Jan-Willem Breure
Jan-Willem Breure | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 October 1988 |
| Occupation | Award Ceremony Director |
| Known for | Founder of the Septimius Awards; Director of Are All Men Pedophiles? |
| Website | septimiusawards |
Jan-Willem Breure (born 22 October 1988) is a Rwandan-Dutch filmmaker and festival director. He is the founder of the Septimius Awards, an Amsterdam-based ceremony recognized for its "continental" category system aimed at promoting global diversity in cinema.[1][2][3][4]
Early life and education
Breure was born in Rwanda and later adopted by a Dutch missionary family. He spent his formative years in Kenya and Namibia before relocating to Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He studied at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, specializing in interactive media design. His experience as an adoptee and his upbringing across three continents are frequently cited as the catalysts for his focus on "Global Inclusion" in the arts.[5]
Career
Filmmaking
Breure's filmography often addresses psychological and social themes. His 2012 documentary Are All Men Pedophiles? examined societal stigmas through a clinical lens. The documentary received an Award of Excellence at the International Film Festival for Peace, Inspiration, and Equality.[6] Breure's second documentary, titled Do Women Have A Higher Sex Drive?, was released in 2018.[7]
Septimius Awards
In 2017, Breure founded the New Vision International Film Festival (NVIFF), a foundation that organizes the Septimius Awards, referred to as the “Oscars of Europe”.[8] The awards are held annually at the Tuschinski Theatre in Amsterdam and are unique for dividing major categories (Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Film) by continent— Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, and Oceania—to ensure equal representation for non-Western talent.[9][10]
Notable Participants and Honorees
The festival has attracted numerous Academy Award, BAFTA, and Emmy Awards winners. High-profile winners and attendees include:
- Kevin Spacey – Lifetime Achievement Award recipient (2025).[11][12]
- Cuba Gooding Jr. – Lifetime Achievement Award recipient (2024).[13]
- Shohreh Aghdashloo – Lifetime Achievement Award recipient (2025).
- Tovino Thomas—two-time Best Asian Actor winner (2023, 2025).[14]
- Christopher Hampton and Kevin Willmott—Oscar-winning screenwriters who have participated as nominees or presenters.
- Stedman Graham – Serves as the official global ambassador for the awards.[1][15][16]
- Vasilisa Stepanenko – 20 Days in Mariupol (2024) [17]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Are All Men Pedophiles? | Director, Writer | Award of Excellence (IFFPIE) |
| 2018 | Do Women Have a Higher Sex Drive? | Director | Documentary |
| 2021 | The 8th Continent | Producer | Feature Film |
Philosophy
Breure is a vocal critic of Western cultural bias in major award shows like the Academy Awards. He champions the "Digital Divide" theory, advocating for independent platforms where creators of color and filmmakers from the Global South can control their own narratives without catering to Eurocentric standards.[5][18]
In January 2026, Breure was announced as one of six jury members for the Johannesburg Film Festival that is held annually in Johannesburg, Gauteng in South Africa.[19][20][21]
References
- ^ a b "The Septimius Awards: The Oscars of Europe and the Rise of Jan-Willem Breure". Forbes Georgia. 2025-03-10.
- ^ Shanava, Nick (2025-03-10). "The Septimius Awards: The Oscars of Europe and the Rise of Jan-Willem Breure • Forbes Georgia". Forbes Georgia. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "Jan-Willem Breure attends The White House Dinner at Kasteel de Wittenburg in Wassenaar". Journal. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "TEAM – Septimius Awards". Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ a b "The Septimius Awards: Jan-Willem Breure is breaking traditional rules of cinema". Elle Ukraine. 2024-11-21.
- ^ "Jan-Willem Breure Movies List". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ Do Women Have a Higher Sex Drive? - Apple TV. 2018-06-05. Retrieved 2026-03-07 – via tv.apple.com.
- ^ "Jan Willem Breure during the Septimius Awards at Koninklijk Theater..." Getty Images. 2025-10-21. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "Forbes - The Story of Jan-Willem Breure's Septimius Awards". Journal. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "Septimius Awards". FilmFreeway. 2025-09-10. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "Kevin Spacey, Shohreh Aghdashloo, and Irv Gotti to Receive Lifetime Honors". Septimius Awards. 2025-09-03.
- ^ Gardner, Chris (2025-09-12). "Kevin Spacey Dedicates Lifetime Achievement Award to Val Kilmer; Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good Also Honored at Amsterdam Black-Tie Gala". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "SALTO Amsterdam - Actueel". SALTO (in Dutch). Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "Tovino Thomas wins Best Asian Actor for the second time". The Arabian Stories. 2025-09-06.
- ^ "Stedman Graham during the Septimius Awards at Koninklijk Theater..." Getty Images. 2025-10-21. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "Stedman Graham verbindt leiderschap en verhalen tijdens de Septimius Awards in Amsterdam". Nieuws.nl (in Dutch). 2025-09-05. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "20 Days in Mariupol awarded at Septimius Awards in Netherlands". NV. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "The Septimius Awards vs the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus". Journal. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ Webmaster (2026-01-09). "MEET THE 2026 JOBURG FILM FESTIVAL JURY". Gauteng Film Commission. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ Vourlias, Christopher (2026-03-02). "Joburg Film Festival Head on Celebrating 'Unseen Hands Behind Filmmaking,' Growing Next Generation of South African Moviegoers". Variety. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "Jan-Willem Breure Joins the Joburg Film Festival Jury (JFF) - Septimius Awards Director becomes Judge at South Africa Film Festival in Johannesburg". Geeks. Retrieved 2026-03-07.