During the eight days, the best of Mediterranean film will be screened in the most historical cinemas of the capital - Palace Cinema and Aventure Cinema. Many other screenings and events will take place in other cultural venues in Brussels, such as Bozar, Espace Magh, Cinema Galeries and La Tricoterie.
The festival cultivates a spirit of conviviality, sharing, listening, respect and celebration that makes it unique, reflecting Brussels’ multiculturalism and built with the idea of giving a voice through cinema to the many Mediterranean communities living in Brussels.
Throughout the 23 editions of Cinemamed, the festival has brought many guests to Brussels coming from all over the Mediterranean area, including some of the best cinema directors of the region, as well as, actors, musicians and many personalities representing Mediterranean genius around the world. During these years, Cinemamed audiences have had the opportunity to exchange directly with filmmakers, personalities from the film industry and various other speakers during the screenings.
IO Capitano
The 23rd edition of Cinemamed
The festival will open its doors this year with the new feature film by Italian director Matteo Garrone (Dogman, Gomorrah) which brings to the screen the issues of migration to Europe. Io Capitano, co-produced in Belgium (Tarantula), had a very notable appearance at the Mostra.
More than 70 films will be on the programme this year with around ten previews, some of which have already crossed paths with prestigious festivals in Toronto, Berlin, Venice and Cannes. These feature films, short films and documentaries from the multiple shores of the Mediterranean basin crystallize the issues and struggles of a region sometimes prey to its demons, but they also highlight its hopes.
Furthermore, Aurélie Losseau, programmer and coordinator of the event, underlines, “in reaction to the various tragedies which have successively befallen the Mediterranean for months, the programming has turned into a cry from the heart which seeks to awaken our humanity.”
I'm Not Lakit
Family Portraits at the centre of the programming
The common thread of the next edition will be numerous “Family Portraits" which will be at the centre of the programming. A central value in Mediterranean culture, the family and the ties that unite its members will take on particular importance through different films in the selection.
On such film is “After the fire" by Mehdi Fikri, with Camélia Jordana tracing the fierce fight of a sister to repair the injustice and hypocrisy surrounding the death of her brother. In "Rapito" (Kidnapped), Marco Bellocchio tells the story of Edgardo Mortara, a child of Jewish faith, taken from his parents on the orders of the Pope to be Christianized. With the documentary "I'm not Lakit ", Marie Surae highlights the phenomenon of illegitimate children in Lebanon through Saleh's journey.
Here are the movies that will be subtitled in English:
- Cup of Coffee and New Shoes on
- Almost Entirely a Slight Disaster
- Blue ID
- Q
Also on display, a Panorama section, a 100% documentary section (meDoc), as well as two short favourite sessions with numerous Belgian co-productions, a family, senior session and association sessions. Without forgetting a lively musical programme for dancing until the end of the night.
There will also be a focus on Spain - Itsaso Arana will present her first film "The Girls Are Alright", a resolutely feminine cinematic essay. She will also be present as an actress alongside Jonás Trueba as part of the Close-Up dedicated to the filmmaker, organized in collaboration with Bozar.
See the full Cinemamed programme here.
The Brussels Times to proud to be an official Media Partner for Cinemamed 2023
