AMSTERDAM – Curaçao-born poet and theater maker Gershwin Bonevacia has reached a new milestone with his personal short film Toen Ik Klein Was, Was Ik Niet Bang (When I Was Young, I Was Not Afraid), which has been selected for a Golden Calf award at the Netherlands Film Festival.
The short film, directed by Guido Jeurissen, is based on Bonevacia’s own childhood experiences growing up in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde. The story follows ten-year-old Gush, a boy who dreams of becoming an astronaut while facing challenges related to dyslexia, migration and social pressures in his neighborhood.
Bonevacia expressed his gratitude for the prestigious recognition, describing the selection as “unreal.” The filmmaker and writer said the project is deeply personal and represents an important part of his own life story.
The film had already received international recognition earlier this year when its soundtrack won a Music in Media Award (MIMA). The music, created by Curaçao musicians Vernon Chatlein and Jean-Jacques Rojer, was praised for its adventurous and percussion-driven composition.
The Golden Calf selection further highlights Bonevacia’s growing influence as a storyteller who combines poetry, theater and film to explore themes of identity, childhood and belonging. The Netherlands Film Festival is one of the country’s most important film events, where the Golden Calves recognize outstanding achievements in Dutch cinema.
Photo credit: Black Achievement Month