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The 2022 Brussels Short Film Festival, or 25th BSFF, has unveiled the complete list of award winners, organizers announced on April 30th. The 25th edition of the festival took place from April 20-30, 2022 in Brussels, Belgium.
Brussels Short Film Festival, or BSFF, has been run by the non-profit organization ‘Un Soir … Un Grain’ since 1998. The BSFF is an annual event and has taken place every year since its inaugural event, with the exception of 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
BSFF, or Brussels Short Film Festival, has been an Academy Awards qualifying film festival since 2018—the winners of the International and National Competitions are eligible for consideration in the Best Animated Short Film or Live Action Short Film category of the Academy Awards, with no requirement for the usual theatrical run beforehand.
The 25th Brussels Short Film Festival has announced the award winners in 3 competition sections:
- International Competition
- National Competition
- Next Generation Competition
The BSFF has also announced the Industry award winners in under the titles of ‘Musical Date’, ‘Best Pitch’, ‘Workshop Pitch’ and ‘Scriptwriting’.
International Competition award winners
6 short movies have won the best awards in the International Competition section of the 25th Brussels Short Film Festival. The jury of the 25th BSFF has also honored 2 short movies with special mentions.
The international Competition section of the 25th Brussels Short Film Festival was juried by Stéphane Bissot, Stéphan Castang, Géraldine Doignon, Steve Driesen, Morgane Dziurla-Petit, Bérangère Mc Neese.
International ‘Grand Prix’ award
The International ‘Grand Prix’ award went to “Cataracte” by Faustine Crespy, Laetitia de Montalembert from France.
Directed by Faustine Crespy & Laetitia de Montalembert, “Cataracte” tells the story of Nicky, a non-conformist, eccentric woman, who decides to end it all after losing her remaining welfare benefits. She entrusts her dog Robby to her neighbor, but when she brings him back, a race against time begins for Nicky in the middle of an overdose.
Jury Award
The jury award of the international competition went to “Son Altesse Protocole” by Aurélie Reinhorn from France, Belgium.
Directed by Aurélie Reinhorn, “Son Altesse Protocole” tells the story of Grumpy, Bashful, Cinderella and Piglet, who are trying to re-enchant the proletariat. One upon the time there was Wanda, and her first day at work at an amusement park.
Best Actress award
2 actresses have been honored with the best best actress award of the 25th BSFF in the international competition.
The 25th Brussels Short Film Festival has awarded Chung Hyekyng for her performance in the “In Lip Rouge” directed by Minseo Cho from South Korea.
Directed by Minseo Cho, “In Lip Rouge” tells the story of Jae-hyeon, who is chased by loan sharks due to debts, eventually plays an insurance fraud to get his mother’s insurance money. After the rehearsal, their plan had a falling out from the beginning. As time goes by, debt also increases.
Badu Morais, the star of the “August Sky” directed by Jasmin Tenucci, has also received the best actress award of the international competition.
Directed by Jasmin Tenucci, “August Sky” also known as “Céu de Agosto” tells the story of a nurse in Sao Paulo who finds herself drawn to a Neo-Pentecostal church as the Amazon burns for the seventeenth day.
Best Actor
The Best Actor award of the 25th BSFF went to Ian Edlund for his portrayal of Drew in the short drama “The Ref” directed by Peter Edlund from United States.
Directed by Peter Edlund, “The Ref” tells the story of a referee who struggles to maintain control over a 2nd grade basketball game.
Audience Award
The French drama “Fanfare” directed by Léo Grandperret has won the Audience Choice Award of the 25th Brussels Short Film Festival.
Directed by Léo Grandperret, “Fanfare” tells the story of Jules, a 20-year-old stallholder, who has experienced three strong emotions. He is therefore punished and must choose his “constraint”: a mime or a fanfare, which will appear at each of his emotional excesses for one year. He chooses the fanfare. Then begins a real ordeal, oppressed between a family that does not understand him and a budding love for the beautiful Mona. Will he assume his difference?
The jury has also awarded 2 short movies with special mentions. “Bracha” by Aaron Geva & Mickey Triest from Israel and “Bestia” by Hugo Covarrubias from Chile has received the honor.
Directed by Aaron Geva & Mickey Triest, “Bracha” tells the story of Bracha, who is wandering in the middle of the night in the empty streets of Bat Yam during the COVID-19 curfew. Her anxious mother, Nitzi, is surprised to find her at her doorstep, and has a hard time welcoming her into her home.
Directed by Hugo Covarrubias, the Chilean stop-motion animated short film “Bestia” tells the story of Ingrid, who is working in the Chilean Intelligence Directorate (DINA) in 1975. Her relationship with her dog, her body, her fears and frustrations reveal a grim fracture in her mind and in an entire country.
“Cataracte” by Faustine Crespy & Laetitia de Montalembert from France, winner of the International ‘Grand Prix’ award is considered for the pre-selection of the Oscars in the category of Best Fiction/Animation Short Film provided that the film complies with the Academy’s rules.
National Competition award winners
10 short movies have won the best awards in the National Competition section of the 25th Brussels Short Film Festival. The jury of the 25th BSFF has also honored 1 short movie with a special mention.
The National Competition section of the 25th Brussels Short Film Festival was juried by Christophe Taudière, François Theurel, Tatiana Vialle.
The Grand Prix
“Amandine En Vrai” by Salomé Richard won The Grand Prix of the 25th BSFF in the National Competition section.
Directed by Salomé Richard, “Amandine En Vrai” tells the story of Salomé, who embarks Amandine and her team on the shooting of her film. Torn between her hidden ambitions and real contingencies, Salomé struggles with her story. She tries to bring out some truth, on the edge of fiction, on the border between her fantasies and ghosts.
The ‘Federation Wallonia-Brussels’ Award
“Drame 71” by Guillaume Lion won the ‘Federation Wallonia-Brussels’ Award of the 25th BSFF in the National Competition section.
Directed by Guillaume Lion, “Drame 71” tells the love story between a songwriter and an ice-cream seller, which intertwines with the fate of a future tramway line.
National Audience Award
“Ma Gueule” by Grégory Carnoli & Thibaut Wohlfahrt won the National Audience Award of the 25th BSFF.
Directed by Grégory Carnoli & Thibaut Wohlfahrt, “Ma Gueule” tells the story of Stéphane, who returns to his hometown, La Louvière, to watch a football match with his childhood friends. At the end of the match, they manage to persuade Stéphane to go with them on a trip to a Flemish nightclub. But Stéphane is refused entry.
“Ma Gueule” by Grégory Carnoli & Thibaut Wohlfahrt, winner of the National Audience Award, will be part of the ESFAA (European Short Film Audience Award) 2021-2022 tour.
Best Actress
Clara Thomine won the Best Actress award for her role in the movies “Les Cloches” by Charles Habib-Drouot and “Le Ski, La Vraie Nature, Le Vide” by Clara Thomine.
Directed by Charles Habib-Drouot, “Les Cloches” tells the story of two lost artists, who get selected by mistake for a summer residency in the French mountains. But they’re not made for life in the open air. They’ll have to face a hostile nature to create, as well as the owner of the residency, an exhausting start-uper.
Directed by Clara Thomine, “Le Ski, La Vraie Nature, Le Vide” tells the story of a young woman who is enthusiastic about survival after the end of the world. She rediscovers the joys of skiing, the beauty of nature and then visits an empty airport (which is not so bad).
Best Actor
The stars of 2 short movies has received the Best Actor award of the 25th BSFF in the National Competition section. Thierry Hellin, the star of “Un Père”, and Grégory Carnoli, the star of “Ma Gueule”, have been honored for the Best Actor award.
Directed by Christophe Predari, “Un Père” is the story of Steve and his father sitting in a bar facing one another. They have nothing to tell each other. As Steve decides to leave, his father offers him a gift to retain him. Will it be enough to reconnect two men who have not shared anything for a long time?
Directed by by Grégory Carnoli & Thibaut Wohlfahrt, “Ma Gueule” tells the story of Stéphane, who returns to his hometown, La Louvière, to watch a football match with his childhood friends. At the end of the match, they manage to persuade Stéphane to go with them on a trip to a Flemish nightclub. But Stéphane is refused entry.
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The ‘Be TV’ Award
The ‘Be TV’ Award—The acquisition of broadcasting rights by ‘Be TV’—went to “Ka Me Kalu” by Flonja Kodheli.
Directed by Flonja Kodheli, “Ka Me Kalu” tells the story of Stela, who returns from Albania to Brussels to attend her grandmother’s funeral. She notices that her mother is possessed by fear rather than by grief. Her behavior seems confused, absurd and even paranoid. The trauma resurging from the past invade their lives.
The Press Award
“Drame 71” by Guillaume Lion won the Press Award in the National Competition section of the 25th Brussels Short Film Festival.
Directed by Guillaume Lion, “Drame 71” tells the love story between a songwriter and an ice-cream seller, which intertwines with the fate of a future tramway line.
The ‘RTBF-La Trois’ Award
The ‘RTBF-La Trois’ Award—The acquisition of broadcasting rights by ‘RTBF-La Trois’—went to “Les Huîtres” by Maïa Descamps.
Directed by Maïa Descamps, “Les Huîtres” tells the story of the 30-year-old Charlotte visiting her long-gone friends in a bachelorette party. In addition to the joy of reunion, suspicion and unspoken matters comes to surface. Charlotte has a painful secret that she won’t tell anyone. While eating, opening the oysters is just as difficult as the conversations. But when the shells break and the hands show wounds, the truth comes out.
The ‘Arte’ Award
The ‘Arte’ Award—including the purchase of broadcasting rights on ‘Arte’ in the “Court Circuit” program—went to “Ma Gueule” by Grégory Carnoli & Thibaut Wohlfahrt.
Directed by Grégory Carnoli & Thibaut Wohlfahrt, “Ma Gueule” tells the story of Stéphane, who returns to his hometown, La Louvière, to watch a football match with his childhood friends. At the end of the match, they manage to persuade Stéphane to go with them on a trip to a Flemish nightclub. But Stéphane is refused entry.
Best Editing Award
The Best Editing award of the 25th BSFF in the National Competition section went to Antje Mertens for “Nieuwkomers”.
Directed by Camille Ghekiere, “Nieuwkomers” tells the story of 4 young immigrants from Colombia, Syria, the Dominican Republic and Morocco, who try to integrate in Belgium and wonder how to deal with love, temptation, relationships and friendship in this grey country.
Special Jury Mention
“Two To Tango” by Dimitri Sterkens won the Special Jury Mention of the 25th BSFF in the National Competition section.
Directed by Dimitri Sterkens, “Two To Tango” tells the story of 12 world leaders gathering in a war room to play a game on life and death in which they have to dance tango. As long as the music is playing, the tango is danced. When the music stops, the weapons are drawn. Who leads the dance, who survives?
“Amandine En Vrai” by Salomé Richard, winner of the National ‘Grand Prix’ award is considered for the pre-selection of the Oscars in the category of Best Fiction/Animation Short Film provided that the film complies with the Academy’s rules.
Next Generation Competition award winners
6 short movies have won the best awards in the Next Generation Competition section of the 25th Brussels Short Film Festival. The jury of the 25th BSFF has also honored 2 short movies with special mention.
The Next Generation Competition section of the 25th Brussels Short Film Festival was juried by Bea Catteuw, Christelle Mahy, Sébastien Petit.
The Grand Prix
The Grand Prix award in the Next Generation competition section of the 25th Brussels Short Film Festival went to “OST.” by Abhichoke Chandrasen from Thailand.
Directed by Abhichoke Chandrasen, “OST.” tells the story of a scoring assistant working on a horror feature film. She finds that her debilitating perfectionism has manifested as the film’s malevolent spirit and will not let her live past the night unless she delivers a perfect score.
The ‘Fédération Wallonia-Brussels’ Award
The Belgian short documentary “Dernier Voyage Au Laos” by Manon Saysouk won the ‘Fédération Wallonia-Brussels’ award of the 25th BSFF.
Directed by Manon Saysouk, “Dernier Voyage Au Laos” tells the story of the director’s French grandmother who decided in the 1970s to go and live in Laos with the director’s Laotian grandfather and their two children. Together, they lived there for five years of their lives. Until a political conflict breaks out. The grandmother therefore had to leave Laos to return to France with her two sons. The director’s grandparents were never able to find each other.
The National Audience Award
“Gastarbeiders” by Issam Bougrine from Belgium won the National Audience Choice Award of the 25th Brussels Short Film Festival in the Next Generation Competition section.
Directed by Issam Bougrine, “Gastarbeiders” tells the story of Mimoun and Hamidou, 2 Moroccan immigrant workers. Seduced by the promising brochures, they came to the ‘promised land’ of Belgium in 1964. They came to work in the mines with the aim of saving money and returning home. But not everything turned out as they had imagined.
The International Audience Award
The International Audience Award of the Next Generation Competition section went to “Eigenheim” by Welf Reinhart from Germany.
Directed by Welf Reinhart, “Eigenheim” tells the story of an elderly couple, Monika and Werner, living in an apartment in Munich. One day they get a notice of termination due to the intended occupation by owner. The new landlord, a young mother, wants to move into the premises with her family.
The Young Jury Award
The Young Jury Award in the Next Generation Competition section of the 25th BSFF went to “Les Larmes de La Seine” by Y. Belaid, E. Benard, N. Mayeur, E. Moulin, H. Pinot, L. Vicente, P. Singer, A. Letailleur from France.
Directed by Y. Belaid, E. Benard, N. Mayeur, E. Moulin, H. Pinot, L. Vicente, P. Singer, A. Letailleur, “Les Larmes de La Seine” tells the story of the 1960’s street protest of the Algerian workers against the mandatory curfew imposed by the police prefecture.
The Belgian Short Film Agency Award
The Belgian Short Film Agency Award—Distribution of the winning film in festivals, international sales and theatrical release—went to “Zwerm” by Cato Catteeuw from Belgium.
Directed by Cato Catteeuw, “Zwerm” tells the story of two sisters, Eva and Kristien, who are forced into an old rivalry as a conflict between their children grows at a spring party. As distrust, jealousy and guilt take hold of Eva and Kristien, both their ugliest and most human traits are revealed.
The jury of the Next Generation Competition section has awarded two short movies with special mentions. The French animated short film “Les Larmes de La Seine” and the Belgian short film “Blue Bed” received the honor.
Directed by Y. Belaid, E. Benard, N. Mayeur, E. Moulin, H. Pinot, L. Vicente, P. Singer, A. Letailleur, “Les Larmes de La Seine” tells the story of the 1960’s street protest of the Algerian workers against the mandatory curfew imposed by the police prefecture.
Directed by Lize Cuveele, “Blue Bed” follows a couple in the intimate frame of their bed. In their dynamic we discover the beauty of young love and the obstacles that come with it.
Industry Awards
Musical Date award
Two short movies, “Cimarron” and “Nkondi” won the € 2,500 Musical Date award offered by the Sabam.
“Cimarron”, directed by Rémi Vandenitte & Cédric Bourgeois, produced by Zorobabel & Lardux Films, won the Musical Date award. The award offered by the Sabam was the choice of Vincent Cahay.
Offered by the Sabam, and chosen by Ruben De Gheselle, “Nkondi” directed by Michael Palmaers & Frederik Palmaers, produced by S.O.I.L Productions, won the Musical Date award.
Best Pitch award
Offered by the SACD, the € 500 Pitch Award went to “Une Nuit D’Avance” by Julien Bernard-Simmonds and Pierre Fortin. “Exister” by Thomas Damas received a mention.
Workshop Pitch award
Offered by deAuteurs, the € 500 Workshop Pitch award went to “Ungodly” by Charlotte De Cort. A mention was awarded to “Situs Inversus” by Maxime Paredis.
Scriptwriting award
Offered by the ASA, the € 500 Scriptwriting award went to “En Voiture Clara” by Sara Dufossé.