19/06/2008

Dutch director Steven de Jong continues his streak of children’s literature adaptations with Snuf de hond in oorlogstijd (“Snuf the Dog in Wartime”), which will have its gala premiere on Saturday before its commercial release next Thursday.

Like his two adaptations of books from the Kameleon series, Snuf is based on a book from a popular series that is set in the director’s native Friesland and is thus a natural fit for de Jong, whose two Kameleon films, also set in Friesland, grossed over €6m in the Netherlands alone.

Snuf is a German shepherd who is given as a present to Tom (Tom van Kalmthout), who, after his parents were killed during the Nazi bombing of Rotterdam, has been living with his aunt and uncle on a farm in 1945 Friesland.

Together with Snuf and Mirjam (Vivian van Huiden), his Jewish girlfriend who is in hiding in the countryside, Tom has many adventures and even helps the Canadians liberate his village.

The film, which co-stars the director as Tom’s uncle, is produced by Steven de Jong Producties and co-produced by Dutch Evangelical broadcaster EO. Footage of the film and additional material that was shot using the plot of another Snuf book will be used for a four-episode series for television that will premiere in the Netherlands this winter.

Bridge Entertainment Group, with whom de Jong recently signed a five-film contract, and distributor RCV Entertainment handle domestic distribution, while the former also handles international sales.