Introduction to Flanders Film Days
The first Flanders Film Days (FFD) took place in Gent from October 7th to 8th. During this event, Hans Everaerts’ production outfit, Menuetto, presented eight feature projects. One of the notable projects is Felix van Groeningen’s Let love in, starring Luca Marinelli and Charlotte Vandermeersch.
Let Love In: A New Project by Felix van Groeningen
Let love in is van Groeningen’s follow-up to his 2022 Cannes jury winner, The eight mountains. The film is described as "auto fiction" and is partly based on events in van Groeningen and Vandermeersch’s real relationship. The story revolves around a couple going through a crisis but trying to stay together. Van Groeningen and Vandermeersch co-wrote the script with Anne Paulicevich. The film is a co-production between Menuetto, Rufus, and Mediawan, with financing from the Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF), Kinepolis Film Distribution (KFD), Proximus, VRT, and the Belgian steering home.
Heysel 85: A Tragedy-Based Film
Another project presented by Menuetto is Heysel 85, directed by Teodora Ana Mihai. The film is based on the tragedy of the Heysel Stadium catastrophe in May 1985, which resulted in the deaths of 39 spectators, mainly Juventus fans. The story is told through the eyes of two fictionalized characters: Marie, the daughter of the Mayor of Brussels, and Luca Rossi, a Belgian journalist with Italian roots. The film has completed shooting and is expected to be ready for early festivals in 2026.
Other Projects by Menuetto
Menuetto also presented other projects at the FFD, including Torpor, a science fiction film directed by Melse van Coillie, and Insane lines, a drama based on the true story of a classical music wonder child who suffered from psychological health problems. Additionally, the experienced Flemish filmmaker Patrice Toye has finished shooting her latest feature, The task, an allegorical story about the "dubious attraction of a strong leader" set in a youth camp shortly after the Second World War.
Completed Films by Menuetto
Menuetto presented three completed films at the FFD: Money, a documentary about fossil fuels directed by Manu Riche, Edordo Ripani, and Hayder Helo; Paris, Paris, a film about three immigrants trying to build a new home in Paris, directed by Isabelle Tollenaere and sold by Square Eyes; and Two square meters, a documentary about a Turkish immigrant who wants to be buried in Belgium, directed by Volkan Üces. These films showcase the diversity of projects undertaken by Menuetto and its commitment to telling unique and thought-provoking stories.
