The first project is entirely original. It also marks the very first time the mixed fund co-finances a teen series, made for European distribution as it aims to rival similar productions from the States. Switch, by Phil Ox, shows a young music star assisted by … a fairy and a witch. It goes without saying an off-beat atmosphere will be involved. It is a live filmed youth series, co-produced by NickelOdeon and Canal J, financed by France, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom, destined for the world television market. Walloon chief cameraman Bruno Degrave will film in 3D, but the series will also be reedited and marketed in 2D. Also, it will be the very first production filmed in the brand new studios at the Pôle Image de Liège.
Plan Bart reveals the story of 34 year old Sarah, on her way to a brilliant career in the marketing world. When Joeri, the man she is living with for ten years, admits he doesn’t want children, it knocks the wind out of her sails. She leaves him and persuades Bart, a former boyfriend and established bachelor, to father her child against payment. The agreement is to never see each other again … This post-modern rom-com, produced by Caviar, is about four thirty-somethings in Brussels, coming from all over Flanders, who started a new life in the capital of Europe. Director Roel Mondelaerts and Hans van Nuffel (director of Adem) wrote the screenplay. The technical crew is particularly well composed, with chief cameraman Franck Van Den Eeden (Ensors 2012 for The Invader), editor Philippe Ravoet (Ensors 2012 for Tot Altijd) and composer Raf Keunen (Rundskop).
Catherine Breillat is shooting her new film, Abus de Faiblesse, in Brussels as well as in Wallonia. Isabelle Huppert plays a film director, who is paralysed after health issues and being scammed by a crook she took under her wing. But she knows what is going on. Or almost. The screenplay, co-produced by Iris, is mostly inspired by real events which happened to the director. To play herself on screen, Catherine Breillat chose Kool Shen who, like her former buddy Joey Starr, has decided to rise in the world of film after years of dominating French rap.
The Wallimage board of Directors decided during a previous session to co-finance a documentary series submitted by Climax as well, which would study hurricanes in a new yet very didactic fashion. Following up on this decision, the mixed fund will also co-finance a feature film on the same topic, filmed in 3D this time with a different crew, aiming to be more playful and spectacular. Ouragans, written by Philippe Blasband, will follow a hurricane from beginning to end thanks to revolutionary techniques.
Le Prince et les 108 démons, an ambitious and atypical project, is an animated feature film directed by Pascal Morelli and set up in Belgium by Scope Pictures. It is an international co-production between France, Luxemburg, Belgium and … China. The film will be released under a local label in the East, which should guarantee an intensive commercialization. The story takes us to the Chinese Empire in the 11th Century. To try and vanquish the Kings-Demons terrorizing the country, it is said one has to be crazy. Young Prince Duan, monk Zhang-the-Perfect and the little beggar girl didn’t know such an undertaking was doomed to fail … so they went anyway.
Eight weeks of filming with live actors and dancers to animate the characters are scheduled, among which twenty days in Belgium with Belgian actors.
This fruitful and diverse 12th session for Wallimage/Bruxellimage was also the last for 2012. We will be glad to see you again at the very start of 2013 for new adventures.
