LAYLA M.

Layla, an eighteen year old girl, born and raised in Amsterdam, is smart, witty and stubborn – and of Moroccan background. In the times of constant terrorist threat, she struggles with the increasing suspicion towards girls with headscarves and boys with beards. While her frustration grows, her faith intensifies and she joins a group of radical Muslims.

When both Layla and her peaceful brother are arrested by the police, she feels hurt and decides to leave home to marry charismatic Abdel. They travel the country, raising money for the "good cause". When they get involved in a shootout between a group of young jihadists and the police, they have to flee to the Middle East. What she finds is a severely patriarchal society that distances her from Abdel and violates her intrinsic need to have control over her own destiny.

MIJKE DE JONG

Mijke de Jong (born 1959 in Rotterdam) is a Dutch director, screenwriter and producer in the film industry. She has directed numerous short films for television. She studied at the Netherlands Film Academy in Amsterdam. As a student she was part of the Dutch radical anti-militant group “Onkruit”.

Following her debut with Love Hurts (1992), her international breakthrough was with Bluebird (2004), which won the Crystal Bear at the Berlinale. She has also directed Katia’s Sister (2008), Joy (2010) and Frailer (2014), which were well received by the critics and won awards at various festivals.