Jop Heemskerk

Jop learned to make films in places where very little stands still. He cut his teeth filming extreme action sports, following athletes through wind, water, mountains and the kind of conditions that leave little room for second takes. He later founded Native Films in Zandvoort and developed a practice that moves between cinematography, editing, sound design and directing.

His images are tactile, raw and carefully handmade. Natural environments, immersive sound and the physical presence of the camera are just as important as polish. From cold-water expeditions in Iceland to work for Mystic, Peak Performance, Claude Bernard and Dirty Habits, Jop looks beyond the action itself to find the atmosphere, characters and small human moments surrounding it. Something can look spectacular, but for Jop the real question is how it makes you feel.