Born on December 8th 1964, Frans became more and more interested in film making after his studies in History and during his time at the Amsterdam Film Academy. He worked on several successful Dutch productions such as Filmpje and Tot Ziens. In 1996 he founded Motel Films together with his companion Jeroen Beker. Frans’ activities are mainly on the creative side of producing. Frans is also a member of the Board of Advisors to the Dutch Film Academy and was an advisor to the Dutch Film Fund.

MOTEL FILMS
www.motelfilms.nl

Motel Films is an Amsterdam based production company that develops and produces feature films, television dramas and documentaries for the Dutch and international market. Since its establishment in 1996 Jeroen Beker and Frans van Gestel had an eye for young talent and specialized themselves in author driven films. Motel Films (co)produced a various range of films since they started such as awarded films like a.o. The Polish Bride (Semaine de la Critique, Cannes), Jacky (Un Certain Regard, Cannes) and more recently Carlos Reygadas’ Stellet Licht that won the special jury prize in the main competition at the Cannes international Film Festival of this year. Besides these art house films they also produced blockbusters such as Paul Verhoeven’s Black Book (Venice competition), In Orange and more recently Love is All that is now playing in 93 theaters. Television drama of Motel Films is broadcasted on national television this autumn starting with 7 episodes of the series Stellenbosch, partly shot in South Africa, followed by the mini series The Prince and the Girl about the royal family in Holland.