Amsterdam, The Netherlands - 20/10/2022

Producer Jasper van Buren (Dutch Filmers Academy graduate) is proud to announce theopening of the film ‘MANU’, an experimental drama exploring the problem of an identity crisis asa result of trauma.

The film is directed by Amsterdam-based Martijn Kuyvenhoven & Miles Delfos.Two self-taught Dutch filmmakers who have both gained their visual perspectives from fashion backgrounds andare now integrating their views within a more socially focused scope. As upcoming filmmakers,Kuyvenhoven and Delfos are interested in the concept of identity, resulting in the visual poemthat is MANU.

MANU is a film in which feelings of love and loneliness are central. The main character’s questtoward self-recognition is explored as the scars of trauma are fought upon. In Manu’s case, thelack of reflection leads to self-destruction. The story is inspired by the Greek mythology of maniclove (“Mania”) and the mythical story of Narcissus.In today’s society, it is increasingly difficult to stay close to yourself. Young adults are in aconstant search for who they are in relation to who they think they should be. A problem that isparticularly present and persistent when trauma is involved.Being both familiar with the quest towards self, this debut film of Kuyvenhoven & Delfos is acompelling audiovisual story that touches upon one of the main psychosocial problems withinour society. Brought in an uncensored manner and with an eye for detail, MANU’s aim is to raiseawareness for identity problems amongst a widespread audience of (young) adults.