Cilia van Dijk (The Netherlands, 1941) combines the production of animated films with the financial administration of various creative clients. She produced many short films, among which He almost clutched his Hand (co-directed by Jacques Overtoom and Peter Sweenen) was awarded prizes at various festivals and selected for competition in Cannes.
Wife of the director Gerrit van Dijk, Cilia produced for him, among others Jute (1978/79), a series of 12 short animated films criticising contemporary developments, and those short films which received prestigious prizes all around the world. Productions for other filmmakers include Anna & Bella (1984) by Borge Ring, winner of an Academy Award, and DaDA (1994) by Piet Kroon, also a prize winner. She was involved as international co-producer for Applause (1999), Belgium, and Stiltwalkers (2002, directed by Sjaak Meilink) for the NFB (National Film Board) of Canada. From 1978 Cilia was a board member of the Holland Animation Association (the association for the promotion of Dutch animated films) for 11 years. In 1978 she also founded Animated People, an agency for the distribution of animated films. After ten years it became a foundation, with a board committed to making a step forward in the recognition of animated film. In 1993 this resulted in the establishment of The Netherlands Institute for Animated Film.