15/10/2008

This is a busy week for Belgian theatres. Among the nine films on the line-up are two titles aimed at young viewers, which hit screens two weeks ahead of the November school holidays. The intention is surely to generate word-of-mouth publicity, which will then reap its rewards during the coming break. It is better to earn audiences’ favours as early as possible given the forthcoming release of Space Chimps, followed by the third instalment of the esoteric High School Musical.

The first film competing for audiences is Dennis Bots’ Anubis, Het Pad der 7 Zonden [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which is a pure product of Dutch-speaking television (cf. successful TV series Het Huis Anubis). Based on a Belgian series produced by Studio 100, the film was co-produced by its Dutch distributor, Nickelodeon. Released in the Netherlands last week, the title is being launched this week in Flanders and Brussels on a generous 30 screens.

Another film intended for young viewers is German director Hayo Freitag’s The Three Robbers [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. Having done the rounds of movie theatres across Europe, the film is being released in both French and Dutch-speaking Belgium on 17 screens, in order to attract the youngest cinemagoers.

Two major French films are hitting screens: Coluche [+see also:
trailer
film profile], a commercial title with an auteur touch from director Antoine de Caunes; and Let It Rain [+see also:
trailer
film profile] , an auteur film (the proof: it is being released on one screen at Antwerp UGC) with commercial potential thanks to its impressive cast. Jamel Debbouze stars alongside Jean-Pierre Bacri and director Agnès Jaoui.

Finally, this week’s most unusual release is undoubtedly Fabrice Du Welz’s Vinyan [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. Released at the start of the month in France, where the film is considered French, this week it is being launched in Belgium, where viewers loudly and proudly lay claim to the title on account of its Belgian director and his team of Belgian specialists, including Benoît Debie, DoP of the moment.

Lauded by the Belgian press when it was presented at the Venice Film Festival, Vinyan is being released on an equal number of screens in both Flanders and Wallonia, which is a rare occurrence. Produced for Belgium by K2, the title is being launched on an 11-print run by Imagine Film Distribution.

(Translated from French)