A major influence on Hetty Naaijkens-Retel Helmrich’s vision as a filmmaker is undoubtedly the rich variety of cultural forms she was exposed to throughout her life. Born in Indonesia to a Javanese mother and Dutch father, Hetty moved with her family to the Netherlands when she was almost two. Later, she spent close to a decade in Curacao in the Dutch Antilles with her husband, Joris. The experience crystallised an essential ingredient in her approach to producing films.

“It was a wonderful time and gave me the opportunity to travel extensively in South America,” says Hetty, adding that her exposure to Third World countries allowed her to appreciate the relativity of cultures.

Back in the Netherlands, she established Scarabee Film Productions and gained a thorough grounding in the commercial aspects of the industry at the Film Business School in Ronda, Spain. Since its inception in 1989, Scarabee has earned international recognition for producing prize-winning documentaries. Hetty believes her hands-on approach has contributed to the company’s success. “I think it’s important to guide and stimulate the directors I work with and always to be open and honest,” she says. Although Hetty’s interest in art is often reflected in the films she chooses to produce, intuition is her guiding principle when it comes to selection. “So far, my intuition has never let me down. I have a good sense for quality, and I know how to get the best out of people.” We are pleased to welcome Hetty to Cape Town, courtesy of The Royal Netherlands Embassy. She will introduce screenings of her productions “The Eye Of The Day” and “Broken Silence”, answer questions from the audience and take part in the Close Encounters Laboratory as a tutor.