David Verbeek
David Verbeek (1980) is one of the most thought-provoking contemporary Dutch filmmakers.
David Verbeek graduated in Directing from Amsterdam's Film Academy in 2005. During his second year there, he directed the feature film Beat with a buget of only €500. It was selected for the International Film Festival Rotterdam, as well as being released on DVD and nationwide in theatres. The following year, he was asked to direct a television film for the VPRO, resulting in the critically acclaimed Yu-Lan.
After graduating he left for China, returning three years later with his second feature film Shanghai Trance; a cinematic portrait of Shanghai that depicts a generation of young Chinese, bedazzled by a city that is changing faster than they can grow up. The film was selected for the Tiger Award Competition at the International Film Festival Rotterdam as well as numerous international festivals. It was released in China in over 250 cinemas and in late 2008, David made the front page of the Volkskrant newspaper for being the first Dutch director to achieve this.
He shot his third feature film in Taiwan, a Dutch/French/co-production. R U There is a multi-dimensional experience that comprises 20% Second Life images. It is an exploration of the virutal world in which the younger generation is so deeply immersed. The film got selected to Un Certain Regard in Cannes.
