On the Opening Night of the 28th Netherlands Film Festival on Wednesday 24 September, actor Rutger Hauer (1944) will be honoured with the Golden Calf for the Culture Award 2008. The prize will be presented by Minister Ronald Plasterk. The Golden Calf for the Culture Award is granted by the board of the Foundation Netherlands Film Festival to a person or organisation that made an important contribution to the Dutch film culture.

Rutger Hauer graduated from the Academy of Dramatic Art in Amsterdam in 1967 and performed in a large number of stage productions. In 1969, he became a national celebrity with his leading role in the TV series FLORIS by director Paul Verhoeven. From 1973, he acquired international fame as a film actor as the central character in Paul Verhoeven’s TURKISH DELIGHT, one of the most successful Dutch feature films ever. Rutger Hauer features in more than one hundred Dutch and foreign productions, including KATIE’S PASSION (1975), SOLDIER OF ORANGE (1977) and SPETTERS (1980), all in Paul Verhoeven’s direction once again. His role in Bruce Malmuth’s NIGHTHAWKS (1981) marked his breakthrough in the United States. He subsequently worked under the direction of internationally renowned filmmakers like Ridley Scott (BLADE RUNNER, 1982), Sam Peckinpah (THE OSTERMAN WEEKEND, 1983), Nicolas Roeg (EUREKA, 1984), Richard Donner (LADYHAWKE,1985), Ernammo Olmi (THE LEGEND OF THE HOLY DRINKER, 1988), George Clooney (CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND, 2003) and Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez (SIN CITY, 2005). In 2000, he and Erik Lieshout co-directed the short film THE ROOM and currently he is working on the film CHANGING FORTUNES, about Dutch resistance hero Walraven van Hall, which he will direct himself.

In addition to his acting, Hauer in recent years particularly devotes himself to the short film genre and the development of talented filmmakers. These activities are realised through the Rutger Hauer FilmFactory and the I've Seen Films-International Short Film Festival in Milan.

Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven, chairwoman of the Netherlands Film Festival Foundation: ‘Owing to his major artistic contribution to many fields of the film sector and his unremitting dedication to share his knowledge with young filmmakers, the festival board considers Rutger Hauer the ideal candidate for the Golden Calf for the Culture Award.’

At the first Netherlands Film Days in 1981, Hauer was awarded the Golden Calf for his entire oeuvre. In 1994, he was the festival’s Guest of the Year. Simone de Vries made a documentary about him in 2006, called BLOND, BLUE EYES. Rutger Hauer receives the Golden Calf for the Culture Award on the eve of his 40th anniversary as an actor/filmmaker.

The Golden Calf for the Culture Award has been granted during the Netherlands Film Festival since 1981. Previous Culture Awards went to Robby Müller (2007), Hans Kemna (2005), Jan Decleir (2003), Louis van Gasteren (2002), René Scholten (2001), Matthijs van Heijningen (1999), Geoffrey Donaldson (1998), Robbert Wijsmuller (1997), Jeroen Krabbé (1996), Wim Verstappen (1995), Jan de Vaal (1994), Jan Blokker (1993), Paul Verhoeven (1992), De Filmkrant (1991), Jos Stelling (1990), Ellen Waller (1989), Johan van der Keuken (1988), Fons Rademakers (1987), Anton Koolhaas (1986), Joris Ivens (1985), J.M.L. Peters (1984), Bert Haanstra (1983), Dan Ireland (1982) and J.G.J. Bosman (1981).