Fokke Baarssen

Fokke Baarssen was born in Almelo, The Netherlands. He received his Bachelor's degree in Art and Technology at Saxion University of Applied Science in Enschede, The Netherlands. Fokke Baarssen is an engaged filmmaker. Fokke's debut film "The Counsil" (2012), about child abuse in the Dutch carnival scene, won awards for Best Debut Film and Best Screenplay at the Eindhoven Film Festival. In 2014 Fokke co-produced the award winning American documentary "Destressed", about Garry Pastore, a New Yorker who suffered from PTSD since the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Fokke and his camera followed Garry on his quest to find inner peace and mindfulness. "Destressed" has won five awards at international film festivals, including Best Documentary and the Audience Choice Award at the Garden State Film Festival. In 2015 Fokke won another award at the Garden State Film Festival, but this time for his documentary "The You-Know-Who", about twelve mentally challenged actors who develop a theatre play with twelve young actors from The Netherlands. Fokke continues to develop himself as an all round filmmaker, switching from directing, writing and producing to editing and cinematography. His latest short film "Match" is being submitted to numerous film festivals in the world. Fokke is developing another short fiction film and a feature documentary, both projects aiming for a 2017 release.