Welcome!
My name is Emma Branderhorst, I’m a director for film and commercial. I find it extremely important to show a realistic representation through storytelling. My work is pure, taken from real-life, but with a cinematic touch. Through powerful and independent female protagonists I intentionally tell stories from a feminine perspective.
All my three shorts films (Ma Mère et Moi, Spotless and Under the Skin) have premiered at the Berlinale. For Spotless we won the Crystal Bear in 2023 and were the Dutch submission for the Oscars. Followed by winning the Young Director Awards in Cannes for two consecutive years for Ma Mère et Moi and Spotless. This year we received a Grand Prix at the Cannes Lions for ‘A Piece of Me’, a film about the risks of online shaming.
Currently I am working on my first feature-length film; exploring the grief of a lost friendship. Dive into my world and discover the compelling stories I bring to life.
Films
Ma Mere, et Moi
With this film I would like to address the complex theme; mother-daughter relationship. This relationship is so universal and full of tension and drama. My relationship with my mother is rather multifaceted and I would like to capture this in a film, in a light-hearted, playful way that everyone can identify with.
Spotless
Menstrual products are seen as a luxury product in the Netherlands and many counties leaving women who can’t afford these products helpless. Spotless tells the story of many unheard women, and aims to open up the conversation and breaking the taboo about period poverty.
Under the Skin
The struggle and urge to belong to a group, at the expense of others. I became aware of this when watching famous American films, but in real-life this often happens in a very subtle devious way. In this film, I wanted to show how this kind of bullying can metaphorically get under your skin.
Femme
Femme was my first real film. While researching the relationship between siblings, I came across a weblog in which boys talk about their sexual development and that this is sometimes projected onto their sister. I wanted to explore this further through the film Femme.
Commercials
KPN - Piece of me
Unox - Brother sister love
McDonald’s - Vacation Love
Plus - Spring tickles
About Emma
My name is Emma Branderhorst, a 28-year-old director from Amsterdam. My work primarily tackles significant social themes, transforming them into personal and intimate narratives. I focus on stories from the female perspective, exploring issues such as period poverty, children of war, or shaming. While these themes may seem heavy, I strive to infuse a lighter tone, employing a ‘slice of life’ approach to bring my characters to life and ensure the narrative encompasses more than just the problem at hand.
