Carnaval Film Premieres in Tilburg, the First Film Devoted to the Brabant Festival

Carnaval film premiere in Tilburg, Digi Mart USA News (Tilburg, Netherlands): Well-known Brabanders walked the red carpet Monday evening in Tilburg for the premiere of the film Carnaval. Dressed in their finest carnival outfits, they told Omroep Brabant why it is important that there is finally a film about the Brabant festival.

The film follows four friends, played by Huub Smit, Tim Haars, Guido Pollemans and Fresku, who have been looking forward to carnival all year. The celebration reaches its peak until one of the men suddenly comes face to face with his 12-year-old daughter, whose existence he had not known about.

He is asked whether he is willing to look after her for a while.

Singer Guus Meeuwis also attended the red carpet, wearing a Scottish kilt in Brabant colors. He has a small role in the film.

“I find it so strange that it has not happened before,” Meeuwis said, referring to the fact that no true carnival film had ever been made.

Monic Hendrickx, in an ape onesie, and Henry van Loon also attended, as both appear in the film. “Carnival is an important celebration for many people,” Hendrickx said.

“There is much more to tell than just carnival.” Van Loon, who grew up in Oirschot, described it as a beautiful festival that brings people together, noting that the key to the city or village is handed to the carnival prince, giving the people a say for a while.

Leo Alkemade, dressed in a smock and a carnival scarf in Tilburg colors, called the theme a fantastic subject for a film and said it was surprising no one had thought of it earlier. He described himself as someone who enjoys carnival mostly through others, joining the parade briefly before heading home.

“Carnival is camaraderie, is conviviality, is being together and singing songs. Boozing, that I can do,” he said with a grin.

Singer Corry Konings said Brabanders are proud of their love for carnival, whether dressed up fully or watching the parade in a thick coat. Christel de Laat said carnival deserves its own film because it is cultural heritage and because five days is too short for the most beautiful festival there is.