Some people write. Others run until their thoughts fall quiet. Gertjan Zuilhof, who worked as a film programmer for IFFR for more than 25 years, drew. “Like a monk,” he said: one drawing a day. A simple discipline, a way to stay present in the world.
For nearly a quarter of a century, Gertjan was one of IFFR’s most influential film programmers. Never satisfied with the obvious, he pushed the festival’s horizon outward, to Africa, Southeast Asia and beyond, seeking voices not yet heard or seen on Rotterdam’s silver screen. Through bold selections, mentorships and tireless advocacy, he helped open doors for generations of filmmakers.
While traveling, Gertjan observed closely. He photographed, drew and carefully archived everyday life, turning fleeting moments into lines and notes. He drew on discarded materials: envelopes, newspapers, hotel notepads.
After becoming seriously ill in Japan in 2024, his world grew smaller. His practice did not. He kept true to his daily ritual, one drawing a day, until the end.
This exhibition remembers Gertjan as he was: sharp, generous and fully alive. And it invites you to draw, not in search of perfection, but to simply get started.
"Like a monk"
