Instinct (2019 film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Instinct

| image = Instinct (2019 film).jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Halina Reijn

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Frans Van Gestel
Arnold Heslenfeld
Laurette Schillings

}}

| writer = {{Plainlist|

Esther Gerritsen
Halina Reijn

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = Ella van der Woude

| cinematography = Jasper Wolf

| editing = Job ter Burg

| studio = {{Plainlist|

Topkapi Films
BNNVARA
Man Up Film

}}

| distributor = September Film Distribution

| released = {{film date|2019|8|12|Locarno|2019|10|3|Netherlands|df=yes}}

| runtime = 94 minutes

| country = Netherlands

| language = Dutch

| budget =

| gross = $947,316{{cite Box Office Mojo|id=8386898|title=Instinct (2019)|access-date=February 24, 2025}}

}}

Instinct is a 2019 Dutch drama film directed by Halina Reijn in her feature-length directorial debut from a script she co-wrote with Esther Gerritsen and it stars Carice van Houten and Marwan Kenzari. It follows Nicoline, a prison therapist who becomes obsessed with a patient, who is a serial rapist.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/instinct-review-1230754|title='Instinct': Film Review Locarno 2019|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=13 August 2019|accessdate=16 August 2019}}

Development of the film started in 2015 under the name of Locus of Control based on a pitch by Reijn. She and Gerritsen did extensive research into the subject while writing the script, including a visit at a clinic. Filming took place in May 2018 over the course of 23 days on a modest budget.

The film had its premiere at the 72nd Locarno Film Festival and was the opening film at the 39th Netherlands Film Festival on September 27, it was released in Dutch theaters the following week. It received generally positive reviews from critics and was selected as the Dutch entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-netherlands-selects-instinct-international-film-category-1236150 |title=Oscars: Netherlands Selects 'Instinct' for International Feature Category |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Scott |last=Roxborough |date=2 September 2019 |accessdate=3 September 2019}}

Plot

A prison therapist becomes obsessed with her charismatic patient, a violent serial rapist on the verge of being paroled.

Cast

{{cast list|

Carice van Houten as Nicoline
Marwan Kenzari as Idris
Marie-Mae van Zuilen as Marieke
Pieter Embrechts as Alex
Ariane Schluter as Directrice
Betty Schuurman as Mother Nicoline
Pieter Embrechts as Alex
Tamar van den Dop as Milly
Robert de Hoog as Jos
Juda Goslinga as Kees
Akwasi Owusu Ansah as Wilfred

}}

Production

The idea for the film came when Reijn was watching a documentary programme called "Liefde in de TBS" (Love in the TBS) broadcast by EO, how about how relationships happen between therapists and their patients in a prison psychiatric hospital. She wanted to explore intimacy with a woman who is unable to be intimate with others due to her being hurt in the past, which makes her doubt her own instincts in regard to her own sexuality and desires. Reijn wanted to examine her own confused feelings around her own sexuality and alongside wanted to explore themes of power, sexuality and intimacy.{{cite web|url=https://filmkrant.nl/interview/halina-reijn-instinct/|title='Ik ben klaar met het circusberenbestaan'|last=Rovers|first=Ronald|website=Filmkrant|date=September 23, 2019|access-date=February 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920085405/https://filmkrant.nl/interview/halina-reijn-instinct/|archive-date=September 20, 2020}}

Reijn pitched the concept to film producer Frans van Gestel, about a psychotherapist who falls for her worst enemy. Van Gestel contacted five screenwriters for the project, of the five, Esther Gerristen was the one hired. Reijn viewed it as an important step at the time. She regarded having a second writer as necessary. Reijn and Gerristen began with research and writing of the script in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.bnnvara.nl/artikelen/interview-halina-reijn|title=Wordt Halina Reijn fulltime regisseur?|publisher=VARA Gids|date=September 27, 2019|access-date=April 19, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002060609/https://www.bnnvara.nl/artikelen/interview-halina-reijn|archive-date=October 2, 2019}} Following the start of the #MeToo movement, they got more motivated to see the project through after the movement took off. They researched anything they could find about TBS, including a visit to a TBS-clinic in order to fact-check their own work. Michel Schöpping was brought in by van Gestel for the sound design. He also surrounded Reijn with other experienced professionals, including cinematographer Jasper Wolf and editor Job ter Burg.

In one of their first meetings they decided to include less female nudity, with a focus on the female gaze. Van Houten, recalled in hindsight asking herself the question regarding her previous projects, "Why am I even naked for this scene?", they also wanted to avoid the objectification of women in the film and wanna show off sexuality without immediately adding female nudity.{{cite web|url=https://www.nporadio1.nl/nieuws/cultuur-media/709a8f44-c725-4b87-98a7-9c60e8f4ce8f/carice-van-houten-ik-ben-wel-een-beetje-klaar-met-naakt|title=Carice van Houten: 'Ik ben wel een beetje klaar met naakt'|work=Spraakmakers|publisher=KRO-NCRV|date=September 27, 2019|access-date=February 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803060022/https://www.nporadio1.nl/nieuws/cultuur-media/709a8f44-c725-4b87-98a7-9c60e8f4ce8f/carice-van-houten-ik-ben-wel-een-beetje-klaar-met-naakt|archive-date=August 3, 2021}} The movie does contains male nudity, and they wanted include full frontal nudity, but they were overruled, even though Kenzari was up for it.

Writing and filming happened under the working title of Locus of Control.{{cite web|url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/cultuur-media/in-de-eerste-speelfilm-onder-haar-regie-locus-of-control-morrelt-halina-reijn-in-onze-genante-en-gevaarlijke-grijsgebieden~bb499866/|title=In de eerste speelfilm onder haar regie, Locus of Control, morrelt Halina Reijn in onze genante en gevaarlijke grijsgebieden|last=Beekman|first=Bor|website=Volkskrant|date=June 1, 2018|access-date=February 24, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240724084500/https://www.volkskrant.nl/cultuur-media/in-de-eerste-speelfilm-onder-haar-regie-locus-of-control-morrelt-halina-reijn-in-onze-genante-en-gevaarlijke-grijsgebieden~bb499866/|archive-date=July 24, 2024}} Carice van Houten and Marwan Kenzari were cast in the lead roles, van Houten was also a co-producer on the project.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/why-demand-for-intimacy-coordinators-is-growing-on-film-and-tv-shoots/5143868.article|title=Why demand for intimacy coordinators is growing on film and TV shoots|last=Rupra|first=Sneh|website=Screen Daily|date=October 15, 2019|access-date=May 7, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250507164257/https://www.screendaily.com/news/why-demand-for-intimacy-coordinators-is-growing-on-film-and-tv-shoots/5143868.article#selection-3257.0-3257.69|archive-date=May 7, 2025}} Marie-Mae van Zuilen, Ariane Schluter, Betty Schuurman, Pieter Embrechts, Tamar van den Dop, Robert de Hoog, Juda Goslinga and Akwasi Owusu Ansah filled out the rest of the cast.{{cite web|url=https://www.elle.com/nl/lifestyle/films-tv/a28446614/instinct-trailer-carice-van-houten-halina-reijn-marwan-kenzari/|title=De eerste trailer van Halina Reijns film Instinct met Carice van Houten en Marwan Kenzari staat online|last=van der Zwaan|first=Gigi|website=Elle|date=July 20, 2019|access-date=May 6, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250506195106/https://www.elle.com/nl/lifestyle/films-tv/a28446614/instinct-trailer-carice-van-houten-halina-reijn-marwan-kenzari/|archive-date=May 6, 2025}} They decided to keep the production small-scale with a modest budget, principal photography took only 23 days. The shoot took place in May 2018. They changed the name from Locus of Control to Instinct, realizing most people wouldn't know the term locus of control.{{cite web|url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/mensen/het-laatste-wat-halina-reijn-met-haar-regiedebuut-wil-is-behagen~bf79b1bc/|title=Het laatste wat Halina Reijn met haar regiedebuut wil, is behagen|last=Beekman|first=Bor|website=Volkskrant|date=September 24, 2019|access-date=February 24, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240812085617/https://www.volkskrant.nl/mensen/het-laatste-wat-halina-reijn-met-haar-regiedebuut-wil-is-behagen~bf79b1bc/|archive-date=August 12, 2024}} Composer Ella van der Woude was brought onto the end of production, as she was shown a finished cut. Before signing on she remarked if they needed her at all, as she thought the film already worked without any music.{{cite web|url=https://www.womeninmusic.nl/2020/02/28/uitgelicht-ella-woude/|title=Uitgelicht: Ella van der Woude|last=Schalekamp|first=Willem|website=Women in Music|date=February 20, 2020|access-date=June 14, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250614202219/https://www.womeninmusic.nl/2020/02/28/uitgelicht-ella-woude/|archive-date=June 14, 2025}}

Release

The world premiere of the Instinct was on August 12, 2019 at the 72nd Locarno Film Festival. It was the first Dutch film to be selected for the festival.{{cite web|url=https://www.rtl.nl/rubrieken/rtl-boulevard/artikel/4783386/instinct-met-carice-premiere-op-locarno|title=Regiedebuut Halina Reijn met Carice in première op Locarno|website=RTL Boulevard|date=July 17, 2019|access-date=April 19, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250419203240/https://www.rtl.nl/rubrieken/rtl-boulevard/artikel/4783386/instinct-met-carice-premiere-op-locarno|archive-date=April 19, 2025}} It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/toronto-film-festival-the-aeronauts-mosul-seberg-kristen-stewart-ore-to-festival-slate-1202667020/ |title=Toronto Adds The Aeronauts, Mosul, Seberg, & More To Festival Slate |work=Deadline |date=13 August 2019 |accessdate=16 August 2019}} The film was the opening film for the 39th Netherlands Film Festival on September 27.{{cite web|url=https://www.filmfestival.nl/nieuws/instinct-van-halina-reijn-wint-variety-piazza-grande-award-in-locarno|title=Instinct van Halina Reijn wint Variety Piazza Grande Award in Locarno|website=Netherlands Film Festival|date=August 19, 2019|access-date=April 19, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806190938/https://www.filmfestival.nl/nieuws/instinct-van-halina-reijn-wint-variety-piazza-grande-award-in-locarno/|archive-date=August 6, 2020}} The original scheduled Dutch cinema release date for the film was October 3, but was moved up for the purpose of complying with the eligibility rules for the Academy Awards, which states that films need to be released in the country of origin before October 1st in order to qualify. Film distributor September Film stated that film theatres were giving the option to show the film earlier following its debut at the Netherlands Film Festival.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraaf.nl/entertainment/1132915275/film-instinct-komt-iets-eerder-uit-vanwege-oscarselectie|title=Film Instinct komt iets eerder uit vanwege Oscarselectie|website=De Telegraaf|date=September 2, 2019|access-date=September 2, 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250419204718/https://www.telegraaf.nl/entertainment/1132915275/film-instinct-komt-iets-eerder-uit-vanwege-oscarselectie|archive-date=April 19, 2025}}

Instinct also played at the BFI London Film Festival in October, where it was nominated for the Sutherland Trophy.{{cite web|url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/376953/|title=The BFI London Film Festival lifts the veil on its programme|last=Aftab|first=Kaleem|website=Cineuropa|date=August 29, 2019|access-date=May 6, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250506203739/https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/376953/|archive-date=May 6, 2025}} That same month it also shown at the Film Fest Gent and Chicago International Film Festival, at the latter it competed in the New Directors Competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.demorgen.be/tv-cultuur/een-man-had-deze-film-niet-kunnen-maken-carice-van-houten-en-halina-reijn-over-hun-film-instinct~bb0aa375/|title='Een man had deze film niet kunnen maken': Carice van Houten en Halina Reijn over hun film 'Instinct'|last=Kooke|first=Sandra|website=De Morgen|date=September 28, 2019|access-date=May 6, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250506204255/https://www.demorgen.be/tv-cultuur/een-man-had-deze-film-niet-kunnen-maken-carice-van-houten-en-halina-reijn-over-hun-film-instinct~bb0aa375/|archive-date=May 6, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/oscar-submissions-corpus-christi-instinct-among-chicago-festival-international-line-up-exclusive/5142902.article|title=Oscar submissions 'Corpus Christi', 'Instinct' among Chicago festival international line-up (exclusive)|last=Kay|first=Jeremy|website=Screen Daily|date=September 16, 2019|access-date=May 6, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250506204830/https://www.screendaily.com/news/oscar-submissions-corpus-christi-instinct-among-chicago-festival-international-line-up-exclusive/5142902.article|archive-date=May 6, 2025}} The film was selected as one of the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film entries that was shown at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January 2020.{{cite web|url=https://desertsun.com/story/life/2019/12/10/palm-springs-film-festival-focus-diverse-italian-cinema-2020/4380952002/|title=Palm Springs International Film Festival to focus on Italy's 'diverse' cinema in 2020|last=Blueskye|first=Brian|website=The Desert Sun|date=December 10, 2019|access-date=May 8, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231152540/https://desertsun.com/story/life/2019/12/10/palm-springs-film-festival-focus-diverse-italian-cinema-2020/4380952002/|archive-date=December 31, 2019}}

On September 19, 2022, it was announced that A24 had acquired North American distribution rights to the film, exclusively screening it as double feature with Reijn's Bodies Bodies Bodies in the company's screening room three days later on September 22.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/a24-instinct-bodies-bodies-bodies-director-halina-reijn-1235376092/|title=A24 Nabs Erotic Thriller 'Instinct' From 'Bodies Bodies Bodies' Director Halina Reijn|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=19 September 2022|website=Variety|access-date=20 September 2022}}

Reception

Instinct has an approval rating of 80% on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 15 reviews, and an average rating of 7.4/10.{{cite web | url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/instinct_2019 | title=Instinct (2019) | website=Rotten Tomatoes }} Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 66 out of 100, based on 5 critics, indicating "generally favourable reviews".{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/instinct-2019?ftag=MCD-06-10aaa1c | title=Instinct | website=Metacritic }}

The film was awarded the Golden Film for having sold 100.000 tickets at the Dutch box office.{{cite web|url=https://www.filmfestival.nl/nieuws/instinct-bekroond-met-gouden-film|title=INSTINCT bekroond met Gouden Film|website=Netherlands Film Festival|date=November 18, 2019|access-date=April 19, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420171328/https://www.filmfestival.nl/nieuws/instinct-bekroond-met-gouden-film/|archive-date=April 20, 2021}}

=Awards and nominations=

class="wikitable sortable"
scope=col\| Year ! scope=col\| Association ! scope=col\| Category ! scope=col\| Recipient(s) ! scope=col\| Result ! class=unsortable scope=col\| {{Abbr\|Ref(s).\|Reference(s)}}
rowspan=8\|2019 \| Chicago International Film Festival \| New Directors Competition \| style="text-align:center;"\|Halina Reijn \| {{nom}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|{{cite web\|url=https://www.chicagofilmfestival.com/competitions-at-the-55th-chicago-international-film-festival/\|title=Announcing Competitions for the 55th Chicago International Film Festival\|website=Chicago International Film Festival\|date=September 16, 2019\|access-date=\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921142428/https://www.chicagofilmfestival.com/competitions-at-the-55th-chicago-international-film-festival/\|archive-date=September 21, 2019}}
Locarno Film Festival \| Variety Piazza Grande Award \| style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2\|Halina Reijn, Carice van Houten \| {{won}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|{{cite web\|url=https://www.filmfestival.nl/nieuws/instinct-van-halina-reijn-wint-variety-piazza-grande-award-in-locarno\|title=Instinct van Halina Reijn wint Variety Piazza Grande Award in Locarno\|website=Netherlands Film Festival\|date=August 19, 2019\|access-date=July 24, 2024\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826134325/https://www.filmfestival.nl/nieuws/instinct-van-halina-reijn-wint-variety-piazza-grande-award-in-locarno/\|archive-date=August 26, 2019}}
Locarno Film Festival \| Swatch Art Peace Hotel Award - Special Mention \| {{won}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|
London Film Festival \| Sutherland Award \| style="text-align:center;"\| Halina Reijn \| {{nom}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|{{cite web\|url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/376953/\|title=The BFI London Film Festival lifts the veil on its programme\|last=Aftab\|first=Kaleem\|website=Cineuropa\|date=September 29, 2019\|access-date=July 24, 2024\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913215726/https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/376953/\|archive-date=September 13, 2019}}
rowspan=4\| Les Arcs Film Festival \| Best Narrative Feature \| style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2\|Halina Reijn \| {{nominated}} \| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"\|{{cite web\|url=https://www.telegraaf.nl/entertainment/491125572/instinct-van-halina-reijn-wint-drie-prijzen-op-filmfestival\|title=Instinct van Halina Reijn wint drie prijzen op filmfestival\|website=De Telegraaf\|date=December 21, 2019\|access-date=July 27, 2024\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222004320/https://www.telegraaf.nl/entertainment/491125572/instinct-van-halina-reijn-wint-drie-prijzen-op-filmfestival\|archive-date=December 22, 2019}}
Cineuropa Award \| {{won}}
Best Actress \| style="text-align:center;"\|Carice van Houten \| {{won}}
Young Audience Award \| style="text-align:center;"\|Halina Reijn \| {{won}}
rowspan=6\| 2020 \| European Film Awards \| European Discovery of the Year \| style="text-align:center;"\| Halina Reijn \| {{nom}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|{{cite web\|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/european-film-academy-unveils-european-discovery-nominees-4073659/\|title=European Film Academy Unveils European Discovery Nominees\|last=Roxborough\|first=Scott\|website=The Hollywood Reporter\|date=October 8, 2020\|access-date=July 24, 2024\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004034320/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/european-film-academy-unveils-european-discovery-nominees-4073659/\|archive-date=October 4, 2022}}
Miami Film Festival \| Jordan Ressler First Feature Award \| style="text-align:center;"\|Halina Reijn \| {{nom}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|{{cite web\|url=https://news.mdc.edu/mdcs-miami-film-festival-announces-2020-lineup/\|title=MDC's Miami Film Festival Announces 2020 Lineup\|last=Riera\|first=Gabriel\|website=MDC News\|date=February 3, 2020\|access-date=July 24, 2024\| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421144047/https://news.mdc.edu/mdcs-miami-film-festival-announces-2020-lineup/\|archive-date=April 21, 2020}}
rowspan=3\|Netherlands Film Festival \| Golden Calf for Best Script \| style="text-align:center;"\|Esther Gerritsen, Halina Reijn \| {{nom}} \| style="text-align:center;" rowspan=3\|{{cite web\|url=https://www.parool.nl/kunst-media/dit-zijn-alle-gouden-kalf-nominaties-van-2020~ba2de62d/\|title=Dit zijn alle Gouden Kalf-nominaties van 2020\|last=Ekker\|first=Jan Pieter\|website=Het Parool\|date=September 28, 2020\|access-date=July 25, 2024\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017041459/https://www.parool.nl/kunst-media/dit-zijn-alle-gouden-kalf-nominaties-van-2020~ba2de62d/\|archive-date=October 17, 2020}}
Best Actor \| style="text-align:center;"\|Marwan Kenzari \| {{nom}}
Best Actress \| style="text-align:center;"\|Carice van Houten \| {{nom}}
Palm Springs International Film Festival \| FIPRESCI Prize for Best Foreign Language Film \| style="text-align:center;"\|Halina Reijn \| {{nom}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|{{cite web\|url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/life/2019/12/10/palm-springs-film-festival-focus-diverse-italian-cinema-2020/4380952002/\|title=Palm Springs International Film Festival to focus on Italy's 'diverse' cinema in 2020\|last=Blueskye\|first=Brian\|website=The Desert Sun\|date=December 10, 2019\|access-date=July 25, 2024\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231152540/desertsun.com/story/life/2019/12/10/palm-springs-film-festival-focus-diverse-italian-cinema-2020/4380952002/\|archive-date=December 31, 2019}}

class="wikitable sortable"

scope=col| Year

! scope=col| Association

! scope=col| Category

! scope=col| Recipient(s)

! scope=col| Result

! class=unsortable scope=col| {{Abbr|Ref(s).|Reference(s)}}

rowspan=8|2019

| Chicago International Film Festival

| New Directors Competition

| style="text-align:center;"|Halina Reijn

| {{nom}}

| style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagofilmfestival.com/competitions-at-the-55th-chicago-international-film-festival/|title=Announcing Competitions for the 55th Chicago International Film Festival|website=Chicago International Film Festival|date=September 16, 2019|access-date=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921142428/https://www.chicagofilmfestival.com/competitions-at-the-55th-chicago-international-film-festival/|archive-date=September 21, 2019}}

Locarno Film Festival

| Variety Piazza Grande Award

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2|Halina Reijn, Carice van Houten

| {{won}}

| style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|url=https://www.filmfestival.nl/nieuws/instinct-van-halina-reijn-wint-variety-piazza-grande-award-in-locarno|title=Instinct van Halina Reijn wint Variety Piazza Grande Award in Locarno|website=Netherlands Film Festival|date=August 19, 2019|access-date=July 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826134325/https://www.filmfestival.nl/nieuws/instinct-van-halina-reijn-wint-variety-piazza-grande-award-in-locarno/|archive-date=August 26, 2019}}

Locarno Film Festival

| Swatch Art Peace Hotel Award - Special Mention

| {{won}}

| style="text-align:center;"|

London Film Festival

| Sutherland Award

| style="text-align:center;"| Halina Reijn

| {{nom}}

| style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/376953/|title=The BFI London Film Festival lifts the veil on its programme|last=Aftab|first=Kaleem|website=Cineuropa|date=September 29, 2019|access-date=July 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913215726/https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/376953/|archive-date=September 13, 2019}}

rowspan=4| Les Arcs Film Festival

| Best Narrative Feature

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2|Halina Reijn

| {{nominated}}

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"|{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraaf.nl/entertainment/491125572/instinct-van-halina-reijn-wint-drie-prijzen-op-filmfestival|title=Instinct van Halina Reijn wint drie prijzen op filmfestival|website=De Telegraaf|date=December 21, 2019|access-date=July 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222004320/https://www.telegraaf.nl/entertainment/491125572/instinct-van-halina-reijn-wint-drie-prijzen-op-filmfestival|archive-date=December 22, 2019}}

Cineuropa Award

| {{won}}

Best Actress

| style="text-align:center;"|Carice van Houten

| {{won}}

Young Audience Award

| style="text-align:center;"|Halina Reijn

| {{won}}

rowspan=6| 2020

| European Film Awards

| European Discovery of the Year

| style="text-align:center;"| Halina Reijn

| {{nom}}

| style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/european-film-academy-unveils-european-discovery-nominees-4073659/|title=European Film Academy Unveils European Discovery Nominees|last=Roxborough|first=Scott|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 8, 2020|access-date=July 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004034320/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/european-film-academy-unveils-european-discovery-nominees-4073659/|archive-date=October 4, 2022}}

Miami Film Festival

| Jordan Ressler First Feature Award

| style="text-align:center;"|Halina Reijn

| {{nom}}

| style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|url=https://news.mdc.edu/mdcs-miami-film-festival-announces-2020-lineup/|title=MDC's Miami Film Festival Announces 2020 Lineup|last=Riera|first=Gabriel|website=MDC News|date=February 3, 2020|access-date=July 24, 2024| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421144047/https://news.mdc.edu/mdcs-miami-film-festival-announces-2020-lineup/|archive-date=April 21, 2020}}

rowspan=3|Netherlands Film Festival

| Golden Calf for Best Script

| style="text-align:center;"|Esther Gerritsen, Halina Reijn

| {{nom}}

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan=3|{{cite web|url=https://www.parool.nl/kunst-media/dit-zijn-alle-gouden-kalf-nominaties-van-2020~ba2de62d/|title=Dit zijn alle Gouden Kalf-nominaties van 2020|last=Ekker|first=Jan Pieter|website=Het Parool|date=September 28, 2020|access-date=July 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017041459/https://www.parool.nl/kunst-media/dit-zijn-alle-gouden-kalf-nominaties-van-2020~ba2de62d/|archive-date=October 17, 2020}}

Best Actor

| style="text-align:center;"|Marwan Kenzari

| {{nom}}

Best Actress

| style="text-align:center;"|Carice van Houten

| {{nom}}

Palm Springs International Film Festival

| FIPRESCI Prize for Best Foreign Language Film

| style="text-align:center;"|Halina Reijn

| {{nom}}

| style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/life/2019/12/10/palm-springs-film-festival-focus-diverse-italian-cinema-2020/4380952002/|title=Palm Springs International Film Festival to focus on Italy's 'diverse' cinema in 2020|last=Blueskye|first=Brian|website=The Desert Sun|date=December 10, 2019|access-date=July 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231152540/desertsun.com/story/life/2019/12/10/palm-springs-film-festival-focus-diverse-italian-cinema-2020/4380952002/|archive-date=December 31, 2019}}