Evert de Beijer passed away on Sunday, 28 January 2024 in Amsterdam at the age of 70
Evert de Beijer passed away on Sunday, 28 January 2024 in Amsterdam at the age of 70. Born in Driehuis, Netherlands in 1953, Evert studied graphic design at The Graphic School and The State Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam. He went on to The Dutch Film and Television Academy, where he learned camera work and directing. His graduation film Gerard, about a dog named Gerard, was screened at the Ottawa International Animation Festival in 1980.
De Beijer’s first professional film, The Characters, was awarded numerous prizes, including a Gold Hugo For Animation at the Chicago International Film Festival, and a Jury Award for Graphic Design at Animafest Zagreb in 1986. In 1987, The Center National de la Cinematographie in Paris gave the film, about an amorous but jealous couple, a Mention de Qualité.
The Characters went on to be part of Spike and Mike’s Tour of Animation. The Dutch animation film community voted the film Best Dutch Animated Film of the 20th Century.
His film about narcissism, Hotel Narcis, was awarded Best Design at the 1994 Ottawa International Animation Festival. The film also received the Normand Roger Palmares du Sound in 1995 at Annecy for best original soundtrack.
Next, Evert learned 2D and 3D computer graphics and sound design to create his 2003 film Car Craze. It is about an ecological inspector stranded in a forgotten oil town teeming with monstrous cars. They evolve into parasitic life forms that sap vital juices from the earth. The film was awarded a Special Distinction at Annecy in 2003 and at Zagreb the following year it received a Special Jury Award for its innovative style and design and his original approach to 3D computer animation. Car Craze garnered the Grand Prix at the 2003 Energy Film Festival in Lausanne, as well as the 2004 Air Zone Award at the Holland Animation Film Festival in Utrecht.
His second computer film, Get Real!, about a teenager addicted to a computer game, was awarded The Best Visuals Prize in 2010 at Fantoche in Baden, Switzerland. It also received the Grand Prix at Animatou in Geneve as well as a Special Mention at the Berlinale the same year.
In 2011, Evert was awarded the Prize of the City of Wiesbaden for his artistic and innovative contribution to animation at the Filme im Schloss Animated Film Festival.
He released his final film, Lucy, in 2015. In the film, a boy visits a paleological exhibition with his parents where the 4 million-year-old Lucy comes to life. It screened in competition that year. In total, between 1979 and 2015, he made 10 films.
Evert de Beijer’s creativity and talent will be missed in the world of animation.
