Eicke Bettinga studied directing and screenwriting at the prestigious National Film and Television School (NFTS) in the United Kingdom, where he earned a Master of Arts degree. Over the course of his career, he has directed numerous internationally acclaimed short films, commercials, documentaries, and fictional television dramas. In addition, he has also written several plays and prose works.

Three of his early short films premiered at the Cannes Film Festival: "Shearing" (2002 in the Cinéfondation), "Together" (2009 in the Semaine de la Critique), and "Gasp" (2012, nominated for the Golden Palm in the Official Selection).