Simply in time for the Belgian annual celebration at Cannes, Display screen Flanders, the Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship financial fund for the audiovisual trade, has introduced an funding of €1.92M ($2.23M) in 15 new audiovisual productions, with 9 majority Flemish (or Belgian) and 6 minority Flemish initiatives.
Based on Display screen Flanders, the 15 supported initiatives will generate greater than €16.1M ($18.7M) in eligible audiovisual expenditure within the Flanders Area. The help awarded inside through name varies between €35,000 ($40,000) and €295,000 ($340,000) per challenge.
With 9 characteristic movies, three drama sequence, two animated movies and one animated sequence within the line-up, this primary batch of recipients – of the 2 Display screen Flanders allocations per 12 months – takes in each veteran filmmakers and debut administrators, showcasing the variety of Belgian cinema and the attraction of Belgian companions on the European co-production scene.
From Academy Award nominated director Stijn Coninx (“Daens,” “Niet Schieten”) comes “Oh Lovely Belgium”, a really Belgian story about each Belgian’s favourite dialog matter: the potential divorce between Flanders and Wallonia.
As essentially the most unlikely state of affairs turns into a actuality, the Walloon minister-president is incapacitated, and his daughter should signal paperwork in his identify. However she has points with the textual content. And being the Flemish minister-president’s ex-lover does complicate issues as properly.
Coninx co-writes the screenplay with “Zagros” and “Moscow, Belgium” author Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem. The movie is produced by the Flemish firm A Personal View in co-production with Deal Productions in Luxembourg, with Kinepolis Movie Distribution dealing with distribution throughout the Benelux.
Display screen Flanders can also be supporting the characteristic movie debut of Clermont-Ferrand winners, BAFTA Scholar Award nominees Anthony Nti and Chingiz Karibekov (“Da Yie”). “Postcard” is predicated on the autobiographical novel “On Black Sisters’ Street” by Chika Unigwe, through which two Nigerian girls flee to Europe in the hunt for a greater life however develop into entangled within the merciless world of compelled prostitution. One clings desperately to her desires, whereas the opposite sees a possibility to climb the ranks inside the system.
“Postcard” is produced by the Flemish firm Caviar, in co-production with Walloon firm Versus Manufacturing, the Dutch firm IJswater Movies and the German firm Salaud Morisset. VRT can also be on board as a co-producer.
“Amy”, the newest characteristic by the theater firm Abattoir Fermé (“Hotel Poseidon”), and “Strokes of Madness”, a coming-of-age drama centering on an excellent however susceptible violinist, full the Belgian majority live-action movies backed by Display screen Flanders.
‘Amy’
Animated options, together with the variation of “Melvile,” Romain Renard’s award-winning graphic novel, are additionally a part of this primary spherical of chosen initiatives.
“Melvile”, helmed by Renard himself with Fabrice Nzinzi as co-director, is produced by Brussels-based Want Productions and the Flemish firm Walking The Dog, in co-production with Particular Contact Studios in France, Unité Centrale in Canada and Fabrique d’Photos in Luxembourg. Proximus, RTBF and Arte are on board as co-producing broadcasters. Worldwide gross sales are dealt with by Finest Pal Without end. The unique voice forged already boasts European famend abilities similar to Melvil Poupaud, Vicky Krieps, Olivier Connoisseur and Belgian sweetheart Bouli Lanners.
For this main worldwide collaboration, Strolling The Canine will arrange your complete manufacturing pipeline. The attribute charcoal impact discovered within the profitable graphic novel can also be a necessary graphic and creative component for the movie, and might be designed, developed and made usable as a instrument by the Flemish studio. This might be achieved utilizing 3D movement seize, mixed with 2D animation.
On the sequence facet, “1985” and “The Twelve” director Wouter Bouvijn is ready to reunite with the “1985” inventive crew on “We Are Family,” an emotional rollercoaster about kinship, household ties and real love. Produced by Eyeworks Movie & TV Drama in collaboration with VRT, the upcoming present comes from screenwriter Julie Bovendaerde, with script improvement help from “1985” author Willem Wallyn.
Following up on the success of “This is Not a Murder Mystery”, a brand new whodunit sequence can also be within the works in Flanders, with Wilder Content material co-producing with VRT, RTL NL/Videoland, Proximus and Horizon Movie. “Daughters,” created by Roel Mondelaers and Bert Van Dael and helmed by “Young Hearts” director Anthony Schatteman, facilities across the mysterious dying of a youngster which places a small Belgian group on edge, promising a gripping mix of drama and suspense.
‘Clash’
Streamz
Wrapping capturing in Antwerp, the police buddy comedy “Clash” marks the third majority Flemish live-action sequence backed by Display screen Flanders. Produced by the Flemish firm A Workforce Productions in co-production with Amsterdam-based Fiction Valley, the sequence might be aired by Belgian broadcaster Streamz in 2027 and subsequently on the Dutch channel SkyShowtime. Worldwide gross sales are dealt with by Be-Leisure.
On the animated facet, Flemish firm Fabrique Fantastique obtained help “Olga,” a favorite challenge at Cartoon Film and adaptation of the award-winning sequence of graphic novels by Canadian creator Elise Gravel. In it, Olga, a younger zoologist who discovers an alien whom she names Meh, embarks on a enjoyable and unpredictable journey as Meh is swiftly turning Olga’s life utterly the wrong way up.
Fabrique Fantastique is producing the sequence in co-production with the Canadian firm Condominium 11 and VRT/Ketnet, whereas French firm MIAM! distribution handles worldwide gross sales.
‘Olga’
Condominium 11, Fabrique Fantastique
Display screen Flanders additionally helps six minority Flemish initiatives, together with “Tummy Tom’s Spring Surprise,” the ultimate instalment of the four-part sequence chronicling the adventures of child-pleasing, overly-cute cat Tummy Tom conceived and developed by Burny Bos round 2020. “Tummy Tom’s Spring Surprise” is produced by Catpaw Productions within the Netherlands, in co-production with the Flemish firm Eyeworks Movie & TV Drama. Worldwide gross sales are dealt with by Unimaginable Movie.
“Anochece,” a Spanish drama following the final days of poet Federico García Lorca and 4 Dutch co-productions spherical up this packed and numerous line-up, doubling the quantity of initiatives supported by Display screen Flanders in comparison with final 12 months.
“The fact that this Screen Flanders call resulted in a higher number of projects receiving smaller amounts of support does not reflect a strategic shift on our end,” stated Katrien Maes, Display screen Flanders coordinator.
“It is primarily linked to the profile of the applications received, in particular the type of projects (for example high end TV drama versus low budget feature), their budget range, their planned expenditure in the Flanders Region, and their corresponding financing needs.”
As Display screen Flanders operates as a receptive fund, the extent of help is predicated on the help quantities requested by the producers of their purposes. All eligible purposes are completely evaluated, ranked, and the accessible funds for that decision is then allotted in descending order of this rating, respecting the help quantities requested by every challenge, till the funds is totally dedicated.
“The differences between calls can therefore largely be explained by the nature of the applications received. For example, the first call of 2025 consisted mainly of high-budget productions with significant expenditure in the Flanders Region, which resulted in higher requested support amounts. In contrast, the 2026 call included a broader mix of low-, mid-, and high-budget projects, with on average lower regional spend, and consequently lower requested support,” Maes added.
By way of Display screen Flanders, the federal government of Flanders provides monetary help to audiovisual productions that spend a part of their funds within the Flanders Area. Belgian (co-)producers can apply for reimbursable advances of as much as €400,000 (roughly $465,000) by means of Display screen Flanders as financial help for his or her audiovisual expenditure inside the Flanders Area.
Extra details about the supported productions could be discovered on the Screen Flanders website.
