AMSTERDAM.- Sandra den Hamer, Director of Eye Filmmuseum, has decided in close consultation with the Supervisory Board that she will step down from her position in autumn 2022.

Under Den Hamer’s leadership, over the past 15 years, the Filmmuseum has been transformed into a vibrant centre for film culture and a contemporary museum of international standing.

‘In September 2022 I will have been working at Eye for exactly 15 years. The first five years were at the Vondelpark Pavilion, where I started work with a fantastic team (they still are) on the preparation and construction of a new museum building, a new collection centre, the merger of a number of film institutions, the digitisation of the collection, and in particular the development of a new identity and programme. In 2022 we are proudly and happily celebrating ten wonderful years on the banks of the river IJ.

Professionally speaking, Eye (including its visitors and staff) is the love of my life, and it will remain so. The time has come for change. Now the world is opening up again after all the lockdowns, I would like to make way for new perspectives. Personally, I will be seeking new challenges. I certainly intend to stay close to the arts, film and filmmakers.’ --Sandra den Hamer, Director of Eye Filmmuseum

‘Sandra den Hamer has made Eye an internationally exemplary film institute, giving equal value to the contemporary and the historical, and putting the filmmaker in prime position. Under her guidance, visitors to the iconic Eye museum building are taken on a multifaceted and always surprising film adventure. They find the latest movies and those that have been forgotten, urgently topical new releases, themed evenings, debates, research, archiving, restoration and archival digitisation.

With great success, Sandra den Hamer has constantly promoted the importance of film education for young people and students, as well as the importance of Dutch cinema. The unique and renowned exhibition programme has brought an extra dimension to Eye, showing that it is possible to take a different approach to screening and viewing film.

The Supervisory Board will miss her inspiring and committed leadership and sees its task as that of continuing her work and furthering her legacy.’ --Lex ter Braak, Interim Chair of the Supervisory Board at Eye Filmmuseum

Eye Filmmuseum’s Supervisory Board* will shortly begin the procedure for the recruitment of a new director.

*The current members of Eye Filmmuseum’s Supervisory Board are Lex ter Braak (Interim Chair), Chafina Bendahman, Shady El-Hamus, Marco Huijbregts, Anneke de Vries and Marc van Warmerdam.