A new short fiction film set in The Hague is preparing to go into production at the end of February, and the filmmakers are putting out an urgent call for local support. Alongside a crowdfunding launch, the team is seeking cast and crew to help bring the project to life.
Carp Diem is a warm, humorous and emotionally grounded short film exploring motherhood, migration and the fear that if you do not act now, something precious may be lost forever. The story centres on a Slovak mother raising her Dutch-born daughter in The Hague, determined to pass on a Christmas Eve tradition from her own childhood. The challenge is unexpected but very real: finding a live carp in the Netherlands on Christmas Eve.
What begins as a practical problem becomes a deeper reflection on identity, belonging and how families hold on to cultural roots while building a life elsewhere. For many people living abroad, traditions are more than habits. They can be acts of love, and sometimes acts of stubbornness, offering a tangible connection to people, places and memories that are no longer close by. The film captures this tension with honesty, warmth and gentle humour.
Carp Diem is being directed and produced by Hague-based filmmaker Veronika Marsland and will be shot entirely in and around The Hague over two shoot days at the end of February. The city itself plays an important role in the story. With its internationally rooted communities and multicultural families, The Hague provides a natural and authentic setting for a film about life lived between cultures.
As production approaches, the team is actively seeking cast and crew based in or near The Hague. English-speaking roles are available for a mother, father and child, as well as a fish shopkeeper and a fisherman. There is also a call for crew members, including a director of photography, sound recordist, gaffer and production assistant.
A crowdfunding campaign has launched to help cover essential production costs and support the film’s journey to the international film festival circuit. The campaign also aims to spotlight creative storytelling taking place within The Hague’s international community and to give supporters a direct role in bringing a locally made film to life.
Interested cast, crew and supporters are encouraged to get involved soon, as filming is scheduled for the end of February.
More information
Carp Diem short film project: https://digitalsquirrelstudios.com/carp-diem-short-film
Crowdfunding campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/short-movie-carp-diem
Casting and crew enquiries: info@digitalsquirrelstudios.com