Buddy Film Casting

10/10/2025

Not Built to Last is a short film set against the architectural backdrop of Rotterdam, written and directed by Turkish-Dutch architect and filmmaker Deniz Arikan ( ) . The story follows Emre, an architect from Istanbul, and Daniel, a Dutch architect. What begins as a professional meeting gradually turns into something deeply personal.

Today, we’re introducing the talented cast bringing these two lead roles to life.

For the role of Emre, we’ve cast Sidar Toksöz ( ) , known from Het Klokhuis, Zara and the Magical Kicks, and the acclaimed series Mocro Maffia, directed by Giancarlo Sanchez. Sidar recently appeared in Happy Ending, De Poli, Schitterend, and the second season of Swanenburg. He has also been seen in the productions God is a Mother (Toneelgroep Oostpool), The Falling Man (ITA), and The Death of Benny Simons (Orkater), for which he was nominated for a Theo d’Or.

The role of Daniel will be portrayed by Jesse Mensah ( ), who was also nominated for the prestigious Louis d’Or award for Weg met Eddy Bellegueule, recognising the best leading male performance of the season. Jesse was also seen in the play Liefdesziek by Toneelgroep Oostpool. This season, he performs multiple roles at Internationaal Theater Amsterdam. In 2023, Jesse played a major role in the highly acclaimed series Dag & Nacht.

Not Built to Last will be a sensitive, stylized, and at times artistic film, set entirely in Rotterdam. It tells an unconventional story about two men navigating their homosexuality in very different ways and how they move through the world around them.

Our financing is nearly complete, but we need your help to bring this final stage to life.
Support us via Voordekunst https://www.voordekunst.nl/projecten/19991-not-built-to-last-korte-film?page=1 -verhaal
Let’s make this project possible together.
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03/10/2025

19/09/2025

Buddy Film Casting heeft voor de jeugddocumentaire serie IK BEN NIEUW vier ontzettend bijzondere kinderen geselecteerd namelijk; Zenat (op de foto), Nay, Karim en Ivan.

De serie werd voor het eerst vertoond op in 2024 en werd deze zomer maar liefst 2x herhaald! Het gaat over vier gevluchte tieners die in Nederland een nieuw leven proberen op te bouwen. Een nieuw huis, een onbekende school en vrienden die je hebt moeten achterlaten… Hoe vind je je plek in een nieuwe samenleving? Ondanks alle uitdagingen blijven hun kracht, dromen en talenten onveranderd.

Help jij deze nieuwe kids op het podium van Koninklijk Theater Carré? De serie is namelijk genomineerd voor de Gouden Televizier-Ring Jeugd! 🎉

✅ We staan inmiddels al in de top 7 (van de 40) Help ons naar de top 3

🙏🏾Stemmen kost minder dan 1 minuut en kan hier of via onze bio:
👉 Stem hier (https://www.tvgids.nl/gouden-televizier-ring-verkiezing/televizier-ring-jeugd-2025)

Regie: Batoul Karbijha, Yve Baya, Faten Bushehri, Igor Riabchuk en Nour Alkheder.
Producent: Buddy Film Productions: Dewi Reijs
Met dank aan EODocs, Margit Balogh, Sharona Buijert, CoBoFonds, Fonds ZOZ en Jeanine Hage.

📺 Nog niet gezien? Je kunt Ik Ben Nieuw gratis terugkijken via NPO Start: https://npo.nl/start/serie/ik-ben-nieuw/seizoen-1/

Laten we samen zorgen dat onze kids straks op het podium van het Gouden Televizier-Ring Gala staan!

21/08/2025

CASTING CALL – Voor de documentaire over “Op haar schouders” over oma’s & kleindochters is Buddy Film Productions op zoek naar jou!

Ben jij een kleindochter van een Turkse of Marokkaanse vrouw die in de jaren ’60 of ’70 naar Rotterdam e.o. is gemigreerd?

Voor een korte, persoonlijke documentaire zijn wij op zoek naar kleindochters die samen met hun oma op camera in gesprek willen gaan over haar levensverhaal. Van haar jeugd in Marokko of Turkije tot het opbouwen van een nieuw leven in Nederland, én wat haar verhaal voor jou betekent als derde generatie.

We zoeken duo’s (oma + kleindochter) die openstaan voor een warm en oprecht gesprek, waarin herinneringen, familiebanden en persoonlijke verhalen centraal staan.

Gezocht:

- Kleindochters (18–40 jaar) met een Turkse of Marokkaanse achtergrond
- Oma’s die in de jaren ’60 of ’70 naar Nederland zijn gekomen
- Wonend in Rotterdam e.o.
- Beschikbaar voor een draaiperiode van 2-3 dagen in oktober 2025.

Deze documentaire wordt geen afstandelijk portret, maar een persoonlijk project waarin we samen jullie verhaal vormgeven. Jullie stemmen en herinneringen vormen het hart van de film.

Interesse?
Stuur een korte introductie van jezelf en je oma (incl. leeftijden en woonplaats), eventueel met een foto, naar:
[email protected]

Over de maker
Deze documentaire wordt het regiedebuut van Safaa Khelifati, geboren en getogen in Rotterdam. Geïnspireerd door de band met haar eigen oma wil zij samen met Buddy Film Productions de verhalen van andere vrouwen en hun kleindochters zichtbaar maken, als eerbetoon en blijvende herinnering.
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Still credit: “Bye Bye Tiberias”
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01/08/2025

Buddy Film Casting is honored to be entrusted with the full casting of the mini-series Humans in Transit, commissioned by Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

We would like to extend our special thanks to the actors for their outstanding performance:
Priscilla Osegie, Issam Almiski, Heba Jamil, Betiel Weldeyohanes, Laura Etah, Abdulaal Hussein, and Mostapha Amar.

The six selected stories of the video series are interpreted by actors from refugee or migrant backgrounds. They bring alive the faceless statistics around people seeking safety and pay tribute to their resilience and enduring human spirit.

Many were speaking from Libya. Others shared their stories aboard search and rescue vessels on the Mediterranean Sea, after being rescued from boats in distress as they attempted the perilous crossing to Europe.

The series is now available to watch on YouTube and the MSF website. You can find the link to the episodes in our bio.

We’re grateful to have contributed to this important project. These stories deserve to be seen and heard.

Interested in working with Buddy Film Casting?
Visit our website for more information (link in bio), or get in touch via email at [email protected].
You can also reach us by phone at +31 (0)10 307 7271.

Credits:
Director: Batoul Karbijha | Director of Photography (DOP): Saeed Al-Hammad | Sound director: Kristian Knoop | Gaffer: Janien Kommer | Editor: Claudio Gusmini | Production assistant: Collin Kasper / Maria Bodrug | Creative Producer: Daniel Garcia | Researcher-Production Supervisor: Carmen Rosa | Line Producer: Jorinde Soree | Casting: Buddy Film Casting: Tisa De Jong and Dewi Reijs | Set dresser: Tessa Speets | Actors: Priscilla Osegie/ Issam Almiski/ Heba Jamil / Betiel Weldeyohanes / Laura Etah / Abdulaal Hussein / Mostapha Amar

20/02/2025

Last week, we attended the premiere of the feature film Iedereen is van de wereld, where actress Seweta Zirak walked the red carpet. Seweta plays the role of Maryam.

"Iedereen is van de wereld" is a film based on the true story of Maartje (14), who is terminally ill. Her best friend, Zahra, the daughter of refugees of Afghanistan faces deportation. In a heartfelt letter to the government, Maartje writes: "I’m dying. Could Zahra stay in the Netherlands

We at Buddy Film Casting are honored to have contributed to the casting process.

Now showing in cinemas.

15/01/2025

The short film THE ICE CREAM MAN starring Noah Emmerich got shortlisted for The OSCARS for best live-action short. Nominations will be announced on the 17th of January 2025.
Derek de Lint plays Father Jan and Alexander Elmecky plays Rabbi Mordechai.
Dutch casting by Dennis Overeem for Buddy Film Casting.
The film is directed by Robert Moniot and produced by a cohort of producers, including Ron Groenewoud & San Fu Maltha.

Shortly after the N**i invasion of the Netherlands, a popular Jewish ice cream parlor owner, Ernst Cahn, finds himself targeted by the infamous “Butcher of Lyon,” Klaus Barbie. As his world crumbles, “The Ice Cream Man” must choose between resistance and death…a choice that will reverberate throughout the country. Based on actual events.

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16/12/2024

Voor de korte film ‘JAMAL’ van regisseur Philip Rachid zijn we op zoek naar een Iraaks-Koerdische jongen tussen de 10 en 13 jaar. Hij moet Nederlands spreken en een (beetje) Koerdisch (Solani accent) (wellicht met hulp van een coach).

Verhaal:
De introverte Jamal (11) voelt zich onbegrepen in de Amsterdamse Bijlmer van de jaren ’80. Wanneer een eeuwenoude Sumerische krijger Jamal doet inzien waar hij vandaan komt, verandert zijn leven voorgoed.

Heb je interesse?

Stuur dan een korte introductie-video en 2 duidelijke foto’s vóór 25 december naar to:
➡️[email protected]⬅️

De video en de foto’s mogen gewoon met je telefoon worden gemaakt.
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03/06/2024

We are thrilled that Buddy Film Casting contributed to the selection of the cast for the upcoming feature film Iedereen Is Van De Wereld, directed by mark de cloe. We want to congratulate our Buddy participant and actress Seweta Zirak for landing the role of Maryam.

The film tells the story of a 13-year-old girl named Arianne who is terminally ill. Her best friend Zahra, a refugee from Afghanistan, is about to be deported. Arianne writes to the government minister: "I’m dying. Could Zahra stay in Holland instead of me when I’m gone?"
We can’t wait to see how this story unfolds. Inspired by true events, this movie promises a heartfelt journey of love and friendship.

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10/05/2024

Last year, Veiliginternetten entrusted us with a mission: to find the perfect duo for their Woensdag Ongehacktdag campaign, aimed at emphasizing the crucial habit of regularly safeguarding our online information. Our Casting Directors, Tisa de Jong and Dewi Reijs, worked their magic together with RAUWcc and brought the dynamic duo of PatrickRibeiro and Aloali Kananpour – both bursting with charisma who effortlessly conveyed this message in a fun and engaging way!

08/05/2024

At the recent Sneak Peek event of the Rotterdam Writers' Rooms, we chose our Buddy participant, Abdulkader Monlla (Abed), to lend his voice to the scripts of the evening. We take pride in having him on board and witnessing his success. Here is his firsthand experience:
"With great pleasure, I experienced this new adventure. It wasn't the first time I expressed myself in Dutch, but it was one of the most challenging things for me again. It has resulted in something very beautiful, despite how difficult it was to expose my vulnerability. I felt heard and seen, and I greatly appreciate it. Additionally, it was very enjoyable to work with this special and passionate group, of which the initiative of Rotterdam Writers Room was particularly remarkable. I also hadn't expected the audience's reaction; I felt very seen and welcomed by them."
Photo Credit: Amani Al-Omaisi

23/04/2024

CASTING CALL: open call for professional MALE and FEMALE actors from Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan or Egypt. Play range between 50 and 70 years old. Must be able to travel and work in EU! For a big comedy series for Netflix! Send your resume and photos to [email protected]
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2nd picture credit: Eric Lafforgue