Flemish Competition: Fiction

With four films in Cannes and a multitude of releases this year in the cinema, there is no denying it: film in Belgium is doing very well. But this 'golden generation' doesn't appear out of thin air, as the regular visitors of Kortfilmfestival Leuven are well aware of. Lukas Dhont, Robin Pront, Adil El Arbi, Bilal Fallah, Jonas Govaerts, Hans Herbots and Felix Van Groeningen; they were all once at Kortfilmfestival Leuven with a film. And they managed to convince the jury of their talents there. Curious as to what the next generation has to offer? Come discover it in the Flemish Competition!

Programme 1 1h21 — Screenings: Sat. 3/12 (20h30) in Auditorium, Thu. 8/12 (14h) in Cinema ZED Vesalius

De zeer vermoeide man en de vrouw die hartstochtelijk van bonsai

hield (The very tired man and the woman who adored bonsai)

Evelien Declercq, Nyk Dekeyser • Belgium • 2022 • 22 min. A woman responds to a peculiar ad where a man is looking for a woman to die for. The man is tired, dead tired. He wants to die, but can't. While she tends her bonsai trees, she helps the man die. Slowly, he grows towards her, and she shapes and cuts their love.

Production: Maarten D'Hollander • Cast: Janne Desmet, Wim Willaert • Contact: maarten@kraterfilms.be

Motherwound

Bao Van Hoe • Belgium • 2022 • 12 min. May’s first pregnancy stirs up old patterns between mother and daughter, both unable to communicate their needs. A portrait of three generations stuck in their ways.

Cast: Marie Nguyen De Buck, Thao Huynh • Contact: baovanhoe@gmail.com

Altijd zomer

(Always Summer)

Hans Dessers • Belgium • • 17 min. A father and daughter spend a snug weekend together. The father tries to hide it, but dark thoughts are running through his head.

Production: Hans Dessers • Cast: Flo Martens, Tom Vermeir • Contact: hans.dessers@telenet.be

Arme jongen zo ver van huis

(Poor Boy Long Way From Home)

Jonas Hollevoet • Belgium • 2022 • 16 min. After a fight with his ex, a cowboy ends up in a small bar. Gradually, he is immersed in a universe of alcohol, loneliness, and sadness.

Cast: Bram Verrecas, Dolores Bouckaert, Hannah Vandenbussche, Iben Stalpaert • Contact: jon.hollevoet@gmail.com

Oh My God!

Lars Smetsers • Belgium • 2022 • 12 min. A young priest is disappointed in the lifelessness of his church, which becomes more desolate week after week. He longs for joy and a zest for life. Jesus himself comes to his aid.

Production: Willem Kagenaar • DOP: Cody Vandries • Script: Cody Vandries, Lars Smetsers, Willem Kagenaar • Editing: Jelle Vanlimburg • Music: Robin Wittouck • Cast: Bastiaan Maertens, Danny Bouman, Nicolas Bauwens, Puk Roskam • Contact: ls99@onsneteindhoven.nl

Flemish Competition: Fiction Programme 2

1h24 — Screenings: Sun. 4/12 (20h30) in Auditorium, Fri. 9/12 (14h15) in Cinema ZED Vesalius

Alleen ik

(Only me, me alone)

Jasper De Maeseneer • Belgium • 2022 • 16 min. Big brother Jef has to babysit 11-year-old Flor while their parents are gone for the weekend. Flor wants nothing more than his big brother's friendship, but he keeps testing the boundaries.

Production: Victor Longin • Script: Arthur Moelants, Chelsea Vennekens, Jasper De Maeseneer • Editing: Arthur Nelissen • Cast: An Miller, Chris Lomme, Jeroen Van der Ven, Kes Bakker, Lou Goossens, Omar Ouali • Contact: demaeseneerjasper@gmail.com

La chute

(On its way down)

Sebastian Schaevers • Belgium • 2022 • 22 min. In a small village in the Swiss Alps, global warming is noticeable. The people see their village deteriorate, but can't be bothered. And then, a paraglider falls from the sky.

Production: Studio Ampel • DOP: Sebastian Schaevers • Script: Joren Peeters • Editing: Sebastian Schaevers • Music: Michiel Renson • Cast: Kylian Laude, Lea Guillou, Loris Guilhaume, Luc Jotterand, Matteo Lochmatter • Contact: bas.schaevers@gmail.com

Society

Alex Verhaest • Belgium • 2022 • 14 min. After a climate disaster, a group of five find themselves forming a little society. They live a peaceful life until a sixth tries to join.

Production: Jérôme Blesson, Melissa Dhondt • Contact: melissa@inhinterland.com

Pipeline

Ivo Neefjes • Belgium • 2022 • 14 min. Dieter is an average teenager who struggles with insecurities and seeks help in online videos. However, the videos become increasingly less nuanced and gradually begin to affect his view of the world.

Production: Ivo Neefjes, Eliza Moreels • DOP: Joni Schoonjans • Script: Faustine Cros, Ivo Neefjes, Mats Pylyser • Editing: Faustine Cros • Music: Ferdinand Cros • Cast: Mil Sinaeve, Robin Jonckheere, Ruth Becquart, Thomas Sevranckx, Tibbe Walckiers • Contact: ivo_ neef@hotmail.com

Jan en Kelly en alles daartussen

(Jan and Kelly and everything in between)

Daphne Wellens • Belgium • 2022 • 16 min. At an audition for his new film, director Jan is completely won over by actress Kelly. She is perfect. While waiting for the financing to be finalized, they continue working on the film and Kelly falls in love ... with Vincent.

Production: Hans Bruch • Cast: Anna Raadsveld, Bram Suijker, Ward Kerremans • Contact: hansbruchjr@gmail.com

Flemish Competition: Fiction Programme 3

1h21 — Screenings: Mon. 5/12 (20h30) in Auditorium, Fri. 9/12 (17h45) in Cinema ZED Vesalius

Finns Hiel

(Finn's Heel)

Cato Kusters • Belgium • 2022 • 18 min. 15-year-old Arthur and Finn get to meet at the boxing school, where Finn's father is the coach. When Finn sprains his ankle, Arthur tries to help. They decide to keep the injury a secret from Finn's strict father.

Production: Charlotte Mattelin • DOP: Angela Otten • Script: Cato Kusters • Editing: Amber Van Acker • Music: Susobrino • Cast: Brecht Dael, Günther Lesage, Mo Bakker, Pascale Wouters • Contact: catokusters@hotmail.com

Merci pour votre patience!

(Thank you for your patience!)

Simon van der Zande • Belgium • 2022 • 17 min. A bus ride in Brussels. Passengers are looking out the window, on their cell phones or chatting with each other. Then Samuel gets on, a Congolese immigrant, who begins to voice his discontent with Europe.

Production: Gillis Cornelis • DOP: Matthee Van Holderbeke • Cast: Jovial Mbenga, Mariam Ahadouch, Peter Seynaeve, Rinaldi Nianga, Saber Benyaich • Contact: simonvdzande@ hotmail.com

Schemer

(Dusk)

Fien Donckers • Belgium • 2022 • 14 min. In a neighbourhood on the outskirts of the city, people live side by side. So do Sammy and Max. While Max tries to get used to his new neighbourhood, his mother keeps haunting his mind. Sammy too has been thinking about his mom.

Production: LUCA School of Arts • DOP: Sara Van Acoleyen • Cast: Leon Josse Rooms, Milton Riche • Contact: fien. donckers@skynet.be

Groentejong

Max Blomaard • Belgium • 2022 • 11 min. 18-year-old Noah works at his father's vegetable stand at the market. But the responsibility of the job is starting to weigh on him.

Production: Joelik Severyns • Cast: Felix Maesschalck, Robby Cleiren • Contact: max.1996@hotmail.nl

Portrait of a Disappearing Woman

Nelson Polfliet • Belgium • 2022 • 20 min. Worn out by her daily routine, 59-year-old Sabine decides to leave her local shop for the unknown. Her quickest escape, the village school bus, takes her to the Museum of Fine Arts, where an audio guide helps her find the elevation she was unknowingly looking for.

Production: Brecht Van Elslande, Patrick Hernandez, Véronique Siegel • Cast: Gunter Lamoot, Ilse De Koe, Lotte Diependaele, Marijke Pinoy, Tomas Pevenage • Contact: info@animaltank.be

Flemish Competition: Fiction Programme 4

1h18 — Screenings: Thu. 8/12 (20h30) in Auditorium, Fri. 9/12 (12h30) in Cinema ZED Vesalius

L’amer au bord des lèvres

Sanae Khamlichi • Belgium • 2022 • 20 min. On the day of her arranged marriage, 33-year-old Israe is confronted with the fine line between free will and social pressure, but also between convictions, enthusiasm, and fear.

Production: Sanae Khamlichi • Contact: sanae.khamlichi@ student.luca-arts.be

inert

Tim Truyens • Belgium • 2022 • 18 min. After the death of his father, Casper is ridden with feelings of self-blame and post-traumatic stress. These feelings steadily drive him into a corner and force him to face himself.

DOP: Kobe Vangronsveld • Script: Bavo Verhaegen, Tim Truyens • Editing: Cato Kusters • Music: Stan Lee Cole • Cast: Frank Dingenen, Hilde Heijnen, Inge Paulussen, Johan Heldenbergh, Robby Cleiren, Willem Herbots • Contact: tim-truyens@hotmail.com

Gun

Charlotte Lybaert • Belgium • 2022 • 15 min. Being in a new relationship is never easy, but when children are involved, everything changes radically. The budding love between Joris and Eva gets into higher gear when their familes meet each other for the first time.

Production: Michiel Dhont • Cast: Hamza Avci, Hazel Dhaenens, Lara Chedraoui, Valentijn Dhaenens • Contact: info@thereunion.be

Noisetrain

Pol De Plecker • Belgium • • 20 min. Three men wake up in a stopped train. All the other passengers are sound asleep. Once outside the train, they find themselves in an unusual snowy landscape.

Production: Aldís Dagmar Erlingsdóttir Svarkur, Dagmar Duportail • Cast: Arne Sierens, Oscar Van Rompay, Sakis Brönnimann • Contact: pdeplecker@gmail.com

Manbag

Pieter De Cnudde • Belgium • 2022 • 4 min. When his partner quickly runs back to the shop, a man has to hold her handbag. An odyssey of a man in search of his female side.

Production: Claudia Baumlin, Pieter De Cnudde, Thomas Cassiers, Yannick Verdonck • Cast: Geert Van Rampelberg, Violet Braeckman • Contact: pieter.decnudde@gmail.com

Flemish Competition: Fiction Programme 5

1h23 — Screenings: Thu. 8/12 (16h) in Cinema ZED Vesalius, Fri. 9/12 (20h30) in Auditorium

Kreupelhout (Undergrowth)

Tim Ewalts • Belgium • 2022 • 15 min. Two brothers and their father live in a secluded forest. While their father tries to teach them how to become a lumberjack, the brothers are caught in an increasingly escalating struggle for power.

Production: Julia Voets, Tim Ewalts • Cast: Bert Luppes, Joes Brauers, Lukas Bulteel • Contact: julia.voets.1@gmail. com

Nocturnus

Harm Dens, Meltse Van Coillie • Belgium • 2022 • 20 min. In the darkness of the far north, a scientist tries to fathom an extraordinary phenomenon: an Arctic village in hibernation.

Production: Maarten D'Hollander • Cast: Bien De Moor, Emmanuelle Gilles-Rousseau, Jan Bijvoet • Contact: maarten@ kraterfilms.be

voorbij. (beyond.)

Lenny Somers • Belgium • 2021 • 15 min. Sylvie runs into an old friend. As children, they often played together. The two hit it off, but then he betrays her trust.

Production: Lenny Somers • Cast: Ada Callens, Jonathan Michiels, Ona-Lisa Van Haver • Contact: somerslenny@ gmail.com

Canned Talk

Anéline Plateau • Belgium • 2022 • 10 min. Sisters Cléo and Esmee find each other when things are difficult at home. At a time when consolation is hard to find, they grow closer together.

Production: Siebe Gebruers • Script: Veerle De Caestecker, Yara Rymen • Cast: Alejandra Theus, Eden Scheijvens, Reindert Vermeire, Wanda Dickel • Contact: aneline.plateau@hotmail.be

Klette

Michael Abay • Belgium • 2022 • 17 min. 26-year-old Morgane still lives with her mother, has not yet finished her studies, and her love life doesn't go beyond onenight stands. She apparently doesn't know how to get things done...

Production: Nina Payrhuber • Cast: Anne-Laure Vandeputte, Jennifer Heylen, Stella Kitoga • Contact: abay.l.michael@gmail.com