UPDATED | Wouter Barendrecht: 1965 - 2009

Lauded as a “playboy of the Pacific Rim” during the Hamptons tribute five months ago, Fortissimo’s Wouter Barendrecht was praised at the event as a passionate advocate for international film who traveled the world to take his movies to festivals far and wide. He gained international acclaim and influence after launching Fortissimo 17 years ago. The company has a library of more than 250 films, its roster has included films by Wong Kar Wai, Todd Solondz, Killer Films, Jim Jarmusch, and many others. John Cameron Mitchell, director of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and “Shortbus,” served as the M.C. for the Hamptons event, which included both hilarious and poignant moments.

Noah Cowan, head of the Toronto International Film Festival Group’s Bell Lightbox, and a longtime friend of Barendrecht’s, hailed Wouter back in October for what he did to “change the discourse, to change the way that films from Asia were talked about.” While former Picturehouse head Bob Berney, also complimented Barendrecht and his work. Referring to the current “indie business in turmoil,” Berney noted, “all this makes Wouter and Fortissimo so important for audiences and festivals around the world.”

In a video tribute that night, Jim Jarmusch praised Wouter Barendrecht for his “exquisite taste in weird movies,” while clips from Sony Picture Classics Tom Bernard & Michael Barker and filmmaker Wong Kar Wai also saluted the Fortissimo founder.

Modest and apparently a bit uncomfortable with all the attention at the Hamptons event in October, Wouter was quite moved by tribute. Thanking his colleagues and accepting their warm (and sometimes quite funny) wishes he noted that he ended up working in the film business because, “no one else in the world would accept me.”

“He convinces us,” noted good friend Claudia Landsberger from Holland Film, “that film is the most glamorous job that you could have your career in.”

“Normally the Dutch people conquer the world with warships,” quipped Berlinale festival director Dieter Kosslick in the final spoken salute of the evening back at the Hamptons, “but Wouter conquered the world with friendship.”

indieWIRE’s staff is still shocked, and deeply saddened, by the news of Wouter’s passing today. We invite his friends and colleagues to post a comment to this story with a remembrance, comment or reflection. Our sincere condolences to the many people Wouter has touched in the business and, of course, to his close friends and colleagues at Fortissimo Films.