Born in the Netherlands into a family deeply rooted in film, Rumi Kaul was
immersed in cinema from an early age. His father, the late Indian filmmaker Mani
Kaul, and his mother, Miryam van Lier, a chairwoman for a film subsidy
organizations and script coach, instilled in him a profound appreciation for the art
form. From a young age, Rumi was captivated by the visual language of great
films, which left a lasting imprint on his mind. As a teenager, after falling deeply in
love with film and other art forms, Rumi decided to pursue studies at the

Netherlands Film Academy in Amsterdam. Initially, he joined the producing
bachelor’s program rather than directing, gaining valuable insights into the
foundations of filmmaking and skills that would later prove instrumental in his
career. However, he always felt a strong pull toward directing. After graduating, he
began experimenting with his own projects, working on commercials, music
videos, fashion films, and eventually his first narrative short, Awake, an
experimental dance film. Though more visually driven than narrative, Awake
garnered attention and recognition at Dutch and international film festivals,
opening doors to further opportunities. His second short film, Cage, followed soon
after. The film, which tackled the toxic masculinity prevalent in street football
culture, received significant attention both nationally and internationally. It was
selected for the debut competition at the Netherlands Film Festival, earned
nominations in four categories at the Shortcutz Film Festival Awards, won the Best
Next Generation Award at Berlin Commercial, and premiered online on Directors
Notes. Building on the success of Cage, Rumi’s third film, Class, emerged as a
natural progression. The film delves into systemic issues within the Dutch
education system through the lens of a compact, stylized, and cinematic story.
Class combines drama, tragedy, and irony to tell the story of a riot at a primary
school, addressing not only the flaws within the Dutch school system but also the
universal challenges faced by teachers and educational institutions worldwide. In
this absurd, humorous, yet tragic tale, we follow an unqualified intern who is
unexpectedly assigned a group of children. When one of the students organizes a
revolt, the intern becomes the unlikely hero tasked with restoring order. The film is
filled with moments inspired by Rumi’s real-life experiences as an intern and
teacher. With Class completed and being submitted to film festivals through Gorilla
Distribution, Rumi is now developing two feature-length scripts. One is a Dutch
production, and the other is an international co-production, co-written with
acclaimed UK writer Harry Shaw. Both projects stay true to Rumi’s signature style
—exploring complex societal issues through visually rich, stylized worlds,
grounded in drama, tragedy, and irony.