Since his screen debut in 2009 Marwan Kenzari’s star has been in the ascendant, having been signed up by some of the Netherlands’ directorial luminaries. He worked with Alex van Warmerdam on that year’s critically-acclaimed The Last Days of Emma Blank and with Antoinette Beumer on the box-office hit Loft (2011).

Thereafter Kenzari commenced a working relationship with fellow Dutchman Jim Taihuttu that has spawned two award-winning films, Rabat in 2011 and Wolf (2013). The latter won the Youth Jury Award at San Sebastian and the best actor Golden Calf for Kenzari at the Netherlands Film Festival. They are currently collaborating on Ratu Adil about the unconventional methods deployed by a captain who sets out to liberate the Dutch Indies from independent rebels. In the meantime he starred in two acclaimed Dutch tv series, Van God Los and Penoza. The latter was picked up by the US network ABC for remake in 2012.

Kenzari is noteworthy for the intense muscularity he brings to each role. For Wolf he learned to kick-box and is utterly convincing as he triumphs in each bout. “Together with the director I try to create something that we think is interesting to look at,” he comments. “Of course as an actor I think you always put some of yourself into the part since you’re the one playing it. I just look at it this way. Sometimes a character in a strange way can be a different version of myself with some other ingredients added to it.”

While Kenzari is slated to play in many significant upcoming projects, including Paula van der Oest’s Lucia de B, his work is majorly informed by the collaboration with director Taihuttu. “Jim and I have known each other for almost seven years now. He is one of my closest friends and I think of him as family,” he stresses.

“He has a lot of influence on what I do as an actor. He is the creator of two of the most important characters I’ve played so far (Rabat and Wolf). We discuss a lot and have very similar taste. I truly hope we will continue this interesting journey of film making in the future for a very long time.”

The Shooting Star programme is organised by European Film Promotion to introduce leading European acting talent to prestigious international producers and agents. Previous Dutch Shooting Stars include Sylvia Hoeks, Lotte Verbeek, Halina Reijn and Fedja van Huêt, while former non-Dutch Shooting Stars include the now world-famous Carey Mulligan, Daniel Craig, Franka Potente, Rachel Weisz and Daniel Brühl.

“I would love to do international productions in the future,” Kenzari concludes. “There are these very strong directors in Europe and US that I would love to work with some day. Hopefully this will result in my participation in strong projects.“