04/04/2008

The 6th Brussels European Film Festival (formerly known as the International Film Festival) will take place from June 28-July 6.

Held in the heart of the European capital, the FFFB puts the spotlight on debut and second films by European directors, screening around 50 European titles in avant-premiere every year.

Placing particular emphasis on films from "new" European countries, the event has in the past offered Belgian audiences the chance to discover California Dreamin’ [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Romanian director Cristian Nemescu and Taxidermia [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Hungary’s György Pálfi.

But the FFFB does not limit itself to completed films alone. For the third time, the festival is organising the European Film Concept Competition, which selects the best film project. The contest is open to directors from no less than 45 European countries.

In order to take part, candidates must send their concept or idea (three pages maximum), a biography and a statement of intent or, rather, a statement of persuasion (the written equivalent of a pitch) highlighting the project’s cinematic strengths. Moreover, participants must have directed no more than one feature. The deadline for applications is May 1.

Submissions will be examined by a jury of international professionals and the directors of the two winning projects will be invited to take part in the Festival, to be lauded as well as to develop their network and meet numerous European professionals.

Last year’s Concept winners were Spanish director Susana Lopez Rubio for Your Life Can Change in Ten Seconds and Belgian director Robert Scarpa for Délocalisé.

(Translated from French)