Film Fest Gent released the entire programme of the 42nd Film Fest Gent today. From 13 until 24 October the festival will screen over 111 international and Belgium feature films. There's a focus on UK cinema, two film music concerts, panels and talks. Attending international guests include Colin Farrell, Hirokazu Koreeda, Pablo Larraín, Thomas Bidegain and Alan Silvestri.
Info and tickets at www.filmfestival.be
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
This year, thirteen films will compete in the Official Competition, which will be opened on Wednesday 14 October by 'The Lobster' in the presence of actor Colin Farell and director Yorgos Lanthimos. That same night, the festival also welcomes the Japanese grandmaster Hirokazu Koreeda ('Our Little Sister'). Furthermore directors Pablo Larraín ('El Club'), Thomas Bidegan ('Les Cowboys'), László Nemes ('Son of Saul') and John Maclean ('Slow West') will also present their films at the festival. The international jury members are Sir Alan Parker, Marjane Satrapi, Caroline Strubbe, Boyd Van Hoeij and Franco Lolli.
FOCUS ON UK CINEMA
After the focus on French cinema last year, the 42nd Film Fest Gent puts its spotlight on British films. The section UK Cinema includes a selection of 11 films that display the diversity of the current British cinema. Within this theme the classic 'Midnight Express' will be screened followed by a talk with director and jury president Sir Alan Parker. The concert Great British Film Music will be held on 22 October and will guide us through the rich heritage of British Cinema. Composers Craig Armstrong, Stephen Warbeck, Michael Nyman and Lifetime Achievement Award Winner George Fenton, will be attending.
BELGIAN CINEMA TODAY
Film Fest Gent presents the best and the strongest of Belgian cinema. The section includes the official opening film 'The Ardennes' by Robin Pront, 'Brak' by Laurent Van Lancker, the documentary 'Bobbejaan' by Benny Vandendriessche and Manu Riche's long-feature debut 'Problemski Hotel'. In the section Serial Madness, the last 4 episodes of the brand new series 'The Natives' (Bevergem) will be premiered at the festival. The second feature by Adil El Arbi en Bilall Fallah 'Black' is also included in the programma as well as two Belgian co-productions: 'Phantom Boy' and 'Les Cowboys' by Thomas Bidegain.
WORLD SOUNDTRACK AWARDS
The festival will close on 24 October with the 15th World Soundtrack Awards Ceremony & Concert. Central guests are Alan Sivestri, Patrick Doyle and Daniel Pemberton. After the prestigious award ceremony, Brussels Philharmonic & Flemish Radio Choir, conducted by Dirk Brossé, will perform a selection of the oeuvre of these great composers.
The 42nd Film Fest Gent runs from 13 until 24 October at Kinepolis Gent, Studio Skoop, Sphinx, Vooruit, KASKcinema, Bijloke and Kuipke. Info and tickets at www.filmfestival.be.
