If Belgian French-speaking cinema is winning awards all over the world, if our authors are cited as models, including by experienced directors, it is not always the same here in the Walloon and Brussels regions. This disturbing paradox has long been a concern for audiovisual professionals.
But there is no fatality. If the French-speaking Belgian public has a biased idea of its cinema, it is because the films and the professionals are not highlighted enough. Because they still suffer from a certain lack of awareness. This has to change!
Rather than lamenting without flinching, the professional associations of producers and authors have founded theAndré Delvaux Academy, named after one of Belgium’s greatest filmmakers.
His mission? To organize actions of promotion of Belgian cinematographic works.
Its objective? Reach all audiences! The moviegoers, the cinephiles, the occasional consumers, the young, the old, the families who go to the theaters. Or not. Everyone. Everywhere.
The first event set up by the Academy will be the Magritte du Cinéma. On February 5, 2011, in the heart of Brussels, these trophies will reward the films, directors, technicians and professionals of the Belgian 7th Art that have marked 2010. A total of 18 awards will be presented based on the votes of the professionals affiliated with the Academy. In addition, an audience prize will be elected by the readers of Ciné-Télé-revue and a Magritte d’honneur will be awarded by the members of the Board of Directors of the André Delvaux Academy.
It goes without saying that this first edition will be followed by many others.
To keep up to date with the Magrittes and the Delvaux Academy, you can now connect to the site dedicated to them a virtual space for professionals but also (and above all) for the general public, which will naturally be expanded in the coming weeks.
