The Daydreamers
What if you're addicted to your own fantasy? THE DAYDREAMERS takes a closer look at Maladaptive Daydreaming, a psychological condition discovered by professor Eli Somer. Protagonists Agatha and Jessica meet Somer on-camera, providing a moving testimony of their experience living a life cut off from reality.
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Thomas RenckensDirector
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Said EnglundProducer
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Twan PeetersCinematograper
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Ed ColtmanEditor
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Natalia TsuprykComposer
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Lee YinSound Designer
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Griff MilesSound Recordist
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Vigdis MaackProduction Manager
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Karim AouadProduction Coordinator
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Lou MacnamaraAssistant Camera
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Romyn SharmaAssistant Camera
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Michael PearceColourist and Online Editor
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Nigel TadyanehondoAssistant Colourist
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Yon MataukoTitles Designer
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Project Type:Documentary
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Runtime:33 minutes
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Completion Date:February 17, 2020
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Production Budget:5,000 GBP
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Country of Origin:United Kingdom
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Country of Filming:United Kingdom
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:23:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:Yes - National Film & Television School
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Cheap Cuts Documentary Film FestLondon
United Kingdom
June 29, 2020
Special Mention in 'British Documentary' category -
Grierson British Documentary AwardsLondon
United Kingdom
Shortlisted in 'Best Student Documentary' category -
Brussels Independent Film FestivalBrussels
February 17, 2021 -
2Doc.nl: Filmmakers of the Futuren/a - online
Netherlands
February 23, 2021
Netherlands premiere -
Sydney World Film FestivalSydney
Australia
Australian Premiere -
Ghent Viewpoint Documentary FestivalGhent
Belgium
Winner 'Best Health Documentary' -
Doc.Boston Documentary Film FestivalBoston
July 17, 2021
Winner 'Best Short Documentary' -
Rhode Island International Film FestivalProvidence
August 9, 2021
First Prize 'Best Short Documentary' and First Prize 'Directorial Discovery Award' -
Verona International Film FestivalVerona
Italy
September 7, 2021 -
Portland Film FestivalPortland
United States
October 10, 2021 -
Athens International Film & Video FestivalAthens
United States
October 15, 2021 -
Amsterdam Independent Film FestivalAmsterdam
Netherlands
October 19, 2021
Winner 'Best Short Documentary' -
New Jersey Independent Film FestivalUnion City
United States
Thomas Renckens is a Dutch documentary filmmaker based in London. A recurring theme in his films is the conflict between fantasy and reality.
While at the National Film & Television School, Thomas directed the films I am never really here (2018), Taking the Plunge (2018), Jenny & The Highway Blockers (2019), and his graduation film The Daydreamers (2020).
Thomas has been the recipient of grants from Het Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, Fundatie van Renswoude, and Genootschap Noorthey. Before studying at the National Film & Television School, Thomas worked for indie prod comps such as October Films and Lion Television for 5+ years. While there, he developed documentary programmes for broadcasters such as the Discovery Channel, Channel 4, BBC, and Viceland.
His graduation film ‘The Daydreamers’ was selected at various Academy Award qualifying film festivals worldwide, was shortlisted for a Grierson Award. It was also broadcast by the NPO (Dutch Public Broadcaster), where it became the most popular documentary of the week.
A central theme in my films is the conflict between fantasy and reality. Growing up in Friesland – a rural region in the north of the Netherlands – I spent most of my childhood trying to be anywhere but the place I was in. This urge for escapism came to define my work.
While at the NFTS, I also made ‘Adrenaline’ – an experimental short about my obsession with theme parks and rollercoasters, and ‘Taking the Plunge’ – a portrait of a nurse from St. Ives who quit her job to pursue her dream of becoming a professional mermaid.
For ‘The Daydreamers’, I wanted to explore what happens when fantasy is taken too far – when it takes over your life. I soon found out about Maladaptive Daydreaming, a psychological condition characterised by extensive fantasy activity, so much so that it impairs real-life functioning.
After speaking to many individuals suffering from Maladaptive Daydreaming, I realised how much of an impact it had on their life, and how embarrassed they were to open up to others.
Telling a friend or family member that you like to spend entire days living a life in your head that’s not real, must be difficult. To me, it brought back parallels with my own coming out.
The feelings of shame, and fear of others not understanding, felt similar to me, which compelled me to make a film sharing the stories of individuals suffering from this largely unknown condition.
The fact that professor Eli Somer - who coined the term Maladaptive Daydreaming back in 2002, and has been studying it ever since - was very open to taking part in the film, made me all the more motivated.
The end result is an intimate, powerful account of individuals sharing their experiences living a life cut off from reality.
STATEMENT FROM PROFESSOR ELI SOMER
Agatha and Jessica, the protagonists of The Daydreamers, reveal not only their souls to us but also shed light on a little known and often misunderstood mental condition.
This film depicts the coming out of two courageous young women who decided to break their silence and confront their own shame about their secretive compulsive fantasy life. By doing so on camera, they served a greater purpose.
Agatha and Jessica give meaning to their decades-old suffering by becoming the poster children for maladaptive daydreaming.
The Daydreamers will become an educational documentary that will help raise awareness to a tormenting mental condition that too few know about.