Sunny Bergman

(Netherlands, 1972) is a documentarian, director and programmer for the VPRO network as well as a writer, activist and actor. From a young age, she has questioned what is considered normal in terms of lifestyle as well as skin colour, sex and beauty. These themes are reflected in her programs and documentaries. Her much-discussed films include Beperkt Houdbaar (Limited Shelf-Life, 2007) about current beauty ideals, and Sletvrees (Slut Fear, 2013), in which she investigates (female) sexuality and liberation. Her documentary Zwart als roet (Black as Soot, 2014), a critical look at the Dutch tradition of Sinterklaas, also provoked much debate. Her 2019 film Man Made investigates the phenomenon of masculinity -- what is it, in fact, what kind of stereotypes express it, and how do men suffer from such ideas? Bergman studied philosophy and politics in York, England, her mother's country of origin.