# Matthijs van de Sande Bakhuyzen to Lead Arctic Thriller The Art of Survival Dutch actor stars in Tuesday Studio's survival thriller heading to the AFM market. - **Source:** [Deadline](https://deadline.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-10 - **Topic:** [entertainment](https://brifing.si/c/entertainment) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/297fe12f-23fc-406e-8fae-cd883890b2d7 ## New Survival Thriller Announced Dutch actor Matthijs van de Sande Bakhuyzen is set to star in the upcoming survival thriller The Art of Survival. Known for his roles in Netflix's The Perfect Lie and MGM+'s Billy the Kid, Bakhuyzen will play Daniel, a contestant trapped in a high-stakes game show that turns into a desperate struggle. ## Plot and Premise Details The narrative follows Daniel, who participates in a 50-day challenge in the Arctic wilderness for a prize of 500,000 euros. The situation shifts from a competition to a life-or-death scenario when his shelter is destroyed by fire and no rescue team arrives, forcing him to confront isolation and harsh winter conditions. ## Production and Creative Team The film is produced by the Amsterdam-based Tuesday Studio, led by co-founders Arnold Janssen and director Bart Schrijver. The studio previously produced the film The North, establishing a reputation for creating innovative projects that resonate with international arthouse audiences. Janssen is currently spearheading international sales efforts for the new project. ## Market Strategy at AFM Tuesday Studio is introducing The Art of Survival to potential buyers at the American Film Market. The project is already gaining traction with international distributors, signaling strong industry interest in the survival thriller genre. The team aims to leverage the film's unique premise to secure further global distribution deals during the event. ## Early Distribution Agreements Distribution deals have already been finalized for key territories. Dutch FilmWorks has secured rights for the Benelux region, while Gutek Film has acquired the rights for Poland. These pre-sales demonstrate confidence in the production team's ability to deliver a compelling cinematic experience that appeals to diverse audiences across European markets. ## Director's Vision for Character Director Bart Schrijver emphasizes that the film explores deeper psychological themes beyond the physical survival aspect. He intends to examine the internal transformation of a character left entirely alone in the wilderness. The collaboration with Bakhuyzen is central to portraying the complex emotional journey of Daniel throughout his ordeal in the Arctic. ## Distributor Perspectives on Success Willem Pruijssers of Dutch FilmWorks noted the studio's proven track record with previous films like Human Nature and The North. Similarly, Jakub Duszynski of Gutek Film cited the successful box office performance of The North in Poland as the primary reason for their decision to pre-buy this new survival feature for Polish cinemas. ## Context of Survival Cinema The film joins a tradition of survival thrillers that focus on human endurance against extreme environments. By centering the story on a failed game show, the production adds a modern layer of social commentary to the classic man-versus-nature trope. The project remains a significant focus for Tuesday Studio's ongoing international expansion strategy. ## Sources covering this story - https://deadline.com/2026/11/matthijs-van-de-sande-bakhuyzen-the-art-of-survival-film-1237218354/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._