20/05/2003

It was a busy weekend for Belgian cinema in Cannes. Following last Friday’s reception on the Majestic beachfront organised by the French Community in honour of the Belgian contingent at the French festival, Saturday 17 May was designated as "Belgium Day". Starting at 14.30 representatives of Belgian film institutions, producers and investors met to discuss the implementation of the new tax shelter law. They were asked to set down the limits and list the goals they want to achieve. The debate was also an occasion for investors and financial experts to advise the industry on how best to encourage companies to enter this new industry sector. The debate was followed, at 21.00 by the Interbrew and Stella Artois Screen Party on the Carlton beach, with live entertainment by Belgian band, Hoverphonics and a Belgian-buffet featuring fried mussels, chips and beer ! Everyone who’s anyone in the Belgian film and TV industries was there, including actor Olivier Gourmet, who stars in two films selected for Cannes : Le temps des loups by Michael Haneke (Out of Competition) and Les mains vides by Marc Recha (Un Certain Regard). On Sunday, Cécile de France, a native of Namur, arrived in Cannes for the press conference of her latest film, Le Tour du Monde en 80 Jours directed by Frank Coraci.