Belgium’s Flanders region is experiencing a surge in international recognition for its cinema. Earlier this year, filmmaker Anke Blondé’s “Dust” marked the region’s return to Berlin Film Festival competition following a 45-year absence. The momentum continued when Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne shared a best actor award at Cannes for their roles in Lukas Dhont’s “Coward.” Dhont’s film has now been selected as Belgium’s official Oscar submission, representing the third consecutive year his work has competed for the Academy Award.
Both “Coward” and Michaël R. Roskam’s historical thriller “Le Faux Soir” will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Roskam’s film, set during World War II, depicts a factual account of Belgian resistance fighters orchestrating an elaborate scheme to print counterfeit copies of a Nazi-controlled newspaper—widely recognized as history’s first media manipulation operation. Both productions received backing from regional funding bodies supporting the audiovisual sector.
Industry leaders credit Flanders’ support infrastructure for enabling ambitious creative projects in a small market. The funding system provides not only financial resources but also creative autonomy, allowing filmmakers to prioritize artistic vision over commercial pressures. This selective, rigorous approach has established high production standards while fostering experimentation and distinctive directorial voices throughout the region.
Originally reported by Variety →
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