What VERS does

VERS (Vereniging VERS) is a Dutch non-profit association (vereniging) founded in 1996 that serves as the primary networking and professional development platform for new and emerging film, television, and XR makers in the Netherlands. Headquartered at LAB111 in Amsterdam, the organization operates as a volunteer-run body governed by an elected board of approximately 19 volunteer coordinators spanning chair, treasurer, secretary, partnerships, marketing, events, festival, editorial, and XR functions. Its target segment is entry-level creators: students, autodidacts, recent graduates, and young professionals seeking to integrate into the Dutch film and television sector.

The core product portfolio comprises five interlinked offerings: (1) VERS Magazine, an annual themed publication distributed to film houses and cultural institutions; (2) VERS Film Festival, an annual multi-day festival at LAB111 (expanded to four days and 13 short films in 2026) including jury awards and an audience prize; (3) monthly masterclasses and workshop evenings held on the first Monday of each month; (4) a members-only WhatsApp community used for networking, job posting, and collaboration calls; and (5) a vacancy/collaboration board with a €4.99 posting fee. The underlying technology stack is light: a website with flipbook magazine functionality, social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube), and a monthly newsletter.

Revenue is generated through annual membership subscriptions (fees not publicly disclosed), €4.99 transactional fees for job and call postings, festival ticket sales handled through LAB111, and donations. The organization also benefits from a substantial partner ecosystem including the Nederlands Filmfonds, NPO, NPO-fonds, IDFA, Nikon, Beeld & Geluid, Filmkrant, ScriptAcademy, CINEMIND, and LAB111, which provide sponsorship, content pathways, venue, and member discounts. Following a leadership transition around 2024 and a board-led revitalization, VERS has resumed growth, adding approximately 80 new members annually and drawing 600 visitors to its 2025 festival.

Name

VERS

Legal name

Vereniging VERS

Website

https://versfilmentv.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VERS is a Dutch non-profit association founded in 1996 that supports new film, TV, and XR makers in the Netherlands through an annual festival, monthly events, a magazine, and a WhatsApp community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Industry Networking & Events

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Filmmaker network association
• Independent film festival
• Creative industry membership
• Film community events
• XR maker networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership providing access to events, festival, community, and partner discounts.
2. Job/Call posting fees: Posting vacancies, internships, or calls for participation costs €4.99, distributed through the exclusive WhatsApp community.
3. Festival tickets: Revenue from ticket sales for the annual VERS Film Festival events and screenings at LAB111.
4. Donations: VERS accepts donations to support their mission of supporting new filmmakers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

VERS is a Dutch membership-based association for new film, TV, and XR makers, offering an integrated ecosystem of networking and professional development services. Its core offerings include an annual themed magazine, an annual multi-day film festival with screenings and awards, monthly masterclass and workshop events, an exclusive WhatsApp community for member-to-member networking and job postings, and a membership program providing partner discounts. The association serves as a bridge between Dutch film education and the professional industry for students, autodidacts, graduates, and young professionals.

Product overview

VERS is a Dutch networking association for new film, TV, and XR makers, celebrating its 30th anniversary. The organization operates as a platform-plus-events model offering multiple interconnected services: VERS Magazine (annual themed publication), VERS Film Festival (annual multi-day event featuring selected short films, talks, and awards), monthly VERS Events including masterclasses and workshops, an exclusive WhatsApp community for member networking, a vacancy/collaboration posting board, and membership benefits including partner discounts. VERS primarily serves as a community and professional development hub rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VERS Film Festival: Annual film festival showcasing short films from new makers in the Netherlands
• VERS Magazine

Products and services

• VERS Membership Annual membership program providing individual new Dutch film, TV, and XR makers with bundled access to events, the annual film festival, the annual magazine, the exclusive WhatsApp community, partner discounts, speeddates, and the broader VERS network.
• VERS Film Festival Annual multi-day film festival showcasing selected short films by new/emerging Dutch filmmakers, including film screenings in three blocks, talks, masterclasses, awards ceremonies, and networking opportunities. Held at LAB111 in Amsterdam.
• VERS Magazine Annual themed publication featuring interviews, essays, portraits, and opinion pieces about the Dutch film and television sector. Each edition focuses on a specific theme and is distributed to members, film houses, and cultural institutions across the Netherlands.
• VERS Events (Masterclasses and Workshops) Monthly in-person events (held on the first Monday of each month at LAB111 Amsterdam) featuring masterclasses and workshop evenings led by industry professionals, providing educational content and skill development for new film, TV, and XR makers.
• VERS WhatsApp Community Exclusive members-only WhatsApp community connecting new Dutch film, TV, and XR makers for direct communication, networking, collaboration, and member announcements.
• VERS Vacatureplatform (Job and Call Posting Board) Job and collaboration posting platform enabling professionals and organizations to post vacancies, internships, or calls for participation to the VERS member network, distributed through the exclusive WhatsApp community for a flat fee of €4.99 per listing.
• VERSE OGEN Script Feedback Sessions Script feedback/coaching sessions where members submit their projects to be read by peers who provide structured feedback, led by scriptcoach Jacob Dijker and inspired by the Script Circle methodology.

Quantifiable outcome

• Grew by approximately 80 new members in one year after implementing new policies
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• LAB111coreOthersMain venue partner for VERS Film Festival and monthly events. The festival takes place entirely at LAB111 in Amsterdam, with locations including the Kapel (festival heart), Bar Strangelove, LAB1, and LAB2 screening rooms.
• NikonmajorOthersFestival partner providing sponsorship for the annual film festival. Nikon Film Festival Benelux is connected to VERS.
• Filmfonds (Nederlands Filmfonds)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational film fund supporting Dutch film production and talent development, partnered with VERS Film Festival.
• Flow PostproductionminorOthersPost-production company listed as festival partner.
• CamalotminorOthersEquipment rental company listed as festival partner.
• ScriptAcademymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScript Academy provides scenario writing courses with VERS members receiving €100 discount. They are a festival partner and educational collaborator.
• VEVAMminorOthersListed as festival partner and magazine partner.
• CINEMINDmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCINEMIND is a foundation focused on mental health in the film sector. They partner with VERS for the magazine launch event and research on wellbeing in the creative industry.
• NPOmajorOthersNational public broadcasting organization partnered with VERS for member content and Teledoc Campus projects.
• NPO-fondsminorOthersFunding partner for documentary talent development in collaboration with VERS.
• Nikon Film FestivalminorOthersInternational film festival in Paris that connected to Dutch film scene through VERS, with Benelux edition launched.
• Composers Soundtracks Festival (CSF)minorOthersInternational film music festival from Brazil that partnered with VERS, offering 30% discount for VERS members on concerts.
• Beeld & GeluidminorOthersMedia heritage institution listed as magazine partner.
• FilmkrantminorOthersDutch film industry publication listed as magazine partner.
• Studio VeenminorOthersDesign studio responsible for VERS Magazine layout and design.
• IDFA (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with VERS for festival event 'Tussen Regie en Realiteit' at the 2026 VERS Film Festival, bringing documentary filmmakers together.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• ShortFilmDepot: Online platform for short film distribution and festival submissions. Comparable as an enabling layer for the same emerging-filmmaker audience VERS serves via its festival and community.

Direct peers

• Film Independent: Los Angeles-based nonprofit membership organization that runs filmmaker labs, a film festival, and year-round events for emerging and independent creators — directly comparable in mission and structure to VERS.
• IFP (Independent Filmmaker Project): US-based membership organization supporting independent and emerging filmmakers through labs, festivals, and a year-round community — the closest international analog to VERS' association-plus-events model.
• NewFilmmakers Los Angeles: Membership-based film organization hosting monthly screenings and an annual festival for emerging filmmakers — same emerging-talent, community-led event model as VERS.
• Go Short: Dutch short film festival focused on emerging and international short filmmakers, listed as a VERS partner. Closely overlaps with VERS' festival positioning for short-form new makers.

Regional players

• European Film Academy: Pan-European filmmaker network that aggregates talent, runs programs, and hosts industry events. Comparable as a regional umbrella for emerging creators, though at a much larger geographic and institutional scale than VERS.
• Movies That Matter: Dutch human-rights film festival referenced as a VERS partner. Adjacent emerging-talent and activist film programming overlap with VERS' festival and community remit.

Broad incumbents

• International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR): Major Dutch film festival with strong emerging-maker programming (Bright Futures, Tiger competitions). Competes for the same emerging Dutch and European talent attention VERS serves.
• International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA): Major Dutch documentary festival that explicitly partners with VERS for emerging-talent programming. Operates at far larger scale and serves as a broader incumbent in the same Dutch film ecosystem.
• Netherlands Film Festival (NFF): Dutch national film festival referenced as a partner ecosystem for VERS. A larger incumbent that overlaps with VERS on Dutch emerging-talent visibility and on speeddate programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/versftv
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCu7uJckqQ-IvrftoiQVkEgw
• Facebookfacebook.com/vers.filmentv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vereniging-vers-nieuwe-film--en-televisiemakers
• Instagraminstagram.com/versfilm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VERS