING AND RE RECORDING MIXER
FILIP JACOBS
EDITOR
LOUIS DERUDDERE
VFX SUPERVISOR
JAN DAGHELINCKX
POST PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
ROSAN BOERSMA | FRANK WEVER
HEAD OF PRODUCTION
JOSE VAN DOORN
LINE PRODUCER
SWANTJE HOPPE | JASPER POL
FIRST A.D.
PHILIP DE IONGH
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
FRANK KLEIN
CO PRODUCER
GEOFFREY ENTHOVEN | MICHIEL TEN HORN
PRODUCER
SANDER VERDONK | THOMAS DEN DRIJVER | MARIANO VANHOOF | HARRY FLÖTER | JÖRG SIEPMAN
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY
OPENING FILM
RELEASE DATE CINEMA
APRIL 10, 2025 (NL)
JANUARY 8, 2026 (DE)
RELEASE DATE STREAMING
