29/08/2002 - Belgium’s first DV feature film is scheduled to open the Flanders International Film Festival on October 8

Hop will go down in Belgium’s history books as being that country’s first ever feature film made in DV and produced with Belgian money. The film will open the 29th edition of the International Film Festival of Flanders in Gand from October 8 -19 2002. Hop and the impact of digital technology on mainstream filmmaking will also be the focus of discussion at Digiforum.
This film marks the directorial debut of Dominique Standaert, a former assistant director to Jaco van Dormael on Toto le héros and to Benôit Lamy on Combat de fauves. Standaert used a light touch and lots of comedy to tell a serious story: a young man from Burundi takes on his country’s government in order to find out what happened to his father, after the older man’s expulsion from that country. Standaert’s cast includes well-known actors like Jan Decleir and Antje De Boeck as well as national soccer star Emile M’Penza making his acting debut.
The film was made in French and Flemmish, Belgian’s two official languages and co-produced by Sokan Signature and Executive Productions, with grants from the Flemmish and French-speaking Community, as well as grants from funds like Wallimage and Promimage, Belgian’s National Lottery and TV channels including RTBF, VRT and Canal+. Hop will go on general release right after the Festival of Flanders, by courtesy of Paradiso Filmed Entertainment.