New CEO Appointed at Netherlands Film Fund After Three Years of Interim Leadership

Iwana Chronis Appointed CEO of Netherlands Film Fund

Iwana Chronis has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of the Netherlands Film Fund, taking over the role from Sandra den Hamer, who has served as interim director for the past three years. Chronis will officially step into her position on May 1.

In her new role, Chronis will collaborate with Business Director George van Breemen to shape the strategic direction of the fund. The organization, which operates under the auspices of the Netherlands’ Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, is a significant financier of local feature films and indie co-productions. Notable international titles that have received support over the past 18 months include The Secret Agent, Filipiñana, and the forthcoming Cannes Palme d’Or contender, Coward.

The film fund has a budget of €92.1M ($107M) for 2026, with allocations of €20M ($23M) designated for feature film production and €9.5M ($11.1M) for high-end series. It also offers support schemes for development and distribution, among other initiatives.

Chronis joined the fund in 2019 as a feature film consultant and has since served as Head of Feature Film & Documentary since 2021. In this capacity, she oversaw the artistic and editorial assessment process for various film applications, contributing significantly to the fund’s artistic direction.

Before her tenure at the Netherlands Film Fund, Chronis led the Hubert Bals Fund at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) and engaged with other notable film festivals such as Movies that Matter and the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). She played a crucial role in establishing the International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk (ICFR) and began her career as a program coordinator at the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development. Chronis holds a Master’s degree in Theatre, Film and Television Studies from Utrecht University and a Master’s degree in Social Theory from the University of Melbourne.

“I am looking forward to getting started with great energy and confidence. The importance of a public fund for the independent film sector is significant, especially now, at a time when the need for dialogue and connection within society is growing,” Chronis stated. “Remarkable films have been made in recent years that we can be incredibly proud of. We have highly talented filmmakers in our country, as well as emerging talent ready to take the next step.”

Den Hamer temporarily assumed the role of fund director in 2023 after Bero Beyer stepped down due to health reasons. Chronis’ appointment followed a recommendation by the fund’s Supervisory Board and was later confirmed by Netherlands’ Minister of Education, Culture and Science Rianne Letschert.

“We are extremely pleased with the appointment of Iwana Chronis as CEO,” said Supervisory Board Chair Jorien Wuite. “Iwana knows the field inside out and was the creative driving force behind the Film Fund’s new strategy and direction. With full confidence that Iwana will lead and represent the Fund with purpose, we wish her every success and inspiration in her new role.”