MARCEL

Bregt Pepijn Verhagen received a grant for the development of a new film. MARCEL is a short fiction film about 25-year-old Marcel, who has an intellectual disability. When he falls in love with his caregiver Sonia, his limited understanding of social boundaries leads to painful situations. His desperate attempt to turn fantasy into reality reveals his need for connection, autonomy, and self-acceptance.

Bregt Pepijn Verhagen is a director and writer. After graduating from the University of Amsterdam with a master’s degree in Film Studies in 2011, he briefly worked as a secondary school teacher before starting out as a freelance director/videographer. Following several music videos, an online mini-documentary series, and an independent feature-length documentary, he directed and produced his first self-written short fiction film, LUX, in 2019. In 2022, he wrote and directed his second short film, CAMOUFLAGE, which was selected for several renowned national and international film festivals.