The Brussels European Film Festival (July 1-9, 2005) was offered a famous start last Friday in Flagey ! Some 650 guests filled the large theatre of Flagey and more than thousand people danced until the end of the night under the electro rock'n roll rhythms of the famous Belgian group SOLD OUT.

After the welcoming speeches of Dominique Janne (Festival director), Jan De Clercq (Programme Director) and Gabrielle Claes (director of Cinédécouvertes), the Danish thriller "King's Game" directed by Nikolaj Arcel launched the festivities. Enormous success in its own country, this thriller seduced the audience by its intense dark description of political manipulations.

And because festival rhymes with fiesta, the evening definitely took an explosive turn thanks to the DJ sets which gathered crowd all night long... After the music of Blazz (Lounge Jazz), the public enjoyed the music of the group SOLD OUT which, once again, proved how well it bears its name: Flagey was taken over by a delirious crowd shaking to the most ‘trendy’ bands of the new Belgian scene. Cosy Mozzy (Dirty Dancing) kept the rhythm flowing for the rest of the evening.

On Saturday the Jury members met for the first time in a convivial ambiance. Composed of Veerle Baetens, Dominique Deruddere, Bouli Lanners, Bruno Putzulu and Assumpta Serna, this jury will decide between fourteen first and second European features. Still on Saturday, Jérôme Bonnell presented his charming "Les yeux clairs" in presence of its leading actress Nathalie Boutefeu, while Daniel Espinosa also met the audience after the screening of his remarkable "Babylon Disease".

Despite the first summer days, the public seems to have made its movie choice. The first entrance figures are indeed very encouraging! As what concerns Saturday’s evening animation, the festival partied the night away with none other than Tom Barman (dEUS, Magnus).

This sunny Sunday we were honoured to welcome Thierry Jousse, former editor of the ‘Cahiers du Cinéma’ and collaborator of ‘Les Inrocks’, who came to promote his film debut "Les Invisibles", alongside the famous actress (and singer) Lio. Also the director Frederic Balekdjian introduced his film "Les mauvais joueurs”. And last but not least, the German director Catharina Deus met the audience and debated on her film "Die Boxerin", also presented in competition.


On Monday the festival celebrated the world premiere of the Belgian film “Ordinary Man”, Vincent Lannoo’ second long feature, after his reknowned film debut "Strass". The screening was introduced by the young director and his complete crew. Among them, the famous Stefan Liberski and the leading role Carlo Ferrante. More than 700 persons (spectators and film industry personalities) attended the event and specially enjoyed this amazing thriller. It should announce a terrific international hit.