The feature-length documentary, directed by acclaimed Dutch filmmaker Suzanne Raes and co-directed by Venice De Castro Atienza, will make its official debut in the Luminous strand of IDFA, which is scheduled to run from November 12 to 22. In addition to its screening in the festival’s prominent showcase section, "We Had a Plan" has also been selected to run in competition for IDFA’s coveted Best Dutch Film Award, signaling early critical confidence in the emotional depth and cinematic resonance of the project. Ahead of the festival screenings, Cat&Docs and the production team have partnered to introduce the film to global buyers, with industry insiders watching closely to see how the project performs on the international market.
The narrative of "We Had a Plan" centers on Paul and Daniel, two men who spent twelve years away from their homeland—ten of those years working in the shadows of the Dutch underground economy as undocumented cleaners. Having spent more than a decade with no legal status and no practical way of returning home to visit family or manage affairs, the couple ultimately makes the bold decision to move back to the Philippines. They arrive bearing grand visions and ambitious plans for the next chapter of their lives, fueled by the savings they managed to accumulate during their grueling years abroad.
However, the reality of their homecoming quickly clashes with the complexities of readjustment. In the eyes of their relatives back home, Paul and Daniel are perceived as wealthy returning migrants, a label that brings its own set of expectations and pressures. As time passes, the financial cushion provided by their years of sacrifice begins to wear thin. Furthermore, the couple finds themselves contending with a stark reduction in personal freedom as the social and cultural limits of their identity as a gay couple in the Philippines begin to close in around them. Under the weight of dwindling savings and tightening social constraints, their relationship, which weathered a decade of hardship in Europe, begins to show signs of severe strain.
Director Suzanne Raes noted that the creative team deliberately shaped the project to explore the broader systemic forces that impact individual lives. She explained that the film evolved into a bittersweet love story that investigates how a couple’s relationship can be tested by global inequalities, disparities in wealth, systemic variations in social security, and differing degrees of acceptance for queer people around the world. Raes emphasized that the documentary is designed to reveal the profound personal sacrifices migrant workers routinely make in order to achieve their long-term goals, ultimately seeking to humanize an economic workforce that is frequently rendered invisible by the societies that depend on their labor.
Co-director Venice De Castro Atienza brought a deeply personal perspective to the production. As a Filipino filmmaker who has also left her home country, De Castro Atienza approached Paul and Daniel’s story with a distinct sense of closeness and intimacy. She noted that she instantly recognized the collective, shared experience common among many Filipinos who face the agonizing choice between leaving their homeland to provide financial support for loved ones or staying behind to share a continuous daily life with them. According to De Castro Atienza, "We Had a Plan" captures the raw endeavor of two people attempting to challenge the existing configuration of the world in order to carve out a safe, sustainable place for their love to endure.
Catherine Le Clef, president and CEO of Cat&Docs, shared that her company was immediately drawn to the authentic warmth of the documentary and the undeniable likability of its central figures. Le Clef observed that through Paul and Daniel’s personal journeys, the film successfully delivers a deeply human perspective on a foreign labor force that is far too often reduced to cold statistics, broad stereotypes, or complete invisibility. She added that the documentary serves as an important, timely reminder of the very real human costs hidden behind the sprawling global systems that rely entirely on migrant labor. For Cat&Docs, the unique combination of narrative intimacy, emotional tenderness, and urgent social relevance made the acquisition a compelling addition to their slate.
The creative pedigree behind "We Had a Plan" spans multiple acclaimed projects from both directors. Suzanne Raes is widely known for her previous documentary work, including the 2023 release "Close to Vermeer" and the 2024 film "Where Dragons Live," the latter of which earned her a prestigious BAFTA Scotland nomination. Venice De Castro Atienza made her feature directorial debut with "Last Days at Sea" in 2021, a film that initially premiered at the Berlinale before embarking on an extensive international festival circuit that included stops at Visions du Réel, Hot Docs, and IDFA.
The production of the documentary brought together a collaborative international team. Ilja Roomans served as producer for the Netherlands-based production outfit Docmakers, while Alemberg Ang joined the project as co-producer representing Daluyong Studios in the Philippines. Additionally, Venice De Castro Atienza took on the role of executive producer through her work with Svemirko Film Productions. Following its festival run and international sales launch, the film is slated for domestic release in the Netherlands, where Cinema Delicatessen will manage local theatrical and media distribution.
