THE CYPHER – Accessing Broadcasters: From Pitch to Partnership
This year, The Cypher returns as a vibrant gathering for bicultural filmmakers, writers, and producers, focused on talent development and creative exchange. Taking its name from hip-hop culture, a “cypher” is a circle where artists come together to improvise, share ideas, and build on each other’s energy — a space for collaboration, expression, and mutual growth.
Previous editions featured inspiring guests such as cinematographer and director Ernest Dickerson (The Wire, Spike Lee collaborations), C.R. Capers, founder of the Hip Hop Film Festival New York, and Maori Karmael Holmes, founder of the BlackStar Film Festival in Philadelphia.
Instead of directors, this year’s edition welcomes commissioning editors from major Dutch broadcasters, who will share first-hand insights on how creators can successfully navigate the world of public television.
Among the guests are Lisa Boersen, Head of Youth Programming at NTR (Het Klokhuis), and Urias Boerleider, Commissioning Editor Documentary at VPRO.
Together, they’ll discuss what broadcasters look for in new voices and projects, how collaborations are initiated, and what makes a proposal stand out. The session offers practical guidance on when and how to approach editors, what materials to prepare, and how to make a first meeting both efficient and memorable. Expect candid advice, real-world do’s and don’ts, and insider knowledge on developing long-term creative relationships within the Dutch broadcasting landscape.
Ticket holders for The Cypher also have access to Black Soil: Short Visionaries
This year, The Cypher returns as a vibrant gathering for bicultural filmmakers, writers, and producers, focused on talent development and creative exchange. Taking its name from hip-hop culture, a “cypher” is a circle where artists come together to improvise, share ideas, and build on each other’s energy — a space for collaboration, expression, and mutual growth.
Previous editions featured inspiring guests such as cinematographer and director Ernest Dickerson (The Wire, Spike Lee collaborations), C.R. Capers, founder of the Hip Hop Film Festival New York, and Maori Karmael Holmes, founder of the BlackStar Film Festival in Philadelphia.
Instead of directors, this year’s edition welcomes commissioning editors from major Dutch broadcasters, who will share first-hand insights on how creators can successfully navigate the world of public television.
Among the guests are Lisa Boersen, Head of Youth Programming at NTR (Het Klokhuis), and Urias Boerleider, Commissioning Editor Documentary at VPRO.
Together, they’ll discuss what broadcasters look for in new voices and projects, how collaborations are initiated, and what makes a proposal stand out. The session offers practical guidance on when and how to approach editors, what materials to prepare, and how to make a first meeting both efficient and memorable. Expect candid advice, real-world do’s and don’ts, and insider knowledge on developing long-term creative relationships within the Dutch broadcasting landscape.
Ticket holders for The Cypher also have access to Black Soil: Short Visionaries