
The 10 Minute Challenge: A platform for new queer film talent
This year the Queer Film Festival Utrecht organizes a second edition of ‘The 10 Minute Challenge’, a short film competition especially for starting (queer) filmmakers from Utrecht and surroundings! With this, we want to stimulate beginning filmmakers to give more representation to the queer community in the film industry.
To support you in this, we have developed a program where you can participate in interesting master classes, get to know the film world, and win fun and valuable prizes. The winning films will also be screened on the closing night of this edition of QFFU!
Questions?
Contact the 10 Minute Team at 10minute@qffu.nl.
Prizes
This year there are three categories with corresponding prizes!
- Best Film: A trophy (designed by artist Wouter van de Kuijt), and a prize amount of €1,500.
- Emerging Talent: A prize amount of €1,000, a matchmaking interview with de Klik (and an amount of €300 to spend on renting equipment).
- Audience favorite: A special screening during the award ceremony and a future event of QFFU.
More prizes will be announced later.
Participation requirements
- The film is 10 minutes long, including credits, with a 1-minute slack.
- The film contributes to a queer-inclusive film world, e.g. the creators are queer, the actors are queer or there is a queer perspective in the film.
- You are (you are) a starting filmmaker. By this, we mean someone who has made or is going to make a first (queer) film and needs a stepping stone to enter the film world. All ages are welcome to apply!
Whether you are young or old, if this contest is a motivation to make a (first) queer film, we cordially invite you to participate! The theme of QFFU 2023 is Genderation; past, present, and future of the LGBTQIA+ community. Every generation is encouraged to participate. - The film was made in 2022 or 2023, but has not been shown before.
Even if the film is already (almost) finished, it may participate. It is only essential that the film has not been shown before. - Participants from previous years may reapply, but not with previously screened films.
PS: The film contest has no specific genre or theme you need to adhere to. Still need a little more guidance and direction? QFFU’s theme this year is Genderations, queer past, present, and future.
The course of the contest
- Submit your idea/script/scenario/synopsis (this may be short yet powerful) no later than Saturday, March 31st, 2023, via the entry form on this page. After your submission, you will receive a periodic newsletter with updates on the course of the contest. Of course, you can ask questions or seek guidance from the QFFU team at any time.
- If there are too many applications, we will make a selection based on your motivation and project plan.
- After the application round there will be an introduction meeting where participants can meet each other, get to know the Queer Film Festival Utrecht better, and where we officially kick off the contest.
- There will be two master classes during the film trajectory to support the filmmakers in the making process. These master classes are optional, but will be too interesting to miss! More information about the master classes will follow.
- Your film must be submitted by noon on Monday, July 21, 2023.
- The films made will have their own premiere on September 3rd during the Queer Film Festival Utrecht.
In the week of September 4th through September 8th, the public can watch the films online and judge them for the audience award. - At the end of the festival the time has finally come: the winning films will be screened during a festive event. At the end of the evening the jury will announce the winners, so keep these dates free in your calendar!
- After the film festival, there will be a final master class that will look at (possible) further steps in the film world. A real stepping stone for beginning filmmakers!
Juryleden
Hieronder stellen we jullie graag de juryleden voor!

Bart Peters
Bart Peters (1989) is filmmaker en een van de drie Transketeers. De Transketeers bestaat uit drie transmannen – Bart, Chris en Jonah – die samen projecten maken rondom positieve zichtbaarheid en diversiteit. Ze maken films, zowel documentaire als fictie, waarin veerkracht, humor en authenticiteit voorop staan.
Bart studeerde af aan de Nederlandse Filmacademie in de richting regie fictie.

Lazlo & Dylan Tonk
Lazlo & Dylan Tonk (1982) zijn tweelingbroers en filmmakers. Ze maakten in 2019 hun documentaire debuut met Galore, een film over de metamorfose van drag sensatie Lady Galore. Eerder schreven en regisseerden Lazlo en Dylan de korte jeugdfilm Uitgesproken (2013), over een vriendschap die onder druk komt te staan als blijkt dat een van de jongens uit de vriendengroep homo is. Lazlo en Dylan studeerden beiden Theater-, Film- en Televisiewetenschap aan de Universiteit Utrecht, waarbij ze zich specialiseerden in de richting dramaturgie.

Nadia Leijdesdorff
Nadia Leijdesdorff (1972) is een filmprofessional achter de schermen met jarenlange ervaring in de filmdistributie. Als oudgediende bij Cinemien, distributeur gespecialiseerd in LHBTI-cinema zag zij vele queer films de revue passeren. In 2021 stelde zij het filmprogramma van QFFU samen. Ook werkt zij mee aan de programmering van de Roze Filmdagen in Amsterdam.

Simone Versteeg
Simone Versteeg is docerend theatermaker en regisseur/artistiek leider van Theater Oester. Daarnaast is zij docent drama en Engels in het middelbaar onderwijs. Simone studeerde Engelse Taal en Cultuur waar haar voorliefde voor vrouwenstudies en Queer History groeide. Tijdens haar tweede studie tot docerend theatermakers aan de Fontys Hogeschool voor de kunsten besloot zij haar voorliefde voor geschiedenis en het vertellen van verhalen te combineren met een maatschappelijk doel: het vergroten van zichtbaarheid van de LHBTI+ community op de theatervloer. Voor haar afstuderen richtte Simone Utrechts eerste queer amateurtheatergezelschap op: Theater Oester.
Apply!
Please fill in the form below to apply for the 10-minute challenge.
You can submit until March 31st, 2023!
FAQ & overige vragen
Zijn er dingen nog niet duidelijk? Kijk of je vraag beantwoord wordt bij de veelgestelde vragen (FAQ 10 minute challenge). Mocht je er dan nog niet uitkomen, neem gerust contact op met Team 10 minute via 10minute@qffu.nl!
De 10-minute challenge wordt mede mogelijk gemaakt door:





