
New Silence is a 20-minute Dutch-language drama about a reclusive drummer who has stopped speaking and the sister trying to reach him through recorded sound. Set against a fragmented winter landscape, the film approaches family, silence and connection through an intimate audio-based premise.
New Silence is a 2026 drama from Belgium and the Netherlands centered on a brother and sister struggling to reconnect. The film follows a reclusive drummer whose silence becomes the central obstacle in their relationship.
Rather than relying on direct conversation, his sister uses audio clips and his sound recorder to build an indirect form of communication. With its focus on rhythm, sound and family, the 20-minute film presents a compact portrait of emotional distance and attempted connection.
New Silence movie details
| Title | New Silence |
|---|---|
| Original title | Nieuwe stilte |
| Release date | |
| Runtime | 20m |
| Genres | Drama, Family |
| Director | Sebald van der Waal |
| Writer | Sebald van der Waal |
| Country | Belgium, Netherlands |
| Languages | Dutch |
| Status | Released |
Story without spoilers
The film follows a tormented, reclusive drummer who refuses to speak while living amid the rumbling vibrations of a fragmented winter landscape. His sister searches for a way to reach him, but ordinary communication is unavailable to them.
She begins using his sound recorder to create audio clips and shape an auditory world for their relationship. New Silence explores how sound can become a means of contact when words are absent, keeping the focus on the siblings’ difficult search for understanding.
What to expect
New Silence is presented as a short-form family drama built around silence, rhythm and mediated communication. Its premise places recorded sound at the center of the relationship between the siblings, while the drummer’s background gives the story a natural connection to percussion and vibration.
The film’s 20-minute runtime suggests a concentrated and economical approach rather than an expansive family narrative. Viewers can expect an intimate setup involving emotional withdrawal, indirect communication and a winter setting, without the story relying on conventional spoken exchanges.
Cast and creative team
Sebald van der Waal directs and writes New Silence. The cast includes Lucas van der Vegt, Alicia Andries, Pieter Van Dijk and Ella Boomsma. No character assignments are provided for the performers.
- Lucas van der Vegt
- Alicia Andries
- Pieter Van Dijk
- Ella Boomsma
Release and production context
New Silence is a 2026 film from Belgium and the Netherlands, produced by opaak films. It is listed as released on October 11, 2026, and has a runtime of 20 minutes. The film is in Dutch and is categorized as a drama and family film.
Production companies: opaak films
New Silence official trailer
Watch the official trailer on YouTube
Movies Dock view
With its short runtime and sound-centered premise, New Silence frames family connection through the space between speech and silence. The film’s combination of a drummer protagonist, recorded audio and a winter landscape gives its story a distinctive basis while keeping the emotional focus on two siblings trying to communicate.
Frequently asked questions
What is New Silence about?
New Silence follows a reclusive drummer who refuses to speak and his sister, who tries to reach him through audio clips made with his sound recorder.
Who directed New Silence?
New Silence was directed by Sebald van der Waal, who also wrote the film.
What genre is New Silence?
It is listed as a drama and family film.
How long is New Silence?
New Silence has a runtime of 20 minutes.
What language is New Silence in?
The film is in Dutch.
Film data:
TMDB















