Annick Luijkx received a grant to develop her new film. Off the coast of Suriname lies one of the largest economic promises in the country’s history. Deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean, an estimated two billion barrels of oil equivalent are waiting to be extracted. International energy companies are investing heavily to begin oil production by 2028, placing Suriname on the brink of an economic transformation of unprecedented scale. Yet, it remains unclear whether and how this expected wealth will impact the lives of its own people. The documentary series Zwart Goud explores the influence of the emerging oil and gas sector on the daily lives of ordinary Surinamese people—even before the first drop of oil is pumped. What expectations do they have? What choices are they making in the lead-up to 2028? And to what extent does the promise of unprecedented oil wealth play a role in their decisions?Annick studied Theater, Film, and Television Sciences. Driven by her curiosity about people, places, and experiences, she developed an early passion for theater, TV, and documentary filmmaking. Her style is characterized by a character-driven approach, grounded in a strong cinematic concept. She thrives on translating relevant topics and themes into distinctive content, with a keen eye for both substance and form.