53e Film Fest Gent 2026

A programme that shows that art is more important than ever in these uncertain times.

The 53rd edition of Film Fest Gent kicked off with the opening film Coward by Lukas Dhont. In it, young soldiers try to escape the horrors of the trenches for a moment by putting on musical performances. We rounded off the festival with the closing film Le Faux Soir by Michaël R. Roskam, which in turn demonstrates how imagination can also be a powerful act of resistance. But it doesn’t always have to be about grand acts of heroism. Often, it is precisely the small, everyday stories that are worth telling. How do you cope with a divorce, a gender transition or adultery when war breaks out? How do you bring childhood memories back to life when you grew up amidst conflict?

Up-and-coming classics such as La bola negra, Fjord, Bunker and Wild Horse Nine drew packed houses time and time again, whilst undistributed discoveries such as Chronovisor, 9 Temples to Heaven and No Good Men also managed to find their way to their audiences. This year’s official opening and closing films were a resounding success, with packed cinemas at every screening. They formed the opening and closing chapters of a theme that ran throughout the 53rd edition: how art, beauty and humour can be our weapons in times of conflict and uncertainty.

This was also reflected in a number of special moments during the festival. The director and cast of The Other Side of the Sun attended the screening of their autobiographical film in person for the first time, and spoke during an emotional Q&A about their traumatic experiences and the making of their film. Nathalie Teirlinck also shared her personal story and the inspiration behind Jonah Was Here. Both filmmakers were consequently given a standing ovation.

It wouldn’t be a film festival without putting established and emerging talent in the spotlight. On the final day open to the public, we screened the competition films for the last time. From this diverse selection of twelve films, the International Jury crowned La Gradiva and the soundtrack by DAO as the big winners on Saturday evening, with a special mention for Jean. Earlier, Sawyer Avenue, Sunday Afternoon, A Story in White and Fruits de Merde had also won awards.

26th WSA Film Music Days

Not only film, but also (film) music is once again in the proverbial spotlight. During the Film Music Days, composers from all over the world gathered in Ghent for talks, workshops and masterclasses on the art of composition, including Guests of Honour Trevor Jones and Hildur Guðnadóttir, and creative partners Volker Bertelmann and Edward Berger. Videodroom, in collaboration with VIERNULVIER, took a more experimental approach, presenting newly composed, live-performed soundtracks for cult classics.

To conclude, in the words of composer Trevor Jones, who received this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the World Soundtrack Awards: “You can shut your eyes in the cinema, but you never shut your ears. Music is a direct emotional line from [the artist’s] heart to yours.”