Documentary Short
In My Body
Directed by Annelien Nijland
AFIN 2026 Nominee
- 2026
- 29m
-
Netherlands - English, German, Swiss German
- MA 15+
Stills
8 frames Still in the running. Winner announced at Awards Night, 19 September 2026.
Part of this film's cast or crew? Let us know to add or correct credits, genres or details. Filmmaker sign-in opens with the claim email at Awards Night, 19 September 2026.
Credits
Produced by
Starring
- Cindy
- Marina
- Alex
Synopsis
Cindy (34) calls herself a peaceful person who can switch to “psycho.” By day, she trains for an underground German fight club, where she will be one of the first women to fight. At night, she works in a nightclub.
She believes women should toughen up and learn to fight back. In rare moments of rest, usually while smoking outside the club, a softer side appears.
Director's Statement
I’ve always questioned what is considered “normal.” We’re raised with rules about how to live, but I’m more interested in the people who move outside of them. Rather than showing extreme violence, I chose to focus on her as a person. With my camera, I step into those worlds. For this film, I kept the process small and intimate.
What makes this one special
- Australian PremiereThe filmmaker tells us this is where it happens
- 2 awards at other festivalsGhent International Film Week · The French Duck Film Festival
- Programmed at 6 other festivalsAcross 4 countries
- Nominated for Best Documentary Short Subject
- One of just 3 films from Netherlands across eight seasons
- A first-time filmmaker
Also selected at
2 awards, 4 official selections across 6 other festivals
- WinnerGhent International Film Week
- WinnerThe French Duck Film Festival
- SelectionAmsterdam Independent Film Festival
- SelectionGo Short 2025
- SelectionRotterdams Open Doek Festival 2025
- SelectionYoFiFest, The Yonkers Film Festival
Recorded by the filmmaker on their entry.
Director's Biography
Annelien Nijland Director
Annelien Nijland (1988) graduated as a fiction director from the Utrecht School of the Arts. Her work has since focused on documentary photography, exploring people and the worlds they move in. With In My Body, she returns to film, bringing that same direct and character-driven approach to the screen.
Official laurels
Each recognition carries a permanent, verifiable AFIN credential - a link a filmmaker can put on a CV - plus a downloadable laurel for posters and press kits.
Nominee toolkit
Everything you need to share and credit this recognition.
Ready-made announcement
Copy this for your socials, newsletter or press kit.
In My Body was an official Nominee for Best Documentary Short Subject at the AFIN International Film Festival 2026, a Top 100 Best Reviewed and IMDb-qualifying festival.
Add it to IMDb
IMDb adds festival awards from the festival's event page, not from your film's page.
- Open the AFIN International Film Festival event page on IMDb and choose the 2026 edition.
- Choose Edit (contribute), then Awards, and add your film under the category (Best Documentary Short Subject) with the outcome shown on your laurel above.
- Submit. IMDb reviews it and publishes it to the event page and to your film's page.
Is this your project?
Add your poster, stills, cast and the character each actor played, your trailer and a short statement, so we can celebrate your film beautifully.
Your form opens from a link we email you, so only you can complete this project. If you cannot find it, ask for it here and we will send it again.