19/08/2021 - Pushed back to the beginning of September as a result of the pandemic, BRIFF is returning with a rich and varied line-up, open to the general public and professionals alike

The Brussels International Film Festival (BRIFF) barely had the time to get set for two editions at the end of June than the Covid crisis forced it to bump its dates to the end of the summer. The team behind this 4th edition are nonetheless ready and raring to go, with the aim of helping national and international film to shine in the heart of the European capital, and of bringing a changing world to the big screen.

In fact, a world which needs to change seems to be the leitmotiv of the 10 films selected for the International Competition, films discovered in a variety of festivals, from Cannes to Berlin, by way of San Sebastian, and including the European titles Limbo [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ben Sharrock
film profile] by Ben Sharrock (UK), The World After Us [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Louda Ben Salah-Cazanas
film profile] by Louda Ben Salah-Cazanas (France), Quo Vadis, Aida? [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jasmila Žbanić
film profile] by Jasmila Zbanic (Bosnia-Herzegovina/Austria/Romania/the Netherlands/Germany/Poland/France/Norway/Turkey), Moneyboys [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: CB Yi
film profile] by C.B. Yi (Austria/France/Taiwan/Belgium), Love Songs for Tough Guys [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Samuel Benchetrit
film profile] by Samuel Benchetrit (France/Belgium), H6 [+see also:
trailer
interview: Yé Yé
film profile] by Yé Yé (France) and Olga [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Elie Grappe
film profile] by Elie Grappe (Switzerland/Ukraine/France), not to mention the co-production New Order [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Michel Franco (Mexico/France), and the non-European films The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be Quiet by Ana Katz (Argentina) and Ripples of Life by Shujun Wei (China).

Opened by Mathieu Amalric's Cannes-selected Hold Me Tight [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], the BRIFF is also committed to shining a light on Belgian film, offering up 9 unseen films in the National Competition, which will then be subject to the scrutiny of a jury of international broadcasters. These premières consist of Serge Mirzabekiantz’s first feature film Le Coeur Noir des Forêts [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Serge Mirzabekiantz
film profile], Lieve Van Baelen’s Rookie, Fred De Loof’s Totem [+see also:
film review
interview: Fred De Loof
film profile], Claude Schmitz’s Lucie Loses Her Horse [+see also:
film review
interview: Claude Schmitz
film profile] and the documentaries Chasser les dragons by Alexandra Kandy Longuet, Phèdre ou l’explosion des corps confinés by Méryl Fortunat-Rossi and Nous tous by Pierre Pirard. Becoming Mona [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Sabine Lubbe Bakker and Nie…
film profile] by Sabine Lubbe Bakker & Niels Van Koevorden, and Family by Milo Rau will round off this line-up.

The festival will present once again this year the Directors’ Week line-up, in collaboration with the Association of French-Speaking Directors (ARRF), showcasing 8 titles, among which the Belgian film presented at the Sundance Film Festival Mother Schmuckers [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Harpo and Lenny Guit
film profile] by brothers Lenny and Harpo Guit, Berlinale-sourced works Azor [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Andreas Fontana
film profile] by Andreas Fontana and Celts [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Milica Tomovic
film profile] by Milica Tomovic, and the movie recently unveiled in Cannes Women Do Cry [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mina Mileva, Vesela Kazakova
film profile] by the Bulgarian duo Mina Mileva and Vesela Kazakova.

In addition to festive events organised for the general public - in particular open-air screenings at the magnificent Mont des Arts - BRIFF is also arranging numerous professional gatherings, such as the 4th Brussels Co-Production Forum (see our article), Screenwriter’s Day and PITCH, which offers training in the art of pitching to authors with projects currently in development, as well as an opportunity to present their films to an audience of professionals.

The festival will be ready and raring to go in Brussels from 1 to 11 September.

(Translated from French)