About Filmfestival Oostende 2024

ABOUT FFO

OSTEND FILM FESTIVAL

After just 15 festival editions , the Ostend Film Festival (FFO) has become one of the major film festivals in Flanders, Belgium. FFO distinguishes itself with an inclusive, audience-friendly and atmospheric character where people can discover new work by international masters alongside top Belgian productions. With its three international competitions - LOOK!, COOP!, and SOON! - , over 150 (inter)national guests and its attractive (young) talents programme , FFO steadily grew to entertaining 54.400 film buffs every year. The festival also organises the Ensors and the Jamies . The first are the Flemish Film and Televison Awards, the latter are the Flemish Online Video Awards.

A GLIMPSE AT OUR PROGRAMME

Rafiki (Wanuri Kahiu), Lazzaro Felice (Alice Rohrwacher), A Simple Favor (Paul Feig), The Wife (Björn Runge)

The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmão (Karim Aïnouz), Nuestras Madres (Cesar Diaz), The Father (Kristina Grozeva & Petar Valchanov), Les hirondelles de Kaboul (Eléa Gobbé-Mévellec & Zabou Breitman), Official Secrets (Gavin Hood), The Best of Enemies (Robin Bissell), Tolkien (Dome Karukoski), Hustlers (Lorene Scafaria), The Goldfinch (John Crowley), The Peanut Butter Falcon (Tyler Nilson & Michael Schwartz)

THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE

2022

2023

AFTER YANG Kogonada

Michael Showalter DRIVE MY CAR

Ryusuke Hamaguchi

Turning Red (Domee Shi), Vengeance is Mine, All Others Pay Cash (Edwin), Stop-Zemlia (Kateryna Gornostai), Sisterhood (Dina Duma), Freaks Out (Gabriele Mainetti), Leave No Traces (Jan P. Matuszyński), Mothering Sunday (Eva Husson), Next Door (Daniel Brühl), Nr. 10 (Alex van Warmerdam), One Second (Zhang Yimou), The Good Boss (Fernando Leon De Aranoa), Murina (Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović)

THE FABELMANS

Steven Spielberg

THE WHALE

Darren Aronofsky

AFTERSUN

Charlotte Wells

Emily (Frances O’Connor), Godland (Hlynur Pálmason), Women Talking (Sarah Polley), Till (Chinonye Chukwu), The Inspection (Elegance Bratton), No Bears (Jafar Panahi), Rose (Niels Arden Oplev), Baghdad Messi (Sahim Omar Kalifa), Burning Days (Emin Alper), Le bleu du caftan (Maryam Touzani)

Monica Bellucci

Adrien Brody

Matthias Schoenaerts

Pierce Brosnan

Géraldine Chaplin

Jean-Claude Van Damme Michelle Fairley

COMPETITIONS

Every year several awards are handed out in different competitions. Besides the famous LOOK!-competition , in which visual gems with a strong story are put in the spotlight, we also organize the COOP!-competition for Dutch and Flemish co-productions; unique films that can be realized thanks to an international collaboration. In the SOON! competition FFO awards new film makers whose first or second film has been successful at prestigious international festivals.

Elliott Crosset Hove & Tinne Bral

Lubna Azabal

Juraj Lerotić & Miljenka Čogelja

LOOK!-COMPETITION

The international LOOK!-competition by FFO is unique in Europe and focuses on the aesthetic qualities of cinema and the visual power of film : compelling visual stories that emphasize the work of the Director of Photography and the Production Design Team.

Prize: 10.000 EUR

COOP!-COMPETITION

Since 2022, the international co-production competition focuses exclusively on Flemish co-productions and Dutch coproductions . Inspired by the idea of “think globally, act locally”, the FFO programmers look for remarkable and captivating film productions that take international collaborations to a new level. The festival thus wants to give appropriate recognition to both Flemish and Dutch producers who engage in creative collaborations to make their projects a success.

Prize: 7.500 EUR

SOON!-COMPETITION

The international SOON!-competition was organised for the first time in 2022 and focuses on a new generation of filmmakers who, with their first or second film , are able to map out the world of young adults in an exceptional and cinematic way. These films have attracted attention at prestigious international festivals. However, gems that have yet to break through have a chance as well.

Prize: 5.000 EUR

THE ENSORS

CELEBRATION OF FLEMISH TALENT

As one of the smallest but surprisingly productive cinema regions of Europe, Flanders is gaining prominence, with local productions being recognized internationally. Each year, FFO celebrates its local talent by awarding the Ensors, Flemish Film and Television Awards and bringing them together in the Ensor Academy.

CELEBRATION OF ONLINE TALENT

Since 2021, the Ostend Film Festival honours the best online content makers with its own Online Video Awards : the Jamies. There are winners in different categories, including best vlog, best game channel, best lifestyle channel and best music video.

RELIVE 2023

WATCH THE AFTERMOVIE