Initially trained as a visual artist, Coco Schrijber is one of Holland’s leading, most adventurous documentary makers, having built an award-winning body of work that has been recognised in Holland and internationally.
A graduate of Amsterdam’s art school the Rietveld Academy in the audiovisual department, she worked as a first AD for films by reputed Dutch directors Theo van Gogh, Pieter Kramer, Pieter Verhoef and Ben Sombogaart. Her debut film “In Motion” (1996) premiered at IDFA and won the first prize in Rome. Her short documentary about children, “Not Big, Not Small”, won the pubcaster VPRO’s Golden Statue award in 1998.
Her first feature documentary, “First Kill”, was selected for the Joris Ivens Competition IDFA 2001 and won the Dutch press award at the Dutch Film Festival. Her short film “Beautiful World” was screened at festivals in Rome, Spain, Houston and New York, and won six international awards. Her second feature-length documentary “Bloody Mondays & Strawberry Pies” won the Dutch industry award Golden Calf for Best Feature Documentary and was the official Dutch entry for the Oscars in 2009.
Besides filmmaking, Coco coaches upcoming directors and teaches MA film students in The Netherlands, Mexico, Greece and Sweden.
