The curtains have closed on yet another edition of the Brussels Independent Film Festival. Spanning seven days, the festival showcased a total of 69 feature and short films hailing from 25 countries, nestled in the heart of Brussels at Cinema Galeries.
Reflecting on the recent edition of the Brussels Independent Film Festival, Kris De Meester, the Festival director, finds himself navigating a spectrum of emotions. "Year after year, the festival continues to unite a diverse community of film enthusiasts," he observes. "I've had the privilege of engaging with numerous exceptionally talented individuals who've contributed an array of captivating cinematic works. Yet, as is often the case with artistic endeavors, the subjective nature of film selection and award allocation can elicit varied perspectives. However, it is within the willingness to explore uncharted territories and acknowledge the potential for missteps that we propel the evolution of cinema forward. Our festival endeavors to serve as a platform for cultural exchange, embracing a spectrum of viewpoints without prejudice or censorship. We aspire to foster constructive dialogue, ensuring that every voice finds space for expression, regardless of agreement or dissent."
To culminate the 2024 edition, the prestigious award ceremony unfolded at Cinema Galeries on Saturday, February 10th. Eight exceptional films were bestowed with edible medallion awards, crafted from Belgian chocolate by the esteemed 'Gault & Millau Finest Chocolatier,' Wim Vyverman. Handpicked by the jury panel, the following films emerged as this year's winners:
Best Narrative Feature Film:
Coyote (Canada) by Katherine Jerkovic
Best Narrative Short Film:
Manar (Israel) by Rachel Albert
Best Documentary Feature Film:
It Runs In The Family (Dominican Republic) by Victoria Linares
Best Documentary Short Film:
Mum (Portugal) by Siddhant Sarin
Best Animated Film:
Nature Attack (France) by Erik Semashkin
Best Experimental Film:
En Vagues (Belgium) by Alex Schuurbiers
Best Music Video:
They are watching you (France) by Quentin Bernard
Best Belgian Film:
Calf (Belgium) by Tuur Oosterlinck
Congratulations to all!
Last but not least, the Brussels Independent Film Festival wishes to say a special thank you to Cinema Galeries, Chocolate Atelier Wim Vyverman, The Bigger Screen, Connecting Cultures Program, TreePlan.org, and Whush, for their contributions in creating this wonderful event.
ABOUT THE BRUSSELS INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
The Brussels Independent Film Festival found its inspiration with the Brussels International Independent Film Festival, which started in 1974 but ended in 2012. The festival focused on experimental, provocative films and hosted many noteworthy filmmakers, such as Pedro Almodóvar, François Ozon, and Nanni Moretti amongst others. Inspired by that original movement, the revived Brussels Independent Film Festival continues to emphasize lesser known, vanguard cinematic works and further its tradition of galvanizing budding talent. Most importantly, the Brussels Independent Film Festival creates a space for unique visionaries and voices. True to its history, the festival screens films of both novices and veterans —with medium and low budgets— from all over the globe. The festival’s goal is to create a warm, open atmosphere in which filmmakers, fans, critics, and producers can watch the films of emerging talents, explore new cinematic techniques and styles, and award cinematic excellence.
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