A Feature Film
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
An autistic man sets out to get his driver’s license and prove he can function normally in society. But when he meets the love of his life during driving lessons, his desire to find independence collides with the demands of a ‘normal’ society. Confronted with his autism, he is faced to learn a valuable lesson in self-acceptance.
With this tragicomic love story KAIN, we are making a film inspired by the life and brilliant thinking of our friend Daniël Gellvoet who lives in a residential group for people with autism in the heart of Amsterdam. Daniël often feels that he is seen as “not normal,” and this unintentionally places him outside of society.
Why is this film important?
In KAIN, we address some current and socially relevant themes surrounding autism, such as self-acceptance, perception and exclusion. In a moving and comical film, a love story, we show how a person with autism perceives society, especially our social manners, the roles we assume and the masks we wear as individuals. These contradictions are sometimes very difficult for a person with autism to understand. Through the experience of KAIN, we become more aware about ourselves and our social forms of behavior. We are making this film for a wide audience because this film is about all of us.
Not just ABOUT but WITH
KAIN is a heartfelt story about the struggle of a person with autism in a neurotypical society that does not take him at face value. A society in which he cannot fully participate. The film will not only be ABOUT Daniel, but -and this is essential- will be made WITH him. Daniel will play the lead role of KAIN. We will give him what he needs: a place in society.
THE PRODUCTION
We gathered a great team! Writers: Ellen Barendregt, Aliefka Bijlsma, Dorien Goertzen – Producers: Mildred Roethof & Aliefka Bijlsma, Executive Producer: Wiendelt Hooijer – Cinematographer: Erwan van Buuren – Lead roles: Daniel Gellvoet, Barbara Sloesen, André Dongelmans, Aus Greidanus, Fabian Franciscus, Peter Blok, Malou Gorter – Production Company: Human Nature Films & Mile13Media – Co Production: We Need Dreams.
In September 2023, we applied for a realization subsidy from the Dutch Film Fund and were awarded €600,000, which we complemented with a successful crowdfunding campaign held in spring 2023. Check out our crowdfund film and visit the crowdfund page
We filmed over 26 days, beginning on May 28 and wrapping at the end of August 2025, and reached picture lock in February 2025. The Dutch theatrical release is scheduled for April 2, 2026, to coincide with International Autism Week. Before then, we will be submitting the film to festivals, with the world premiere set for the Woodstock Film Festival in New York, USA. the 17th of October 2025”
