Tom Fassaert, a renowned filmmaker born in Naarden, Netherlands in 1979, had a unique upbringing that exposed him to diverse worlds from an early age, partly due to his family's relocation to South Africa. This eclecticism sparked his interest in the art of filmmaking, which was further fueled by his father's passion for making home movies.
Fassaert made his debut in the film industry with the feature-length documentary 'An Angel in Doel', which tells the poignant story of a Belgian village on the brink of demolition. Shot in black and white, the film offers a tragicomic observation of a community grappling with its own inevitable demise. The documentary premiered at the Berlinale and went on to screen at over 50 festivals worldwide, garnering numerous international awards.
Fassaert's second feature-length documentary, 'A Family Affair', is a deeply personal film that explores the complex relationships within his own family, focusing on his flamboyant grandmother and the destructive patterns that are often passed down through generations. The film premiered as the Opening Film at IDFA 2015, where Fassaert received the prestigious Prins Bernhard Cultuur Fonds Documentary Award and the Special Jury Award. It also received widespread critical acclaim, earning the Gouden Kalf (Dutch Academy Award) for best long documentary and a nomination for Best European Documentary on the European Film Awards 2016. Netflix acquired the film globally, further cementing its impact.
Fassaert's work has been recognized by industry experts, with Variety naming him 'One of the Ten Docu-makers to Watch'. Currently, he is working on three new feature-length documentaries, each of which is deeply personal and tackles universal themes.
In addition to his passion for filmmaking, Fassaert also shares his expertise by teaching and coaching at international film schools and IDFA ProjectSpace.
