BosBros is the producer of the family feature film Winky’s Horse, based on the children’s book of author Tamara Bos. Six-year old Winky Wong just moved from China to Holland, to live in a small seaside resort, where her father owns a Chinese restaurant. She struggles with adapting. The language, the people, the daily routine; everything is different. Her first day in school is a disaster and she doesn’t want to go back ever again. This changes when she meets ‘Saartje’, an old pony, walking around a meadow close to her house. Winky loves horses, in contrast with her mom, who’s afraid of them.
When Winky’s mom has to go back to China to take care of her ill mother, Saartje becomes more and more important to Winky. Whenever she’s done with her duties in the restaurant, she hurries to the pony to pet him or to feed him carrots. She meets Auntie Cor, the owner of the horse, who’d gladly teach her to ride horses. Unfortunately, Winky’s dad won’t allow it, because he thinks it’s too dangerous for such a small girl. When Saartje dies and Winky’s mom is still back in China, she’s starting to feel really lonely. If she could only have a horse, that would make her a lot happier. But how is she ever going to get one if her parents won’t give her one?
She finds the perfect solution when they teach Winky about ‘Sinterklaas’ (Saint Nicholas), a very sweet old guy who gives presents to all the kids in the Netherlands. She’ll ask him for a horse! Then all her problems would be solved. Or wouldn’t they be?
Winky’s Horse has also been broadcast by the AVRO as a 4-piece television series, of 4 x 25 minutes per episode.
Year of production 2004 | Age All Ages | Length 90 minutes
Aaron Wan
Han-yi-Han
Jan Decleir
Betty Schuurman
Sallie Harmsen
Mamoun Elyounoussi
Anneke Blok
Peter Bolhuis
SCREENPLAY Tamara Bos
DISTRIBUTION Warner Bros NL, In The Air
BROADCASTER AVRO
D.O.P. Lennert Hillege
EDITOR Sander Vos
SOUND DESIGN Marco Vermaas
MUSIC Johan Hoogewijs
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Kim Klaase
PRODUCTION DESIGN Frederiek Delfos, Anita Kars
COSTUME DESIGN Maartje Wevers
MAKE UP AND HAIR Kaway Chui
GAFFER Mark Bakker
SOUND Bram Meindersma
STILLS Victor Arnolds
FNAC Audience Award – Film Festival Gent 2005
Silver Goat – International Children’s Film Festival Ale Kino 2005
Audience Award – Montreal International Children’s Film Festival 2006
Audience – Internationaal Children’s Film Festival, part of Film Festival München 2006
ANEC Golden Medaille – Giffoni Film Festival 2006
2nd Price Best Live-action Kids Movie and 3rd Price Prijs by Adult Jury Chicago International Children’s Film Festival;
In competition at Kinderfilmfest, Berlin International Film Festival 2006 (Germany);
Mini Castellinaria – Castellinaria, International Festival of Films for Youth 20016
CIFEJ Award en Award for Best Young Actress – Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People 2006 (Greece)
Audience Award – Festival Internacional de Cine para Ninos 2007 (Mexico)
My Most Favourite Award – China International Film Festival 2007