04/09/2007

Screened in official competition at the Montreal World Film Festival (August 23-September 3), the debut feature by journalist and television personality Nic Balthazar Ben X [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nic Balthazar
interview: Peter Bouckaert
film profile] took three awards, pocketing the Audience Award, the Ecumenical Jury Award and the Grand Prix of the Americas, ex-aequo with French veteran Claude Miller who presented his A Secret [+see also:
trailer
film profile] in official competition.

The film, much applauded during its screenings, also received praise from an enthisusatic press, who were touched by the story of a slightly autistic boy (played by Greg Timmermans) battling with harassment from his schoolmates who finds the means to survive through the world of online video games (see news).

Ben X is adapted from Balthazar’s bestselling book, which was also adapted for the stage where it has been met with further success.

Co-produced by Dutch outfit Bos Bros Film & TV Productions, supported by the Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds (VAF), Nederlands Fonds voor de Film and Media Plus, Ben X was produced in Belgium by well-known Flemish producers Erwin Provoost and Peter Bouckaert of MMG Film & TV Production whose credits include big Belgian box office hits such as The Alzheimer Case [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Storm Force 10.

Distributed in Belgium by Kinepolis Film on September 26, thanks to its appearance at Montreal the film is expected to find distributors in Canada, the US, France, Argentina and Italy. Negotiations are also underway for international sales.

Belgium won another prize with short Cleaning Lady’s Dream by Turkish-born director Banu Akseki receiving First Prize in International Competition. Produced by Frakas Productions, with backing from the Centre du Cinéma, the film is being distributed and sold by La Big Family.

(Translated from French)