Private Project

The Conductor

United States 1926: The Dutch, 24-year-old Antonia Brico was a child when she and her parents immigrated to the United States. She dreams of becoming a conductor, but nobody takes her ambition seriously. Her piano teacher advices her against taking the entrance exam for the conservatory. Because she has little to lose, she returns to her motherland, where she begs the famous conductor Mengelberg to teach her conducting lessons. Mengelberg is not comfortable with the idea and sends her to Berlin where she, against all expectations, has a better chance as a woman to make it. After a two-year study at the State Academy of Music she becomes the first woman to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Emotional strain threatens to overwhelm her, when the love of her life puts her in a difficult position.

  • Maria Peters
    Director
  • Maria Peters
    Writer
  • Dave Schram
    Producer
  • Christanne de Bruijn
    Key Cast
    "Antonia Brico"
  • Benjamin Wainwright
    Key Cast
    "Frank Thomsen"
    A Quiet Passion
  • Scott Turner Schofield
    Key Cast
    "Robin Jones"
    The Bold and the Beautiful
  • Seumas F. Sargent
    Key Cast
    "Mark Goldsmith"
    Point Break
  • Richard Sammel
    Key Cast
    "Karl Muck"
    Inglourious Basterds, Casino Royale
  • Sian Thomas
    Key Cast
    "Mrs. Thomsen"
    Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Perfume
  • Robin de Jong
    Editor
  • Bob Zimmerman
    Music
  • Quinten Schram
    Music
  • Rolf Dekens
    Director of Photography
  • Jan Rutgers
    Production Design
  • Shooting Star Filmcompany
    Production Company
  • Marina Wijn
    Casting Director
  • Bianca van der Steen
    Make up
  • Linda Bogers
    Costume design
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Drama, biography, romance
  • Runtime:
    2 hours 17 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    October 23, 2018
  • Country of Origin:
    Netherlands
  • Country of Filming:
    Netherlands
  • Language:
    Dutch, English
  • Shooting Format:
    digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Denver Film Festival
    Denver
    United States
    November 2, 2019
    Audience Award
  • Mill Valley Film Festival
    San Rafael
    United States
    October 5, 2019
    US Premiere
  • Chichester International Filmfestival
    Chichester
    United Kingdom
    August 8, 2019
  • Taipei Film Festival
    Taipei
    Taiwan
    July 7, 2019
    Asian Premiere
  • Jecheon International Music & Film Festival
    Jecheon
    Korea, Republic of
    August 10, 2019
Director Biography - Maria Peters

After Maria Peters studied law, she graduated from the Dutch Film Academy with the short film 'Alle Vogels Vliegen', which was broadcasted on Dutch national television. After her graduation she was an assistant director for several films, such as the feature film, 'Abel' by Alex van Warmerdam. She co-founded her own production company in 1987, together with Dave Schram and Hans Pos: Shooting Star Filmcompany. From their office in the heart of Amsterdam she co-produced forty films. She wrote fourteen scripts for feature films, all of which have been released in cinema’s. She directed several films, three of them are still in the top 20 of the most successful Dutch films of the past two decades, making Maria one of the most successful Dutch screenwriters and directors. Her first international film, 'Sonny Boy', was the Dutch submission for the Academy Awards. Her latest feature 'The Conductor', is based on the true story of Dutch born pioneer female conductor Antonia Brico.

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