Eddy Wijngaarde

Eddy Wijngaarde is a prominent figure in the Surinamese film industry and the founder of The Back Lot, an organization dedicated to the socio-cultural development of Suriname, particularly in film. Born on January 6, 1943, in Aruba, he moved to the Netherlands at a young age, where he eventually became a successful restaurateur and connected with the film community. Wijngaarde gained recognition for his documentary 'The Battle of the Java Sea,' which won the esteemed Gouden Kalf Award. His dedication to fostering the local film industry culminated in the establishment of TBL Cinemas, a vital platform for Surinamese cinema, and he was recently honored with the Rotary Vocational Excellence Award 2025 for his significant contributions to the cultural life of Suriname.