News

The shattering of a childhood dream is symbolic of the cruelly contorted fate of a nation in “Baghdad Messi.” Kurdish-Belgian filmmaker Sahim Omar Kalifa has expanded his much-acclaimed 2012 short into an affecting social drama that unfolds amid violence and fear in Iraq, 2009, during the second Gulf War. Centered on a soccer-mad young boy whose family is forced to move from the capital to a small village after his leg is blown off in a terrorist attack, “Baghdad Messi” has an almost documentary-like realism that makes compelling viewing of Iraq’s international feature Oscar submission.

Born in Iraqi Kurdistan during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-88), Kalifa fled to Belgium in 2001 and has since forged a successful career with Oscar-shortlisted shorts, feature fiction (“Zagros”) and co-directing the 2023 documentary feature “Iraq’s Invisible Beauty,” a portrait of Iraqi photographer Latif al-Ani, whose work since the 1950s has documented Iraq’s architectural landmarks and urban landscape,...

Entries for the 2025 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.

The 97th Academy Awards is set to take place on March 3, 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture (over 40 minutes) produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50%) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.

Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between November 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 2.

A shortlist of 15 finalists is scheduled to...

Entries for the 2025 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.

The 97th Academy Awards is set to take place on March 3, 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture (over 40 minutes) produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50%) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.

Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between November 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 2.

A shortlist of 15 finalists is scheduled to...

Entries for the 2025 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.

The 97th Academy Awards is set to take place on March 3, 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture (over 40 minutes) produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50%) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.

Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between November 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 2.

A shortlist of 15 finalists is scheduled to...

Fremantle has acquired a majority stake in Belgium’s A Team Productions the indie outfit behind hit drug gang drama “Patsers” by directorial duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah and standout short “ “Baghdad Messi.”

The company, which was founded in 2009, is headed by Kobe van Steenberghe and Hendrik Verthé and scored its first major international in 2011 with the short “Land of the Heroes” which won the International Jury Prize at the Berlinale that year.

They are also behind short “Baghdad Messi,” by Belgium-based Kurdish director Sahim Omar Kalifa, which won prizes at dozens of international fests and was shortlisted for an Academy Award in 2014.

A feature-length version of “Baghad Messi” will be released later this year.

“After intense preliminary discussions we have a very good feeling about the experienced Fremantle team including Georgette Schlick, Claud Van Gessel, Manon Van Der Hoek, Dave Heuten and Annemieke van Vliet as driving forces of the European market,...

Fremantle Acquires Majority Stake In Belguim’s A Team Productions

Fremantle has acquired a majority stake in A Team Productions (Atp). Based in Belgium, A Team Productions was founded in 2009 and is led by Kobe van Steenberghe and Hendrik Verthé. The company is behind the 2011 short film Land of the Heroes, which won the International Jury Prize at Berlin in 2011. A Team also produced the short Baghdad Messi, which was shortlisted for an Academy Award in 2014. Other credits from the outfit include Patser (Gangsta) by filmmakers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. Later this year, A Team will release the feature-length film Baghdad Messi and the high-end fiction series Alter Ego. “I have long admired Kobe, Hendrik, and the whole Atp team’s work,” said Dave Heuten, CEO Fremantle Belgium. “I am excited to be going on this journey with them, finding synergies and developing new content together – I can...

Fremantle, the production unit of Bertelsmann-owned TV giant Rtl Group, has acquired a majority stake in A Team Productions, the Belgium-based producer of upcoming feature film Baghdad Messi and upcoming drama series Alter Ego.

Financial details weren’t disclosed.

The deal for the company, founded in 2009 and led by Kobe van Steenberghe and Hendrik Verthé, is the latest in Fremantle’s ongoing shopping spree. Over the past 18 months, its acquisitions have included U.K. producer Dancing Ledge (The Responder), Italian scripted outfit Lux Vide (Devils, Leonardo), Fabel (Bosch), Australian-American TV firm Eureka Productions (Parental Guidance, Finding Magic Mike), 12 Scandinavian labels from Nordic Entertainment Group, Ireland’s Element Pictures (Normal People, The Favourite), 72 Films (All or Nothing: Arsenal, 9/11: One Day in America) and Silvio Productions (Shadow of Truth, The Baby Daddy, Buried).

A Team Productions (Atp) had a success with the short film Land of the Heroes, which won...

Germany, South Korea, Scandinavia among those tempted by Belgian zombie horror.

Heading into the Cannes virtual market, Toronto-based genre specialist Raven Banner has closed a raft of key sales on Yummy, the SXSW selection and Belgium’s first zombie action film.

The film, which was due to play in the Midnighter section of the since cancelled SXSW festival, has gone in Germany (Busch), South Korea (Watcha), Japan (Pflug), Scandinavia (Njuta), Poland (Horizontal Line), France (Factoris), and Taiwan (MovieCloud).

Shudder has taken all rights in its territories, which encompass the Us, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand, while Fox has picked up pan-Asia.

Toronto-based genre specialist boards second title in Austin festival.

Raven Banner Entertainment will launch sales at Efm on SXSW selection and Belgium’s first zombie action film Yummy after picking up worldwide sales excluding Benelux.

Lars Damoiseaux directed from a screenplay he co-wrote with Eveline Hagenbeek about a young couple who travel to a shabby hospital resort that specialises in plastic surgery.

While wandering through an abandoned ward, the boyfriend stumbles upon the result of an experimental rejuvenation treatment whom he frees, inadvertently unleashing a virus that turns people into flesh-eating zombies.

Kobe Van Steenberghe and Hendrik Verthé produced Yummy,...

’Make Cinema Great Again!’ took place at CONNeXT in Ghent.

Film directors need to have more ambition and a unique cinematic vision to attract sales agents, distributors and ultimately a theatrical audience, agreed a group of European film industry experts at a debate at Flanders Image’s CONNeXT event in the Belgian city of Ghent on Tuesday (October 8).

“I’m looking for something singular, something different,” said Karin Beyens, head of acquisitions at France’s Diaphana Distribution. “Last year we bought Mid 90s and Girl, two films that give you a certain experience. You feel something when you see these films.

Conference speakers to include Rikke Ennis, Philip Knatchbull and Walter Iuzzolino.

The Broken Circle Breakdown and Tabula Rasa actress Veerle Baetens will pitch her directorial debut, The Melting, at the fourth edition of Flanders Image’s annual film and TV showcase CONNeXT (October 6-9).

The Melting is adapted from Lize Spit’s novel about a woman looking back on one pivotal summer with the two boys who were her best friends in the small Flemish town of Bovenmeer.

CONNeXT invites international experts to Ghent to preview or screen features and TV series made in Flanders and Brussels. In past years,...

Connext pitches for new Flemish films also include cycling drama and plastic surgery-themed horror.

Johan Heldenbergh, best known from Belgian hit The Broken Circle Breakdown, will lead the cast of My Dad Is A Sausage, a family drama pitched today at Flanders Image’s Connext event in Ghent.

Anouk Fortunier will direct what she calls a “buddy movie with a father and daughter”; Heldenbergh plays a father who is depressed in his job as a banker and decides to leave that career to become an actor. His wife, a CEO, is concerned about his plans, but his 11-year-old-daughter Zoe realises...

Exclusive: Drug gang drama to be directed by Belgian directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah.

Ambitious Amsterdam-based Dutch Features Global Entertainment, headed by CEO Pim van Collem, is to begin world sales at the Afm on Patser, the new feature from L.A. and Brussels based Belgian directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah.

El Arbi and Fallah are also attached to direct Beverly Hills Cop 4, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer for Paramount Pictures, and have recently directed the first two episodes for the series Snowfall for FX Networks. Their previous feature, teen gang movie, Black (2015) won the Dropbox Discovery Award at Tiff and became a media phenomenon after provoking riots in a Brussels cinema.

Patser tells the tale of four ne’er-do-wells from the neighbourhood ‘t Kiel’ in Antwerp, aspiring to become gangster legends. They foolishly get involved in high-profile drug affairs, and start a war between gangs from Antwerp, Amsterdam and even...

The debut feature from Kenneth Mercken triumphed in a field of eight projects.

Coureur, directed by Kenneth Mercken and produced by Eurydice Gysel and Koen Mortier of Czar Film, has won the best project pitch at the inaugural NeXT in Ghent.

The Flanders Image event invited eight projects in development — all backed by the Flanders Audiovisual Fund — to pitch to the international industry in attendance.

Of Coureur, the industry jury said they were “especially impressed with Kenneth’s personal point of view in his own father-son story, and how he can tell this story of the cycling world from a very inside point of view in a unique way… We think it’s a film that will be quite personal to his experience but also can appeal to wide audiences.”

Ace and Lites donate $11,000 (€10,000) in facilities spend to each award winner. The prize also includes a media spend for advertising.

Details of the...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 live action short films will advance in the voting process for the 87th Academy Awards. One hundred forty-one pictures had originally qualified in the category.

The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:

“Aya,” Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis, directors (Chasis Films)

“Baghdad Messi,” Sahim Omar Kalifa, director, and Kobe Van Steenberghe, producer (a team productions)

“Boogaloo and Graham,” Michael Lennox, director, and Ronan Blaney, writer (Out of Orbit)

“Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak),” Hu Wei, director, and Julien Féret, producer (Ama Productions)

“Carry On,” Yatao Li, director (Rochester Institute of Technology)

“My Father’s Truck,” Maurício Osaki, director (Lupi Filmes)

“Parvaneh,” Talkhon Hamzavi, director, and Stefan Eichenberger, producer (Zurich University of Arts)

“The Phone Call,” Mat Kirkby, director, and James Lucas, writer (Rsa Films)

“Slr,” Stephen Fingleton, director, and Matthew James Wilkinson,...

The Academy has whittled down 141 submissions to a shortlist of ten films in the running for the 87th Academy Awards.

The films in alphabetical order by title are:

Aya, dirs Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis;

Baghdad Messi, dir Sahim Omar Kalifa, pdr Kobe Van Steenberghe;

Boogaloo And Graham, dir Michael Lennox, wr Ronan Blaney;

Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak), Hu Wei, director, pdr Julien Féret;

Carry On, dir Yatao Li;

My Father’s Truck, dir Maurício Osaki;

Parvaneh, dir Talkhon Hamzavi, pdr Stefan Eichenberger;

The Phone Call, dir Mat Kirkby, dir wr James Lucas;

Slr, dir Stephen Fingleton, pdr Matthew James Wilkinson;

Summer Vacation (Chofesh Gadol), dirs Tal Granit and Sharon Maymon.

The Academy’s short films and feature animation branch reviewing committee viewed all the eligible entries.

The branch will now select three to five nominees following a series of screenings in Los Angeles, London, New York and San Francisco in December.

The...

The Academy has announced the 10 live-action short films that have advanced in this year's Oscar race. Five nominees will be announced along with all other categories on Jan. 15, 2015. Potential nominees come from across the globe, qualifying with either a short theatrical run or acceptance in a competitive festival. 141 pictures had originally qualified in the category. Recent winners include familiar names like Terry George, Martin McDonagh, and Andrea Arnold. A full list of the nominees below: “Aya,” Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis, directors (Chasis Films) “Baghdad Messi,” Sahim Omar Kalifa, director, and Kobe Van Steenberghe, producer (a team productions) “Boogaloo and Graham,” Michael Lennox, director, and Ronan Blaney, writer (Out of Orbit) “Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak),” Hu Wei, director, and Julien Féret, producer (Ama Productions) “Carry On,” Yatao Li, director (Rochester Institute of Technology) “My Father’s Truck,” Maurício Osaki, director (Lupi Filmes) “Parvaneh,” Talkhon Hamzavi, director,...

The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies: “Aya,” Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis, directors (Chasis Films) “Baghdad Messi,” Sahim Omar Kalifa, director, and Kobe Van Steenberghe, producer (a team productions) “Boogaloo and Graham,” Michael Lennox, director, and Ronan Blaney, writer (Out of Orbit) “Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak),” Hu Wei, director, and Julien Féret, producer (Ama Productions) “Carry On,” Yatao Li, director (Rochester Institute of Technology) “My Father’s Truck,” Maurício Osaki, director (Lupi Filmes) “Parvaneh,” Talkhon Hamzavi, director, and Stefan Eichenberger, producer (Zurich University of Arts) “The Phone Call,” Mat Kirkby, director, and James Lucas, writer (Rsa Films) “Slr,” Stephen Fingleton, director, and Matthew James Wilkinson, producer (Stigma Films) “Summer Vacation (Chofesh Gadol),” Tal Granit and Sharon Maymon, directors (GREENproductions)The Academy’s Short Films and Feature...

Los Angeles, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 live action short films will advance in the voting process for the 87th Academy Awards®. One hundred forty-one pictures had originally qualified in the category.

The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:

“Aya,” Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis, directors (Chasis Films)

“Baghdad Messi,” Sahim Omar Kalifa, director, and Kobe Van Steenberghe, producer (a team productions)

“Boogaloo and Graham,” Michael Lennox, director, and Ronan Blaney, writer (Out of Orbit)

“Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak),” Hu Wei, director, and Julien Féret, producer (Ama Productions)

“Carry On,” Yatao Li, director (Rochester Institute of Technology)

“My Father’s Truck,” Maurício Osaki, director (Lupi Filmes)

“Parvaneh,” Talkhon Hamzavi, director, and Stefan Eichenberger, producer (Zurich University of Arts)

“The Phone Call,” Mat Kirkby, director, and James Lucas, writer (Rsa Films)

“Slr,” Stephen Fingleton,...