THE FLOR DE MARIANO LLINÁS – PART I
PALACE OF FINE ARTS – STUDIO
Sunday 23.06.2019 – 17:00

Selected at the Locarno, Toronto and Rotterdam Film Festivals, La Flor is without a doubt the most ambitious and acclaimed Argentine film project in recent years. This monumental film, which lasts no less than 886 minutes, includes six separate episodes, divided into three parts. The director Mariano Llinás, the actresses of the theater company Piel de Lava and many others have worked for more than 10 years on this project.

La Flor will be screened in full at BRIFF – the first two parts, at BOZAR, and the third at Cinéma Galeries.

« The first episode is a kind of B-movie about an evil mummy, the second is a drama about a duo of musicians who have to record a song despite the end of their relationship, while a secret society is trying to to make an elixir of eternal life.The two episodes have a beginning but end in media res .  » (AR, 2018, 210 ‘, fiction)

THE FLOR DE MARIANO LLINÁS – PART II
PALACE OF FINE ARTS – STUDIO
Monday 24.06.2019 – 17:00

« During the 80’s, in the Argentinean pampas, four spies have to carry out » Operation Hercules. « Through flashbacks telling the story of each character, an intriguing narrative canvas is woven – a masterpiece.  » (AR, 2018, 312 ‘, fiction)

MIA / MATANGY / MAYA
PALACE OF FINE ARTS – STUDIO
Tuesday 25.06.2019 – 19: 00

Daughter of the founder of the Tamil Armed Resistance in Sri Lanka, Matangi had to hide from government forces during an atrocious and bloody civil war. Later, when her family fled to London, she will become Maya, a teenage immigrant and creative immigrant. Today, she is known on the international scene under the name of MIA, a character who mixes the different identities she has forged throughout her career. Matangi / Maya / MIA paints an intimate and unique portrait of the artist and presents her battles with the music industry and the mainstream media while she is at the height of her fame. Today, MIA is one of the most recognizable, frank and provocative voices in the world of music.

MY FRIEND FELA – JOEL ZITO ARAUJO
PALACE OF FINE ARTS – STUDIO
Tuesday 25.06.2019 – 21:00

« My Friend Fela » takes a fresh look at Nigerian Fela Kuti, a musician too often portrayed as « an eccentric idol of African ghetto pop music, » as director Joel Zito Araújo points out. Through the stories of his close friend and official biographer, Afro-Cuban Carlos Moore, this documentary highlights the complexity of Fela’s life. Throughout the documentary, the many influences and dynamics that shaped the extraordinary life of Fela are revealed to us. By putting Fela’s personal story in a pan-African context, the film not only portrays a man but also a whole Pan-African generation. (2019, Brazil, 94 ‘)

VERNON SUBUTEX
PALACE OF FINE ARTS – STUDIO – IN THE PRESENCE OF CATHY VERNEY (CREATION AND PRODUCTION)
Wednesday 26.06.2019 – 19:00

Vernon Subutex, an unemployed music store, is being evicted from his apartment. In search of a place to sleep, Vernon asks former friends of the band Revolver, his legendary record store, including Alex Bleach, rock star on the return. But this one dies of an overdose and leaves him three mysterious videocassettes. While Vernon disappears in the anonymity of the city, he becomes the most sought after man in Paris … Adapted from the novel by Virginie Despentes, Vernon Subutex plunges us into contemporary Paris, populated by unusual characters and rinsed by the time. (FR, 2019, season 1, ep 1 – 3, OV FR ST EN, 3 x 30 ‘)

COPENHAGEN DREAMS – MAX KESTNER
PALACE OF FINE ARTS – STUDIO
Wednesday 26.06.2019 – 21:00

Copenhagen Dreams is a documentary portrait of the Danish capital, directed by Max Kestner. It looks at the physical environments of the city, which shape people’s lives, such as the buildings in which people wake up, the entrance doors we cross and the streets we use. It’s also a film about how our lifestyles affect our environment, the places we dream about and the walls on which we engrave the names of those we love, before it’s too late. (2009, Denmark, 70 ‘)

VIRGIL VERNIER
PALACE OF FINE ARTS – STUDIO
Thursday 27.06.2019 – 18h Projection Mercuriales + discussion Virgil Vernier and 21h Projection Andorra (20 ‘) + James Ferraro Live
« Mercuriales » – (2014, France, 104 ‘)

Mercury is the fastest, hottest, coldest planet. On one side it is always dark, on the other always day. It feels very light, because its gravity is low. The sky is black without any variation, there is no air … This story happens in remote times, Times of violence. Across Europe, a kind of war was spreading. In one city there were two sisters who lived.

« Andorra » – (2013, France, 20 ‘)
A shopping center in the middle of the mountains, pyramids of goods, a glass tower dedicated to body care, Andorra dazzle the promises of modern happiness. But when night comes, the streets fall into silence and Andorra shines only for itself. Andorra is a short film by Virgil Vernier with music by James Ferraro.

In 14 films including 6 feature films, with no career plan and operating in a light economy, Virgil Vernier (° 1976) has established himself as one of the most exciting French filmmakers of the moment. Navigating freely between fiction and documentary, he embarked on a singular exploration of the contemporary world, recording in pseudo-ethnological fashion the mythologies at work in the signs, attitudes and objects that surround us.

For the detailed program of the Festival, see

The post The 2nd edition of the Brussels International Film Festival appeared first on Brussels Express.

Why have you decided to attend BIFFF?

I first of all was invited by the Hong-Kong government to come here. I am not used to attend movie festivals, as I work in action movies. And this sort of movie is not celebrated as much as other movies. On the other hand, I have travelled quite a lot in Europe before. I have been to Paris, Italy and Spain but I had not been in Brussels before. I have heard so much about the city, the capital of Europe, but I had not had the chance to visit. When I was offered to come, I have then accepted.

I also knew the audience would be very cool and relax, which is true. This is another reason why I have accepted, and I have really been enjoying my experience so far.

What does Europe mean to you in terms of movies?

I will be honest, I do not know so much European movies as we do not have so many opportunities to watch them in Asia. I know there are lots of European movies every year, but they are not released in China. I wanted to discover what this sort of cinema was, and Brussels was a great opportunity to do so. I have arrived yesterday, and I was showed a couple of movies who will be released during the festival to have an overview of the European fantastic movies. Regarding Belgium, I know Jean-Claude Van Damme. He came to Hong Kong before and we have been keeping in touch.

Do you know other Belgian actors/film-makers?

Not really to be fair. I only know Jean-Claude Van Damme as he became a friend after we ate together in Hong-Kong. He likes my movies, he loves Jackie Chan. We however have not had the chance to work together yet.

What are the main challenges cinema is currently facing today?

The film-makers are facing several challenges. I would say the main one is about Internet. You know, today, once a movie is released in a cinema, it can be watched online after few times. It is coming faster and faster. Young people are able to watch it on the laptop or the smartphone. The big challenge is therefore to find reasons why they should keep on coming to the cinema.

We need to keep the young audience, the 1990’s audience, which is a key challenge nowadays. That means all the film-makers should have an audience mindset. We need to work hard to convince the people to watch our movies in a cinema.

What about Belgian traditions?

That is a good question. I actually love chocolate. As the Belgian chocolate is very famous, this is a good point. I have tasted it and I like it. I have planned to bring some pieces back to China. I however do not drink alcohol and I then cannot taste the Belgian beer. But my assistant does and he told me it is super good.

And finally, I have tasted the Belgian fries yesterday night, they are very good! Definitely better than the ones in MacDonald’s (he laughed).

The post What do Jackie Chan and Jean Claude Van Damme have in common? Stanley Tong appeared first on Brussels Express.

« In 1983 everybody thought we were completely nuts to start with a genre film festival. But we couldn’t care less. What we wanted was to share movies you couldn’t see anywhere else with our friends, movies that found themselves on the margins of the industry and were sometimes even looked down upon. But we knew better and we wanted to infect as many as possible with the fantastic virus” explained Georges Demote, BIFF Director.

With more 100 movies throughout 13 days, BIFFF will gather both world  and international premières; ranging from fantastic, thriller, science-fiction, horror, cult and underground cinema.

Every year, BIFFF welcomes more than 60 000 spectators and invites more than 100 international guests, making it one of Europe’s leading film festivals.

Check here BIFFF Agenda.

The Festival will open tomorrow at 20:00 with The Girl With All The Gifts.

The Girl With All The Gifts is a 2016 British post-apocalyptic zombie horror drama film directed by Colm McCarthy and written by M.R. Carey adapted from his novel of the same name. Starring Gemma Arterton, Paddy Considine, Glenn Close, and Sennia Nanua, the plot depicts a dystopian future following a breakdown of society after most of humanity is wiped out by a fungal infection and focuses upon the struggle of a scientist, a teacher and two soldiers who embark on a journey of survival with a special young girl named Melanie.

The post BIFFF is back and more mature appeared first on Brussels Express.