Experiencing Interruptions?

SHEEP HERO

"SHEEP HERO" is a 81-minute, poignant, cinematic documentary about a traditional shepherd who is forced to innovate in a neoliberal world that conflicts with his idealistic views. Will his struggle pay off or is he forced to go with the flock?

SHEEP HERO is selected in competition by 60+ (renowned) festivals such as IDFA, Visions du Réel, Thessaloniki and DOK.Fest and won a dozen awards already for best film, best director and best cinematography. SHEEP HERO is theatrically released in several European Countries. SHEEP HERO is the directors first long feature film. Besides directing it, he did production, cinematography, editing, grading and even the artwork.

  • Ton van Zantvoort
    Director
  • Ton van Zantvoort
    Producer
  • Marc Thelosen
    Producer
  • Ton van Zantvoort
    Writer
  • Stijn Hilgers
    Key Cast
    "SCHAPENHELD"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Human interest, portrait, nature, environment, drama, neoliberalism
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 21 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 21, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    120,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Netherlands
  • Country of Filming:
    Netherlands, Romania
  • Language:
    Dutch
  • Shooting Format:
    RED 3840 × 2160 (4K UHD), color
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Thessaloniki Documentary Festival
    Thessaloniki
    Greece
    March 5, 2019
    International Premiere
  • One World Prague
    Prague
    Czech Republic
    March 8, 2019
    Czech premiere
    Best Documentary nominee (Regional Competition)
  • Visions du Réel
    Nyon
    Switzerland
    April 6, 2019
    Swiss
    Grand Angle Nominee
  • DOK.fest München
    München
    Germany
    May 10, 2019
    German Premiere
  • Millenium Docs Against Gravity
    Warsaw
    Poland
    May 11, 2019
    Polish Premiere
    Winner Green Warsaw Award
  • NVIFF - Award for Best Film and Best Director
    Amsterdam
    Netherlands
    February 21, 2019
    -
    Best Film + Best Director award
  • European Cinematography Award winner
    Amsterdam
    Netherlands
    Winner Best Cinematography
  • Docville Leuven
    Leuven
    Belgium
    March 28, 2019
    Belgium
    Best International Documentary Nominee (in Competition)
  • Millenium Film Festival Brussel
    Brussel
    Belgium
    March 28, 2019
    -
    Winner La Trois Award + Best International Documentary Nominee
  • Cinema Planeta
    Cuernavaca
    Mexico
    May 23, 2019
    South America
    Best international documentary nominee (in Competition)
  • DOCfeed
    Eindhoven
    Netherlands
    February 21, 2019
    Brabant
    Opening film
  • Cinema Vérité
    Tehran
    Iran, Islamic Republic of
    December 11, 2019
    Special Jury Award
  • FICMA
    Mexico City
    Mexico
    2019
    Best International Documentary Award
  • Nederland International Film Festival
    Nederland
    United States
    Best International Documentary Award and Audience award
  • IDFA Amsterdam
    Amsterdam
    Netherlands
    Top 10 best of IDFA / Competition
  • NYCA New York Cinematography Awards
    New York
    United States
    Best Documentary Award
  • Festiver Festival Barichara
    Barichara
    Colombia
    Honourable mention
  • European Cinematography Awards
    European cities
    Best European Cinematography award
  • 60+ MORE FESTIVAL selections and more COMING UP (www.sheephero.nl )
Distribution Information
  • Films Transit (World)
    Country: Canada
  • Windmilll Film distribution (The Netherlands)
    Country: Netherlands
    Rights: Theatrical
  • Bedazzle (Belgium)
    Country: Belgium
  • Juste Doc (France)
    Country: France
Director Biography - Ton van Zantvoort

Ton van Zantvoort is an acclaimed Dutch director, whose films have screened at hundreds of (renowned) film festivals. His work has been broadcast all over the world and he has won dozens of awards. SHEEP HERO is his first long feature film. Besides directing it, he did production, cinematography, editing and even grading.

About the director
Ton van Zantvoort observes with great attention and takes us into the worlds of people on the edge, people who try to survive but are confronted by external forces such as tourism, international commerce and mass consumption. With great humanity, van Zantvoort shows us a different world in which all human life is valuable. His films are characterized by a language of intimate images, a poetic structure and enormous involvement. In his lyrical documentaries with socio-economic overtones he usually resists the temptation of doing interviews. His work is original and testifies to a great effort of will by the maker. The vision of a Western civilized person who holds up a mirror to us. A confronting mirror, but one that invites you to take a long good look.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Many years ago I met Stijn, one of the last traditional shepherds in the Netherlands. Throughout the years, I noticed how the relaxed, cheerful and passionate shepherd became bitter and short-tempered. A traditional shepherd losing his hair overnight, because of extreme stress. How paradoxical. Was herding sheep not supposed to be the most relaxed and romantic profession in the world? ‘The silent heath is no longer quiet. There is a war going on in the heathlands,’ Stijn said to me and so the story began.

We live in a world that is determined by economic laws and this has penetrated deeply into one of the most romantic professions in the world. In many ways I am like Stijn. We both live in a neoliberal world, which is at odds with our ideals. I too chose an insecure, creative existence because of my ideals. In my own way I try to contribute to a better world by making films about these topics. I too am a little entrepreneur who cannot escape innovation. Wouldn’t we all like to go back to nature, to real life, to what it’s all about? But how far should you go to try and realise your ideals? And isn’t it easier to just follow the herd?

I see the world around me as a visual, narrative source. Looking at, wondering about and consciously experiencing what is happening around me is a feeling I am trying to instill in the audience. As a filmmaker I look for themes that may seem to only represent small and everyday issues, but I use them to discuss bigger, universal themes. Not in order to make a didactic statement but to encourage viewers to think about themselves, about the world we live in and about what binds us as people.

My films are about people I meet; about the world we live in and how small it has become. Looking back at my films, many protagonists share the same motivation. They are all trying to live and realise their dreams. People who hold up a confronting mirror to us in our relatively carefree existence. These people suffer consequences of our capitalist economy, which can only be maintained if there is sufficient growth and profit. It is a paradigm of infinite growth on a finite planet. Although a growing number of people realise this, there are only few who actually do something about it. People who go against the current, or strive for their ideals, regardless of the cost. This is what appealed to me when I met Stijn. He made a conscious choice for a different, more sustainable lifestyle. But is such a lifestyle still an option in our current society?