Drama & Cinema

Belgian film and TV drama, Palme d’Or social realism, cult action, gritty crime series and the trailers that travelled the world.

Part of Belgium

20 moments in this segment.

1. 1975-01-01 - Chantal Akerman - "Jeanne Dielman". The Brussels auteur whose 1975 masterpiece was voted the greatest film of all time.
2. 1991-01-01 - Toto le héros. Jaco Van Dormael’s 1991 Caméra d’Or debut, a poetic, time-jumping tale of a stolen life.
3. 1991-01-01 - Jaco Van Dormael. The director of "Toto le héros" and "Mr. Nobody", Belgium’s great cinematic fabulist.
4. 1992-01-01 - "Man Bites Dog". The pitch-black 1992 mockumentary about a charming serial killer, a Belgian cult landmark.
5. 1996-01-01 - Le Huitième Jour. Van Dormael’s 1996 film whose star Pascal Duquenne shared the Cannes best-actor prize.
6. 1996-01-01 - "The Eighth Day" (Le Huitième Jour). Jaco Van Dormael’s 1996 film whose lead, an actor with Down syndrome, shared the Cannes Best Actor prize.
7. 1999-01-01 - "Rosetta". The Dardennes’ 1999 Palme d’Or, its raw realism even inspired a Belgian youth-employment law.
8. 2002-01-01 - Cécile de France. The Namur-born star of "L’Auberge espagnole" and "Hereafter", Belgian cinema’s international ambassador.
9. 2003-01-01 - De Zaak Alzheimer (The Memory of a Killer). Erik Van Looy’s 2003 crime hit about an ageing hitman losing his memory, a Flemish classic.
10. 2008-01-01 - Loft. Erik Van Looy’s 2008 erotic thriller, the highest-grossing Flemish film ever, remade twice abroad.
11. 2009-01-01 - "Mr. Nobody". Van Dormael’s 2009 sprawling sci-fi on every life unlived, an ambitious Belgian epic.
12. 2011-01-01 - "Bullhead" (Rundskop). Michaël R. Roskam’s 2011 hormone-mafia noir, Matthias Schoenaerts’ Oscar-nominated breakout.
13. 2011-01-01 - Rundskop (Bullhead). Michaël R. Roskam’s 2011 Oscar-nominated thriller, the breakout of Matthias Schoenaerts.
14. 2011-01-01 - Hasta la Vista (Come as You Are). Geoffrey Enthoven’s 2011 road-trip comedy about three disabled friends, a festival favourite.
15. 2012-01-01 - "The Broken Circle Breakdown". Felix Van Groeningen’s 2012 bluegrass tragedy, an Oscar-nominated Flemish gut-punch.
16. 2012-01-01 - Matthias Schoenaerts. The Flemish actor who broke through "Bullhead" into Hollywood and French arthouse alike.
17. 2018-01-01 - "Girl". Lukas Dhont’s 2018 Cannes Caméra d’Or, a tender, controversial Flemish ballet drama.
18. 2018-01-01 - Girl. Lukas Dhont’s 2018 debut about a trans teenage ballerina, Caméra d’Or at Cannes.
19. 2022-01-01 - Close. Lukas Dhont’s 2022 Grand Prix winner, a tender, devastating story of boyhood friendship.
20. 2022-01-01 - "Close". Lukas Dhont’s 2022 Grand Prix winner, a heartbreaking study of boyhood friendship.