Meet Morris Maturbongs.

A director forged in the heart of the Achterhoek – a land full of cows, farmers, and Karens. Born to a Moluccan father and a Dutch mother, Morris spent his formative years renting films at the local video store with his dad and brother. His early cinematic diet? Hong Kong cinema all day: full of humor, slapstick, and characters who, much like Morris himself, seem to embrace chaos. At 17, the Maturbongs family moved to Zevenaar, bringing Morris closer to the Moluccan culture. Discovering the vibrant colour, swinging music, and infectious humor of this community. Combining these two worlds, he attended Het Grafisch Lyceum in Utrecht to study film, and after finishing that, he began studying Communication and Multimedia Design at Hogeschool Arnhem en Nijmegen – allegedly because he could communicate so well (sike). After finishing his studies, he decided to speak in the third person and move to Amsterdam to start his career. He worked at various advertising agencies, creating multiple commercials (see video on the right). But there was always one thing he truly wanted to do: make fiction.

Morris’s work made its mark with “En Leid Ons Niet in Bekoring” at the Dutch Film Festival and “Noobieland” at Cinekid Festival, where his talent for colorful, absurdist comedy (read: hilarious mayhem) started turning heads.

He directs with a palette that’s bright, a tone that’s light, and a vibe that’s always set to “good times.”