Fanfare is a 1958 Dutch comedy film directed by Bert Haanstra. It is recognized as one of the most significant and commercially successful productions in the history of Dutch cinema.
The film's narrative centers on a rivalry within a brass band in the fictional village of Lagerwiede (filmed in the actual village of Giethoorn). After a disagreement between two prominent members, the band splits into two competing ensembles. The plot follows their efforts to outperform one another in order to win a regional competition.
Fanfare was Haanstra's first feature-length fiction film. It was entered into the 1959 Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Palme d'Or. Upon its release in the Netherlands, it attracted over two million viewers, making it one of the most-watched Dutch films of all time. The film is noted for its visual humor, its use of the picturesque water-based landscape of Giethoorn, and its musical score composed by Jan Mul.
