On 27 October, I attended the Dutch PR Awards 2026 at the Stadsschouwburg in Haarlem. Together with ABN AMRO, HAGENS and ID&T / DGTL, we were hoping to take home an award for the wider HER SOUND campaign. The film I initiated and produced together with Captains was an important part of that campaign.
We didn’t win. Of course, we would have loved to take that award home. At the same time, it’s good to see the film continuing to be screened and the subject receiving attention.
During Amsterdam Dance Event, HER SOUND was screened again at the BumaStemra Hub. The screening was followed by a panel discussion about the position of women in electronic music, featuring DJ Isis and Thomas van Well Groeneveld of ID&T, among others.
DJ Isis also appeared on the NOS podcast De Dag during ADE. Together with DJ Olive Anguz, she spoke about her experiences as a woman in the dance music scene. The episode also includes excerpts from HER SOUND. It’s good to see the stories from the film reaching another audience this way.
Female artists still have fewer opportunities to perform, gain visibility and develop their careers. This affects their income and professional prospects, as well as the music we ultimately get to hear. Creating more equal opportunities requires continued attention to who gets booked, who receives support and who makes decisions behind the scenes.
With HER SOUND, I wanted to show the people and experiences behind that inequality. The film features internationally renowned DJ Charlotte de Witte, Joris Voorn and DJ Isis, alongside professionals working behind the scenes, including former DGTL director Ellen Evers. Their stories show what is changing and where there is still work to do.
That is why I’m glad I was able to make this film. Film can make an issue feel closer and give people a reason to talk about it. Seeing HER SOUND being screened and discussed again, months after its premiere, means a lot to me as a producer. I hope those conversations also translate into opportunities for emerging talent.
Thank you again to Imke Kadlecek, Stefan Wilten and Sander Bestevaar at ABN AMRO, to BumaStemra and to ID&T / DGTL Festival for making the film possible. Thank you to HAGENS for their work on the campaign and to the Captains team for the production.