The explanation lies in the very nature of the projects submitted: a few projects involving massive expenditure in Wallonia sought substantial funding in return, sometimes coming up against the €400,000 ceiling per project set by Wallimage. It should be noted, however, that the vast majority of rejected projects had the necessary qualities to be supported and to generate significant economic spin-offs in the Walloon region.
The picture is not all bleak, however: the 5 films and series selected will generate a guaranteed minimum of €10,034,985 in audiovisual spending in Wallonia. This represents a spectacular direct rate of return of over 843%. Of course, this figure does not take into account the very substantial non-eligible expenditure at Wallimage and the indirect expenditure that further amplifies the economic impact on the Region.
The following projects will be supported by Wallimage:
Three live-action films
November 1943. The Independence Front, a Belgian resistance organization, distributes a fake Le Soir newspaper mocking the German occupiers… Le Faux Soir is history’s first media hack.Directed by Michaël R. Roskam(Rundskop, Le Fidèle) and produced by Frakas Productions, Le Faux Soir will benefit from a significant Walloon base: 40 Walloon technicians will take part in the shoot, which is scheduled to last 5 days. The casting includes renowned regional talent, and the script is co-written by Domenico Laporta. Many Walloon service providers are involved: Tigreville for costumes, KGS for machinery, TSF Liège for lighting, and Level 9 for the many special effects on set (SFX). Studio L’équipe Wallonie will handle some of the picture editing, sound editing, deliveries and subtitling, while Chambre Noire will handle audio-description. It should also be noted that €963,000 of non-eligible Walloon expenditure has been added to the €2,336M considered by Wallimage. A perfect dossier!
With Venus Electrificata, Wallimage welcomes for the first time a project by director Pierre Salvadori, known for Les Apprentis, Hors de prix and En liberté! Co-produced in Belgium by Versus Production, this ambitiously budgeted and cast film stars Pio Marmaï, Charlotte le Bon and Gilles Lellouche. The plot plunges us into early 20th-century Paris, where a “Venus Electrificata”, manipulated to dupe a grieving painter, sees her life turned upside down. Filming will take place over 15 days in the Liège region, requiring the work of 22 technicians. Local requirements will include extras, dressing room and equipment hire, and catering. Sound effects, editing and mixing will be handled by Cob and Bardaf studios. The project will also include some Walloon VFX.
A popular franchise returns with Ducobu et le fantôme de Saint-PotacheDucobu et le fantôme Saint-Potache, the sixth installment still directed by Elie Semoun, who has the luxury of playing four different roles. Co-produced in Belgium by Umedia, this new chapter veers towards the fantastic: Ducobu and his friends must come to the aid of Professor Latouche, haunted by the prankster ghost of a former dunce. Of the 47 shooting days planned, 13 will take place in Walloon Brabant, with 19 technicians. Regional expenses will cover the rental of dressing rooms and technical equipment, special effects produced live on set, and the indispensable canteen. Bardaf will handle sound post-production, while Studio L’Equipe Wallonie will handle rushes. UFX Wallonie will produce digital special effects. The objective is clear: to follow in the footsteps of the previous five chapters by reaching or exceeding the million mark in French cinemas.
An animated series and feature film
News Alert : Marsupilamis are now plural, and they’re not all yellow! Co-produced in Belgium by Belvision, this new series of 52 11-minute episodes is the first 3D TV adaptation of Franquin’s universe. The story follows intrepid twins Jade and Mica, who take in three goofy young Marsupilamis rescued from the jungle. Their daily life in the city is transformed into an avalanche of zany adventures. Wallonia’s involvement is major, with over 2.7 million euros of eligible expenditure. The Dreamwall studio will be actively involved in the modeling and texturing of the sets and props, as well as the layout and animation of 13 of the 52 episodes, hiring numerous 3D artists for the occasion. In all, 33 technicians will be on deck, including five shift supervisors, for a 24-month stint at Dreamwall, representing the equivalent of 28 FTEs (full-time jobs over one year). With its iconic license (more than 10 million comic books sold worldwide since 1952), the series benefits from strong international partners in M6 and Nickelodeon.
After Icare (already supported by Wallimage), director Carlo Vogele returns with The Lion Queena musical animated feature with an original story to say the least: that of a tenor lion with a faded mane, grumpy with the woman of his life, a dapper hen, with whom he has had a son, a sculptural bull who, against all odds, prefers… flashy zebras! The project is supported by a crazy vocal cast including Roberto Alagna, Christophe Willem, Loïc Nottet, Mentissa and Louane. The impact in Wallonia will be considerable, with over 2.8 million euros spent. The Waooh! studio will be at the heart of the production, mobilizing 44 people across 11 positions for a total duration of 28 months. This represents a workload of 6,170 person-days in Wallonia, or the equivalent of 28 FTEs. Image post-production will be handled by the Bardaf studio.
Next session
The 125th session in the history of Wallimage (the 3rd in 2025) will take place just after the Cannes Film Festival. The deadline for submissions is Thursday, June 5, 2025. Preliminary discussions with interested producers can begin as early as Monday May 26, 2025.