Heysel 85

Housed in a shelter for young mothers, Jessica, Perla, Julia, Ariane, and Naïma, all of whom have grown up in difficult circumstances, struggle to obtain a better life for themselves and their children.

Barents Sea, August 12th, 2000. During a Russian naval exercise, and after suffering a serious accident, the K-141 Kursk submarine sinks with 118 crew members on board. While the few sailors who are still alive barely manage to survive, their families push for accurate information and a British officer struggles to obtain from the Russian government a permit to attempt a rescue before it is late. But general incompetence are against all their efforts.

France, 1963. Anne is a bright young student with a promising future ahead of her. But when she falls pregnant, she sees the opportunity to finish her studies and escape the constraints of her social background disappearing. With her final exams fast approaching and her belly growing, Anne resolves to act, even if she has to confront shame and pain, even if she must risk prison to do so.

Yvan De Wiel, a private banker from Geneva, is going to Argentina in the midst of a dictatorship to replace his partner, the object of the most worrying rumors, who disappeared overnight. Between hushed lounges, swimming pools, and gardens under surveillance, a remote duel takes place between two bankers who, despite different methods, are the accomplices of a discreet and merciless form of colonization.

Sandra is a young woman who has only one weekend to convince her colleagues they must give up their bonuses in order for her to keep her job — not an easy task in this economy.

Based upon the true story of Ranuccio Bandinelli, an antifascist Archaeology and History of Art teacher who sought to steer clear of politics but who found himself appointed, ex-officio, as Hitler and Mussolini’s official guide during their visit to Rome and Florence.

Abandoned by his father, a young boy is left in the hands of an unqualified childcare provider.

On July 19–21, 2001, over 200,000 people took to the streets of Genoa to protest against the ongoing G8 summit. Anti-globalization activists clashed with the police, with 23-year-old protester Carlo Giuliani shot dead after confronting a police vehicle. In the aftermath, the police organized a night raid on the Diaz high school, where around a hundred people between unarmed protesters—mostly students—and independent reporters who documented the police brutality during the protests had took shelter. What happened next was called by Amnesty International "the most serious breach of civil liberties in a democratic Western country since World War II."

The movie follows the turbulent life of Wortel, a deeply devout yet flawed Flemish farmer at the turn of the 20th century. Wortel has an intense bond with his land, but his life is defined by a relentless series of tragic hardships.Throughout his journey, Wortel faces the loss of multiple children, the suicide of his son, and the heartbreaking deaths of his wives, Fien and Frisine. Despite these devastating misfortunes, he is constantly urged by the local village priest to accept this suffering as part of God's grand plan. Mixing heavy melodrama with moments of dark, bittersweet humor, the film portrays Wortel’s fierce survival instinct, human weaknesses, and ultimate search for solace through his faith and hard labor.

Romulus and Remus, two shepherds and loyal brothers, end up taking part to a journey that will lead one of them to be the founder of the greatest nation ever seen. However, the fate of the chosen one will pass from killing his own brother.

Alain raises his deaf son Milano alone and wants to give him a better life than he has, but despite the best intentions, his failure becomes apparent. Their father-son relationship comes under pressure when Milano wants to meet his biological mother.

1792. Louis XVI, his wife Marie Antoinette, and their children have been arrested and imprisoned in the Tour du Temple, a sinister chateau in Paris, awaiting their trial. Far from the splendour of Versailles, they are isolated and vulnerable for the first time in their lives.

An unusual and wonderful friendship develops between a busy but unhappy salesman and a resident of a mental asylum.

Two young police officers find themselves torn between collaboration and resistance as they navigate Nazi-occupied Antwerp during World War II.

Dolf a 15 year old boy is sent back in time by a timemachine. Accidentally he is sent back to the Middle Ages. He is rescued by children who are part of a childrens' crusade, on their way to rescue Jeruzalem. During the trip Dolf finds out the danger is not coming from outside the crusade, but from within.

Summer 1998 - the opening stages of Le Tour de France are relocated to Ireland. Belgian rider Dom Chabol (late 30s) has been one of the best “Domestiques” (support riders) on the Tour for the last 20 years. It’s a sacrificial role – setting pace, blocking wind, and providing support to enable the team’s sprinter to victory - winning is not an option. But Dom secretly harbours a desire to wear the yellow jersey - just once before his career is over. At the start of what will likely be his last Tour, Dom is unceremoniously dropped from the Team he has dedicated his life to. His best mate Sonny, the team masseur, fails to reassure him about his future. But a chance liaison with Lynn, a young Irish doctor, softens the blow, and Dom starts to accept - and even enjoy - the idea of civilian life. But as he gears up to go home and to face his estranged sister, a massive doping error knocks another teammate off the Tour and Dom is thrown back in the saddle…

Desire torments a former cultist taking refuge at the home of a scantily clad woman whose husband is away.

In El Idilio, a village on the banks of a river in the Amazon rainforest, Antonio Bolívar, known to everyone as "The Old Man," lives a recluse. One day, Antonio begins reading the romance novels that the traveling dentist Rubicondo Loachamin brings him to pass the time. He shares this occupation with a beautiful local girl, a waitress and prostitute, named Josefina, with whom he ends up falling in love. But all does not go smoothly when Antonio is forced to go on a hunting trip.

80-year-old Thomas recounts his childhood and middle age through a series of flashbacks and dream sequences. Thomas believes he’s been taken away from a better life at birth; following a hospital fire, he vividly recalls being swapped with another new-born, and subsequently grows up in a poorer neighbouring household.

Rocklin Colorado, 1925. A hard cold winter. Young Arturo Bandini loves his father Svevo, his mother Maria and his brothers. Even though his bricklayer father wastes the little money he has in the Imperial Poolhall and his time with the rich American widow, Hildegarde. Even though his beautiful and pious mother lets his father get away with that, even if his little brother wets the bed. Arturo loves them all. He also loves to play baseball, even though he has to wait until spring. And he also loves the movies ... and Rosa. But she doesn't love him ...

Fresh out of prison, Toni struggles to reconnect with her daughter Anna, who was raised by her grandmother Betty, while resisting the pull of her ex-lover Max's criminal world. Working at her uncle Frank's restaurant, she discovers his smuggling ties and Max involves her in a violent altercation on the docks. She faces pressure from the police and seeks redemption by getting away from Max. But trouble catches up with her, putting her family in danger. Toni will take all the risks to finally find a chance for her future with Anna and Betty.

In a future flooded Netherlands, a hardened woman living in a wind turbine is torn from her desolate home by a violent storm. As she fights her way back, she begins to question whether the place she once called home still holds any meaning at all.

Six months after losing her only child in the Southeast Asia tsunami, Jeanne is convinced she sees him in a film about orphans living in the jungles.

Italy, 1948. Young Rocco is growing up in Calabria, until one day his father Salvatore decides to leave to Belgium, where he strives to earn a lot of money by working in coal mines. Very soon he sends for his family. Rocco becomes a migrant overnight, with all the consequences this entails. Rocco wants to be like other youngsters, become someone and have a purpose in life. Against his father’s wish and better judgment he seeks an escape through music and love.

1985. Georges is a born market vendor. As a driven salesman he sells anything, anytime, to anyone. When he hears that the Pope is coming to Belgium, he smells his chance. In addition to the grounds, where tens of thousands of believers will attend an open-air mass, Café Derby is for rent. Georges is sure to earn a small fortune. But his wife and five children are not convinced. It would be another move in too short a time. But as George puts his mind to something...

Three siblings who detest each other and hiking must complete together a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in order to be eligible to inherit their mother's wealth.

Based on a true story, 'Tot altijd' introduces us to a band of friends in the eighties, who spend their days enjoying their youth and turbulent (love) life. Years later, Thomas, a recent medicine graduate and Mario's closest friend, gets stuck between a rock and a hard place when he diagnoses Mario with MS (Multiple Sclerosis). Though not a fatal disease, it slowly consumes the patient's bodily functions and - in some cases - their minds. Mario becomes the leading spokesman for the action group "Waardig Sterven" ("Dignified Death") in support of the Belgian legalisation of euthanasia. Thomas does everything in his power to avoid losing his best friend, but also can't stand the sight of his continued degeneration...

Fourteen-year-old drug dealer Johnny is in a home for young people. When he learns that he cannot go home at weekends any longer, he asks one of his customers, famous successful actor Antony, to be his weekend guardian.

A short film written by chatGPT Synopsis: Unclear

A young woman, Léa, cultivates the land and faces the sun's constant glare. She tries to silently combat the effects of climate change. Meanwhile, three motocross riders roar through the arid landscape, like riders of the apocalypse. The film brings together actors and non-actors in a landscape that suffers in silence.

In 1888, the young Annabelle is not permitted to leave the four walls of her parents domain. One day she meets Pieter in her fathers factory and freedom suddenly seems feasible.

Mona is left alone in a large and empty house after her lover left for the war front. She gets no news from him for months. The days are long. The old walls retain the memory of a warm love for a while. Mona waits, hopes, and wades around the abandoned house, like a shadow of who she once was.

In 1968, engineer Giorgio Rosa established the independent state called "The Isle of Roses" off the coast of Rimini, built on a platform outside the territorial waters, with Esperanto as the official language. The Italian authorities did not take it well because the micronation was seen as an expedient to not pay taxes on the revenues obtained thanks to the arrival of numerous tourists and curious people.

Suleyman returns home after serving seven years, only to find his apartment block has been seized by drug dealers. When drawn into the violence surrounding the complex, his sole focus becomes keeping his mother safe.

Colin, an ambitious young American businessman, has a deal with a potential client, a rich Arab sheikh who is a passionate pigeon fancier. The sheikh has tried several times to buy a champion pigeon, but the owner continues to stubbornly refuse his offer. In an attempt to gain the trust of the Sheikh, Colin offers him a deal: if he manages to convince the owner to sell the champion pigeon, the sheikh will agree to do business with Colin's company. But when Colin meets Jos, the grumpy owner of the pigeon, and Isabella, his granddaughter, he realizes that this mission will not be as easy as he had hoped.

Using each other as alibis, two friends sneak off to indulge in secret affairs — but their elaborate web of lies unravels when one of them goes missing.

A police officer investigates the case of a man shot dead in a room locked from the inside. A suicide? Then where's the gun?

Antwerp, Belgium. The lives of four small-time drug dealers spin out of control when they steal a shipment of cocaine, triggering a full out war between an Amsterdam drug lord and a ruthless Colombian cartel.

A team of three pets, a playful ferret, a sweet canary bird and a know-it-all stick insect, head out to ask Saint Nicolas presents for their animal friends and themselves. The journey is filled with adventures and their friendship is severely tested.

One day Karen, Kristel and Kathleen receive an invitation from a king and queen from a distant fairytale kingdom. They ask if they want to sing on their daughter's birthday. But the princess behaves like a spoiled brat, because an evil wizard placed a curse on her, freezing her heart in the process. In an exciting race against time, K3 try to solve the mystery surrounding the little princess. But this turns out not to be as easy as they thought. Because even though they encounter all kinds of well-known fairytale characters, they do not receive any help. Will the brave singers manage to lift the curse?

On the streets of Antwerp, Badia, Junes and Volt are trying to tear themselves away from their past, but the underworld is inexorably pulling them back in. Adamo has worked his way up to become one of the most influential figures in the Antwerp drug trade. He becomes ever more entangled in a web of power and danger. His friends have to make a choice: stay loyal to Adamo or choose safety.

With COLLECTION#13 - ZEAL the designer wants to send out a message of encouragement, starting with a note to oneself. A motivation to lift up the spirit, to reawaken dormancy and to find strength and perseverance from within. A spring & summer wardrobe of individual garments; each sheltering one’s core with the utmost tenderness.

Four security guards are going to work at the world-famous dance festival Tomorrowland. While there, Luc discovers that Dirk has feelings for... a man. But no one believes him (Ingrid promised Dirk she would keep his secret many years ago and Smos is busy trying to launch his own dance hit).

Keet & Koen are street artists and entertainers in a theme park. In this family movie their mission is to search for missing clown Bassie and acrobat Adriaan. Bassie & Adriaan are very well known among the young and old and have received an award for their great merit as people rescuers. Their eternal enemy, the old Baron, wants to prevent this of course and he commands his cousin 'Jonkheer' to abduct Bassie & Adriaan. Keet & Koen prove to be full successors to Bassie & Adriaan as they proceed into the exciting search for the famous duo that has been kidnapped.

Short film on Jan-Jan Van Essche’s COLLECTION#11 - ’GRACE’ (SS21)

Panjareh is a visual novel, based on a poem by Iranian poet and filmmaker Forough Forrakhzad, about a growing young woman. Thinking back to her childhood, she suddenly realizes that she is a woman now.