Concorde Film (“Concorde” is Latin for ‘Harmony between two parties’) was founded in 1972 by Robbert Wijsmuller.  The company would start in Holland, later to spread to Belgium and Luxemburg, distributing independent national and –international films (the acquisition and marketing thereof).

Robbert Wijsmuller had a passion for film.  This was already stimulated when he was around ten years of age and his father (Karel Wijsmuller) became manager of Paramount Pictures Nederland.  Paramount was a ‘Major’.  This means that all the rights to film titles are in the hands of the distributor; Production and Distribution go hand in hand.  Since all paramount subsidiaries are linked to the main company -in this case an American one- this means that the actual influence of a local representative is minimal.  Despite his father’s managerial function, he had little influence.  Still Robbert enjoys everything that has to do with film.  He often skips class to treat himself to a movie.  When Audrey Hepburn is brought to Holland, he is genuinely impressed.

In the early sixties, Robbert begins pestering his father for a job in the film industry.  His father would prefer that he didn’t enter into this ‘unruly’ world, but eventually he concedes.  Karel arranges an internship with Haghe Film, a subtitling company for movies.  Here, Robbert gets acquainted with the technical side of the business.  Still he yearns for more.  Centrafilm, an independent film distributor, gives him the opportunity to showcase his talents.  He takes to his new role like a fish to water.  He has a good way with words and is self-reliant, sometimes even to the extent of irritating his boss.  When he has become overly acquainted with the rules of the game of independent distribution, he looks for bigger challenges.  His boss is cautious and conservative when it comes to Purchasing, this to Robbert’s great annoyance.  Supported by befriended investors, he decides to purchase five film titles independent from Centrafilm.  In this he is supported by Amsthelfilm.  The films are all instant hits.

After the success of his own independently released films, Robbert becomes unstoppable.  He submits a request to the Nederlandse Bioscoop Bond (‘Counsel for Dutch Cinema’) to set up his own enterprise.  The Commissie Nieuwe Zaken (‘Committee for New Business’) is not looking for yet another film distributor; the market is already saturated – or so they think.  Still he persists.  And in Cannes in 1972 permission is granted.  Concorde Film is born!

The first cinematic sensation by his hand is Never say Never Again, an event for which he flies in Sean Connery with a private jet.  The film is released in 65 copies, a rarity in those days!  In this way, Concorde film continues to prove itself, ultimately growing into the largest independent film distributor in the Netherlands.  The creative marketing strategies which Robbert comes up with for the films he believes in are remarkable and prove successful for films such as: Don’t look now, Les Uns et les Autres, Tess, Pinkeltje, The Last Emperor, Amadeus, Ciske de Rat, Flodder, and many other features.  Naturally, his selections are not always on the money and then even his publicity stunts have no effect on ticket sales; think of: Oh Boy, Op Hoop van Zegen, The Bear, and others.                             In 1992, concurrent with the expansion to a new office in Belgium, Concorde acquires the distribution rights for all of the Benelux.  All in all, Concorde has released round and about 1700 titles.

In 1990, Wijsmuller received the highly-acclaimed and prestigious ‘Zilveren Roos’ (Silver Rose) for his contribution to Culture.  In this period he also became chairman of the NFC (Nederlandse Federatie voor de Cinematografie/ ‘Dutch Federation for Cinematografy’).  Through this function, he is directly involved with the lowering of taxes on theatre-tickets in 1996.  In 1997 he received the ‘Gouden Kalf’ (Golden Calf) for his contributions to Dutch Film.  In total, 52 Dutch films were created thanks to his personal involvement and support.

In 1999 the curtain falls for Concorde, the consequence of towering debts and two appeals for bankruptcy, from the Holland Media Groep (HMG) and Miramax (the big American Mini-Major).

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