02/06/2023 - The new film from the Belgian filmmaker, titled De l’art ou du Machond, is among the projects supported, together with promising feature debuts

The Wallonia-Brussels Federation Film Centre has just announed the results of the first 2023 session of its Film Commission, which supports the production of the new film from Stefan Liberski, among other projects. In total, €4,463,000 million are allocated to 65 film projects, which receive guaranteed writing, development, or production support. Among them are 28 feature films, 5 of which are receiving production support. 

With De l’art ou du Machond, the unclassifiable Stefan Liberski looks at the milieu of contemporary art. After scrutinising the lives of the ultra-rich in Bunker Paradise [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Stefan Liberski
film profile], the journey of a slightly overweight 18-year-old singer in Baby Balloon [+see also:
trailer
film profile], and the adventures of a Belgian woman living in Japan in Tokyo Fiancée [+see also:
trailer
film profile], he turns to the world of art, its big concepts and disappointments, but also its enthusiasms and beauty. The film paints the portrait of Yves Machond who, at 55, still feels he has a piece of art to offer the world. He leaves Brussels and his job as a professor to move to Étretat, the land of Impressionism, hoping to get inspired. This comedy shows the difficult coming into being of his project and the metamorphosis of the hero. It’s an adventure with unexpected turns, where Machond will learn that life and art are not just ideas. Not only. Not yet. Artémis Production will carry the project, which has received production support.

Three other films are receiving production support, three promising feature debuts set in very different worlds. Romain Renard, author of the mysterious graphic novel Melville, adapts his own work together with Fursy Teyssier, supported by Need Productions. Miklos Keleti launches into the fantasy/psychological thriller with Soma, the story of a neuroscientist who tries to save their son with a mysterious substance, and a primate; a project managed by Velvet Films. Finally, Hélicotronc is working with Valéry Carnoy, well-received for her short Titan, for her move to feature filmmaking with La danse des renards, a tale of friendship set against the backdrop of a sports boarding school. Also worth noting are Stéphane Vuillet and Stéphane Xhrouet who receive completion support for Katika Bluu [+see also:
film review
film profile], where they follow Bravo, a former child soldier from the Democratic Republic of Congo as he looks for his family.

On the development side, the Commission has selected Devolution, the feature debut by Nicolas Boucart (well-received for his short Icare), produced by Tarantula, as well as Krieg, an audacious historical film which marks the return of Delphine Noels after the intriguing Post Partum [+see also:
trailer
interview: Delphine Noels
film profile], supported once again by Frakas Production. Also in artistic development are the feature debuts from Maxime Pistorio (Belladone, produced by Entre Chien et Loup), Charles Habib-Drouot (La sirène et le crocodile, produced by Velvet Films) and Arnaud Dufeys and Charlotte Devillers (Plaisir, produced by Naoko Films). Let us note, to conclude, the support given to Christophe Hermans (The Hive [+see also:
film review
interview: Christophe Hermans
film profile]) for his second fiction feature film, Le ventre mou, produced by Les Films du Fleuve.

(Translated from French)