About Studio Ruba
Ruba, derived from the musical term tempo rubato.
Italian for ‘stolen time’.
The expressive freedom to play with the tempo of a piece.
Studio Ruba is an Amsterdam-based boutique production company founded in 2019 by producers Layla Meijman and Maarten van der Ven. Guided by a strong belief in collaboration, Studio Ruba develops and produces bold, cinematic films with a carefully curated group of filmmakers, focusing on distinctive voices and strong international potential.
After producing a series of acclaimed short and mid-length films, Studio Ruba released its first feature FEMI (Dwight Fagbamila, 2022), which premiered at Warsaw International Film Festival. This was followed by the Berlinale-premiered coming-of-age feature KIDDO (Zara Dwinger, 2023), which received six Dutch Academy Award nominations and enjoyed a wide international festival run and theatrical releases across Europe and beyond.
In 2024, Studio Ruba premiered its first minority co-production, TO A LAND UNKNOWN by Mahdi Fleifel, at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, followed by its North American premiere at TIFF. The mosaic drama IDYLLIC by Aaron Rookus premiered in the Big Screen Competition at IFFR 2025 and was developed within EAVE.
Upcoming features include SUGAR, the debut film by Amira Duynhouwer, which will be presented at the Dark Room Work in Progress Sessions of CineMart 2026, and THE POSSESSED, Ena Sendijarević’s first English-language feature film, currently closing financing and set to shoot in Spain. Studio Ruba is also co-producing 100 THOUSAND TURKISH LIRAS by Nazlı Elif Durlu.
Studio Ruba is a member of ACE Producers, EAVE, NAPA, and the European Film Academy. Its slate has been supported by Creative Europe MEDIA in 2023 and 2025.
Bio's
Layla Meijman
Layla graduated from the Netherlands Film and Television Academy in 2013, where she received the FPN Producer Award for her graduation film.
She previously worked as a creative producer at leading Dutch production company Pupkin, where she initiated, among others, Ena Sendijarević’s acclaimed debut feature TAKE ME SOMEWHERE NICE.
Layla participated in Berlinale Talents and has been a member of ACE Producers since 2025. Recent work includes internationally premiered features such as KIDDO, which screened at the Berlinale in 2023, and, as a dedicated co-producer, TO A LAND UNKNOWN, which premiered in the Quinzaine des Cinéastes at Cannes. She recently completed principal photography on SUGAR, the debut feature by Amira Duynhouwer, scheduled for release in 2026, and is currently closing financing on Ena Sendijarević’s third feature film THE POSSESSED.
Within Studio Ruba, Layla guides the creative development of the company’s slate.
Maarten van de Ven
Having previously obtained a bachelor’s degree in Film, Television and Theatre Studies, Maarten graduated from the Dutch Film Academy in 2009 with the award-winning film Bingo. He gained experience working at Isabella Films on Oorlogswinter, among others, and then worked for several renowned production houses as an executive producer on award-winning short and feature films, including Aanmodderfakker and Quality Time.
Meanwhile, he started VENFILM, with which he produced many award-winning films from the short film P to the documentary A Goat For A Vote and the midlength film The Day My House Fell. In 2016, he produced his first feature film Waterboys, receiving multiple ****- reviews, which attracted 60,000 people to cinemas in the Netherlands.
Marcelle Bartels
Marcelle is our Head of Development and has been working at Studio Ruba since December 2022. After completing her Bachelor's degree in English Language & Culture, she spent several years working at publishing house Das Mag. In 2020, she transitioned into the audiovisual sector through the Master's program Documentary and Fiction at the University of Amsterdam. In 2021, she began her career in film at production company Keplerfilm, where she contributed to productions such as Pink Moon, Hotel Sinestra, and the TV program Hoofdzaken.
At Studio Ruba, Marcelle coordinates funding applications and supports the producers in the development and release of productions. As a delegated producer, she worked on the short film A Shot at Art by Ilke Paddenburg, which is currently in the final stages of post-production. She also initiated the Television film With Sincere Condolences (VPRO), written by Randa Peters and directed by Roxanne Stam, which is set to release this spring.
