About my artistic practice

frameplay.tv is the artistic practice of Wouter Dijkstra, animation director and visual artist. I make animated films and visual experiments that sit somewhere between absurd comedy, existential doubt, and social observation. My work invites to look closely, think along, and laugh at things that are not entirely comfortable. It does not offer clear answers, but opens up situations in which doubt, failure, absurdity, and unease can exist side by side. Characters are central to my practice. Through them, I explore complex themes without simplifying them or turning them into moral statements. Humor, awkwardness, and existential weight often collide in my work, allowing me to approach contemporary subjects from unexpected angles. I also use 3D animation and moving image as tools for visual research, testing how digital processes can generate new forms and meanings.

Projects have been awarded and selected by festivals such as the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film, Anifilm, and Kaboom Animation Festival, and included in Korte Film Poule | EYE and Les in beeld | JEF. I studied at Utrecht University, HKU University of the Arts Utrecht and the NCCA at Bournemouth University, where I completed my master's degree in Digital Effects. My development has been supported by VSBfonds, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, Fundatie van Renswoude, Bournemouth University Academic Scholarship and the Holland Scholarship.

frameplay.tv is de artistieke praktijk van Wouter Dijkstra, animatieregisseur en beeldend kunstenaar. Ik maak animatiefilms en visuele experimenten die zich ergens bevinden tussen absurde comedy, existentiële twijfel en sociale observatie. Mijn werk nodigt uit om aandachtig te kijken, mee te denken en te lachen om dingen die niet helemaal comfortabel zijn. Het biedt geen duidelijke antwoorden, maar opent situaties waarin twijfel, mislukking, absurditeit en ongemak naast elkaar kunnen bestaan. Personages staan centraal in mijn praktijk. Via hen onderzoek ik complexe thema’s zonder ze te versimpelen of om te vormen tot morele statements. Humor, ongemak en existentiële zwaarte botsen vaak in mijn werk, waardoor ik hedendaagse onderwerpen vanuit onverwachte hoeken kan benaderen. Daarnaast gebruik ik 3D-animatie en bewegend beeld als middelen voor visueel onderzoek, waarbij ik test hoe digitale processen nieuwe vormen en betekenissen kunnen genereren.

Projecten zijn bekroond en geselecteerd door festivals zoals het Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film, Anifilm en Kaboom Animation Festival, en opgenomen in Korte Film Poule | EYE en Les in beeld | JEF. Ik studeerde aan de Universiteit Utrecht, HKU University of the Arts Utrecht en het NCCA van Bournemouth University, waar ik mijn master Digital Effects afrondde. Mijn ontwikkeling werd ondersteund door VSBfonds, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, Fundatie van Renswoude, de Bournemouth University Academic Scholarship en de Holland Scholarship.

Selected exhibitions, festivals, awards & screenings below Selectie tentoonstellingen, festivals, prijzen & vertoningen hieronder

Festivals, Exhibitions & Awards

Highlighted Awards & Selections

SXSW – South by Southwest
Austin, USA · 2020
Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS)
Stuttgart, Germany · 2020, 2021
Nominated Trickstar Nature Award
Anifilm – International Festival of Animated Films
Liberec, Czech Republic · 2020, 2021
Filmfest Dresden – International Short Film Festival
Dresden, Germany · 2020
Kaboom Animation Festival
Utrecht / Amsterdam, Netherlands · 2019
Zlín Film Festival – International Film Festival for Children and Youth
Zlín, Czech Republic · 2020
London Eco Film Festival
London, United Kingdom · 2019
Winner – Best Animated Short
Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival
Philadelphia, USA · 2020
Best Animated Short
Films for the Forest
Online · Rainforest Partnership / Rainforest Rescue · June 2020
Best Animated Short

Ongoing Programs

Les in Beeld – JEF
Belgium · Educational short film platform with lesson materials · since 2023
International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR)
Education Program · in attendance
’t Hoogt
Education Program
EYE Filmmuseum
Korte Film Poule
Een Blik op Film
Included in school curriculum

2026

ESTAFET: How to Network
The Grey Space in the Middle — The Hague, Netherlands · 7 May · in attendance

2023

MORE! CLOSER! Literary Festivals for the 600th Anniversary of Łódź
House of Literature — Łódź, Poland · 22–23 April
Bergamo Film Meeting
Bergamo, Italy · 11–19 March

2021

Kinoclub Festival
Kraków / Rzeszów, Poland · 27–30 September
Film Festival della Lessinia
Verona, Italy · 20–29 August
Anifilm – International Festival of Animated Films
Liberec, Czech Republic · 22–27 June
VAFI & RAFI – International Animation Film Festival
Varaždin, Croatia · 1–7 June
Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS)
Stuttgart, Germany · 4–9 May

2020

Films for the Forest
Online · Rainforest Partnership / Rainforest Rescue · June 2020
Best Animated Short
SCAD Savannah Film Festival
Savannah, USA · 24–31 October
STIFF – Student International Film Festival
Rijeka, Croatia · 25–29 November
Athens International Children’s Film Festival
Athens, Greece · 18–29 November
Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival
Philadelphia, USA · 23 September
Best Animated Short
Rising of Lusitania Animadoc
Łódź, Poland · 7–13 September
Zlín Film Festival – International Film Festival for Children and Youth
Zlín, Czech Republic · 4–10 September
CAFF – Cultural Animation Film Festival
Honolulu, USA · 26 September
Seoul Guro International Kids Film Festival (GUKIFF)
Seoul, South Korea · 14–21 May
Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS)
Stuttgart, Germany · 5–10 May
Nominated Trickstar Nature Award
Anifilm – International Festival of Animated Films
Liberec, Czech Republic · 5–10 May
Filmfest Dresden – International Short Film Festival
Dresden, Germany · 21–26 April
Animocje International Animation Film Festival
Bydgoszcz, Poland · 19–25 April
Rising of Lusitania – Animadoc Film Festival
Gdańsk, Poland · 20–22 March
SXSW – South by Southwest
Austin, USA · 12–22 March
Downstream Film Festival
Northfield, USA · 18 February
International Festival of Winter Cinema
Edmonton, Canada · 13–16 February
Dirigo International Student Film Festival
Bristol, United Kingdom · 27 January
Dunedin International Film Festival
Dunedin, USA · 8–14 January
Best Animated Film · in attendance

2019

Cape Children’s Film Festival
Cape Town, South Africa · 30 November – 1 December
Anilogue International Animation Festival
Budapest, Hungary · 27 November – 1 December · in attendance
Kaboom Animation Festival
Utrecht / Amsterdam, Netherlands · 9–17 November · in attendance
London Eco Film Festival
London, United Kingdom · 2–3 November
Winner – Best Animated Short
Japanese Serbian Film Festival
Belgrade, Serbia · 29 October – 3 November
Netherlands Film Festival (NFF)
Utrecht, Netherlands · 27 September – 5 October · in attendance
Duemila30
Milan, Italy · 13–15 September
De Uit-Week
Utrecht, Netherlands · 12–16 August
HKU Exposure Graduation Show
Utrecht, Netherlands · 27–30 June
Winner – Most Hilarious Animation, LMAO Award · in attendance

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